"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 529.
 
JOHN SWEEK

     Among the men whose labors have resulted in good for the community and who
are deserving of representation in the history of the Willamette valley, is John
Sweek, now deceased.  He came to the northwest in pioneer times, braving the
hardships and trials of life in a district far separated from the comforts of
the older east, and with the work of improvement and development he was actively
associated through many years, ever giving his influence in support of measures
calculated for the general good.  He was born in St. Genevieve county, Mo., on
the Mississippi river, March 25, 1822.  His father was a native of Virginia,
while his mother's birth occurred in England.  In order to support his family
the father carried on stock-raising and general farming, prospering in his work
as the years passed by.
     In early life Mr. Sweek of this review studied both medicine  and law and
to some extent followed each profession before coming to the northwest.  He was
married February 29, 1852, to Miss Maria Beard, a native of Perry county, Mo.
Her father was born in North Carolina and her mother's birth occurred in New
Jersey.  In the year of their marriage the young couple started westward with a
party of about sixty enroute for Oregon.  They traveled across the plains and
over the mountains, their wagons drawn by ox-teams, and after about three months
spent upon the way reached their destination.  A greater part of the land was
still in the possession of the government, having not yet been reclaimed by the
white men for the purposes of civilization, and Mr. Sweek secured a donation
claim of three hundred and twenty acres on which his widow is still living.  He
assisted in cutting the first road from Boone's Ferry to Portland, and Oregon
City was at that time their trading point and postoffice.  Mr. Sweek handled
most of the timber used in the building of the breakwater at Oregon City and
during the mining excitement in Idaho he transported his own freight from The
Dalles to Idaho City, where he was engaged in merchandising, following that
business for six years.  For twelve years he was engaged in execution of
contracts for the Star route and in his later days he devoted his time to
farming and stock-raising.  Whatever he undertook he carried forward to a
successful completion, for he was a man of indefatigable energy, strong
resolution and unflagging perseverance.  He quickly recognized business
opportunities and made the most of these and as the years progressed he
prospered, winning a very desirable competence.
     Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sweek were born six children:  Cyrus, who is an attorney
of Barnes, Ore.; Alice, the wife of M. W. Smith, who is engaged in the practice
of law in Portland; Lawrence, who is living in Grant county, this state;
Alexander, an attorney of Portland; Lillian, the wife of C. Harding, of the same
city; and Thaddeus, who is associated with the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
Company at Portland.  The cause of education ever found in Mr. Sweek a warm
friend, and he was the first one in his locality to give his children the
benefit of a collegiate training.  He did everything in his power to promote the
cause of the schools and was largely instrumental in establishing the school
system of this portion of Oregon upon a safe and sure foundation.  Although he
did not hold membership with any religious denomination, he contributed
generously to the support of the various churches and withheld his aid from
nothing that he believed would benefit his community along material, social,
intellectual or moral lines.  His business affairs were so capably conducted
that he was enabled to leave his family a handsome estate and moreover he gave
to them the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.  He lived to the age of
sixty-eight years and nine months and was then laid to rest in Riverview
cemetery of Portland, Ore.  Although several years have passed since he was
called from this life his memory is still enshrined in the hearts of those who
knew him and the public yet recognized his worth as a citizen and accord him
praise for what he did for his county.  Since the death of her husband, Mrs.
Sweek has remained upon the old home place and manages her property, which is
one of the best equipped farms in Washington county.  She has an attractive
modern residence, substantial barns and other outbuildings upon the place and
her home is conveniently situated within the corporation limits of Tualatin.
She too deserves mention among the pioneer residents of the county and can
relate many interesting incidents of the early days when there were hardships
and trials to be borne by the early settlers.  She has lived, however, to see
great changes occur and in the transition she has felt a deep interest,
rejoicing in what has been accomplished by the county.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2006 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.