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Permanent LinkRepresentative Burton Erwin Sweet View All Years
BURTON E. SWEET
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Burton E. Sweet, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
Burton E. Sweet was born December 10, 1867, on a farm near Tripoli, the son of a pioneer family. He passed away on January 3, 1957, at the age of ninety years.
He attended Tripoli High School, Iowa State Teachers College, and was graduated from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, in 1893. Mr. Sweet took two years of additional work at the University of Iowa and received his degree there in June, 1895.
He was married on December 12, 1900, to Lola F. Riseley, who died in 1904. Their only child, Esther, was born Ocotober 9, 1901.
On April 19, 1923, he married Isabelle Carey in Washington, D. C.
Mr. Sweet opened his law office in Waverly in partnership with Edward Sager. A member of the Republican party, he became active in politics and in 1899 was elected to the Iowa legislature where he served until 1904. At that time he was the youngest member of the House of Representatives.
In 1914 Mr. Sweet was elected from the Third Congressional District to the United States House of Representatives and served four terms from 1915 to 1923. In 1918 he was appointed as a member of a commission of twelve by President Wilson to make a trip to Italy during World War I, representing the United States Government.
Mr. Sweet was the author of what were known as the three Sweet Bills while in the United States Congress, which gave to disabled veterans of World War I increased compensation and insurance, and prosthetic appliances; also hospitalization and vocational training.
He is survived by his widow of Waverly, Iowa; a daughter, Mrs. Esther Smith, Syracuse, New York, and five grandchildren.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-seventh General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Burton E. Sweet, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful, useful public servant, and the House, by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to his wife and the members of his family.
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
CLARENCE CHRISTOPHEL,
BERNARD R. BALCH,
WAYNE W. BALLHAGEN,
Committee.