"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  p. 477.  Grant Co.

LAWRENCE SWEEK

     In a work that purports to give the careers of the leading citizens of this
county there would be serious failure were there omission of the gentleman whose
name is at the head of this paragraph and who has wrought here for twenty years
with an energy and perseverance that are worthy of especial mention.  In the
course of his endeavors in this county he has met with reverses that would have
overwhelmed a less resolute and energetic man, but with every rising difficulty
there has been developed in him a determination and fixed purpose to surmount it
and come off victorious, which it is pleasant to relate, has been the case in
all of his undertakings, for despite the obstacles that have been in his path he
has become one of the leading and most successful stockmen of the county.
     A native of the occident, being born to John and Maria (Beard) Sweek on
February 26, 1857, in the Willamette valley, about ten miles south of Portland,
he has ever cast his lot in the west and here he has met and conquered in the
battle of life's way.  His early life was spent on his father's farm and in
attending the common schools of the place and when the time of his majority came
he commenced in the basic art of agriculture for himself, continuing therein
until the spring of 1880, the date of his advent into this county.  Two years
were spent in Prairie City, and then he came to Hamilton and took a band of
sheep on shares.  Success was attending his faithful efforts, but the severe
winter of 1887-88 swept off nearly the entire number and the balance he turned
over to the ones from whom he rented.  In 1890 he bought a band and moved to his
present place, four miles south of Monument.  Four years later he sold the
entire band, realizing ninety cents for ewes and seventy-five cents for lambs,
per head.  Then he turned his attention to freighting for two years, and in 1896
determined to again try his fortune with sheep, and accordingly bought a band of
two thousand for one dollar per head, getting time for the payment and being
backed by the First National Bank of Heppner.  In three years he was able to pay
out, and now he has a farm of eleven hundred and twenty acres, all fenced, with
a good proportion of tillable land, and his flocks are numbered to about three
thousand head.  Prosperity has attended his efforts and he is at the present
time one of the most substantial stockmen of the county.
     Mr. Sweek and Miss Emily L., daughter of Benjamin and Mary Harding, of
Washington county, this state, were married on February 17, 1879, and they have
become the parents of eight children, as follows:  Fay, wife of W. W. Flemming,
of Monument; Rex L.; Ona; Bel; Calvin L.; Blanch; Ruth; Gladys.  Mr. Sweek is a
member of the Masonic lodge in Monument, and also of the Woodmen of the World,
Lodge No. 378, of the same place.  He is active in the realm of politics and
displays his characteristic sagacity and vigor there.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.