"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 60.
 
HON. ALEXANDER SWEEK

     The family of which State Senator Sweek is a distinguished representative
has been connected with American history since a very early period in the
settlement of the country, the first of the name establishing themselves in
Virginia.  Later generations removed to West Virginia, whence Martin Sweek,
after his marriage to a lady of English family, removed to the then far west,
settling in the primeval forests of Missouri.  His son, John, was born at St.
Genevieve, that state, and from there started across the plains for California
at the time of the discovery of gold, but the illness of the father and mother
caused him to return to the old home, and not long afterward he married there.
In 1852 he again started for the Pacific coast, and this time brought the trip
to a successful consummation, arriving in Oregon on the 1st of September.  At
once he took up a donation claim at Tualatin, where he improved three hundred
and twenty acres.  On this homestead he conducted general farm pursuits until
his death, in February of 1889, at which time he was sixty-eight years of age.
Many important movements of his locality owed their inception to his energy.
Especially was his interest in educational matters keen and permanent.  A
portion of his farm was laid out for a town site, the sale of lots bringing him
a neat return for his outlay of labor in years gone by.  His wife, formerly
Maria Beard, was born in St. Genevieve, Mo., and is now living on the old
homestead at Tualatin.  Her father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal
denomination and a pioneer preacher in Missouri.
     The family of John and Maria Sweek consisted of the following named
children:  C. A., an attorney at Burns, Ore.; Alice, wife of M. W. Smith, of
Portland; Lawrence, a stockman in Grant county; Alexander; Mrs. Lillie Harding,
living on the old homestead; and Thaddeus, who is connected with the Oregon
Railroad and Navigation Company, of Portland.  Alexander Sweek was born in
Tualatin, Washington county, Ore., August 6, 1861, and in boyhood attended
district school, afterward taking a course in the Pacific University until the
senior year, when illness obliged him to relinquish his studies.  In 1883 he
took up the study of law under Milton W. Smith, and five years later was
admitted to the bar, after which he took up the practice of his profession.  In
1896 he was elected municipal judge, which office he filled for two years.  The
highest honor of his life thus far came to him in 1900, when he was nominated to
represent Multnomah, Washington and Columbia counties in the state senate.  As
the candidate of the Citizens' ticket he was elected over the Republican
candidate by a majority of about eight hundred.  During the session of 1901 he
drew up the bill on assessment and taxation, which passed successfully and is
now in active operation.  Other measures received the benefit of his wise
judgment and shrewd discernment.  Among the Democratic members of the senate he
is a leader, his recognized superior qualities fitting him for wielding a wide
influence among his fellowmen.  As a member of the state committee and as
chairman of the county central committee, he has done much to promote the
welfare of his party.  However, in matters relating to the general welfare,
party lines are always sunk beneath his patriotic spirit, and, as a
public-spirited citizen, he favors movements for the progress of his city and
state aside from any bearing they may have upon strictly party affairs.
     In the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Mr. Sweek serves as past exalted
ruler.  His connection with Masonry began in the Forest Grove Lodge, and he is
now a member of Harmony Lodge No. 12, of Portland, of which he is past master.
In addition he is identified with Portland Chapter, R. A. M., and the Oregon
Consistory No. 1, thirty-second degree, besides which he is an active member of
the Knights of Pythias and past chancellor in the same.
 
 
Transcriber's additonal notes:
 
This same biography appears in:
 
"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; Page 60

     
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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.