1790 Theophilus Sweet lived in Pauling, Dutchess County, New York. [1]
1810 Theophilus Sweet lived in Dover, Dutchess County, New York. [2]
1820 Theophilus Sweet lived in Waconteby Twp, White County, Illinois in a household with 3 young males, 2 young females and two adult male-female couples. The adjacent listing was for Joseph Sweet. [3]
1830 Theophilus Sweet (age 40-50) lived in Sangamon County, Illinois in a household with an adult female (age 40-50), 5 younger males, and 4 younger females. [4]
1837 Theophilus Sweet and Lucinda Harrison were married on June 8 in Sangamon County, Illinois. [5] [6]
1840 Theophilus Sweet (age 50-60) lived in Sangamon County, Illinois in a household with two adult females (ages 40-50 and 80-90), 4 younger males, and 2 younger females. [7]
1850 Theo. Sweet (age 65), minister-Christian, and Lucinda Sweet (age 54) lived in Winchester, Scott County, Illinois with Phebe M (age 25), C. S (age 22, merchant), Ellen (age 24), Annette (age 10), Atheline (age 8), and M.S (age 5). [8]
1860 Theophilus Sweet died on December 2. [9]
Died, in Winchester, Illinois, Sunday, December 2, 1860, Eld. Theophilus Sweet, aged 73 years, 4 months, and 18 days.
A frequent request of the deceased during health, was, that when his work should be done and he gathered to his fathers, I would remember him in the pages of the Harbinger. Eld. Sweet left New York and settled in Illinois in 1819—the year following its admission as a State. He was then a member of the Baptist church, having become connected with that organization in 1805.—After being for several years a preacher in the Baptist ranks, he commenced proclaiming the principles of the Reformation, and assisted in organizing the first church of Disciples in Sangamon county, over which he presided as Elder for 25 years. During this period of his life he was incessant in his labors as a proclaimer, and proved himself to be an acceptable minister, and a workman who "needeth not to be ashamed." Under his influences and direction, a great number of young men entered into the ministry, and became proclaimers of the Word—among the number his eldest son, Levi J. Sweet, now laboring in Texas. After his removal to this place, and after almost half a century of labors as a Disciple, local difficulties, growing out of questions of church government, induced him to re-unite with the Baptist church—though insisting that he maintained the same opinions and held the same views as before severing his connection with the Disciples. Whether ill-advised or judicious, the step was regarded with most charity by those of the Disciples who best understood the points of discipline involved, and Father Sweet's reasons for the course taken.
But he is gone—a patriarch has fallen—a man of extensive acquaintance, of unblemished character, and of abiding Christian faith, has departed, and his loss is most felt where he was best known. A tranquil and easy death closed a long and useful life; for he literally "fell asleep"—asleep (I firmly trust) in Jesus. Blessed consummation! May we each live so that when the hour of
death comes, we may fall not as the craven coward falls, but
"—As one who draws his cloak about him,
And lies down to pleasant dreams." B.
Research Notes:
"Theophilus Sweet came from New York to Illinois in 1820, and was ordained by "Middle Fork of Muddy River" church in 1824. Most of his active life was spent in Sangamon county, the last ten years in Scott county. He died at Winchester in 1856."
Lucinda B. Harrison, daughter of Ezekial, "was born March 13, 1792 in Virginia." She "married in Sangamon county to Rev. Theophilus Sweet. ... She died August 20, 1873, at the home of her nephew, J. H. Harrison" in Sangamon County. [10]
A biosketch reports [11]:
Sweet, Theophilus, a cousin to Joseph and Robert, was born and married in Otsego county, New York. Had children born there, and moved to Morgan county, Illinois, and from there to the vicinity of Loami, Sangamon county, in 1826. They brought six children and three were born in Sangamon county. ... His eldest son Levi ... married Lucy Colburn ... The wife of Theopilus Sweet died at Loami and he married Lucinda B. Harrison. He moved with part of his children to Scott county, and died about 1860 at Winchester, Illinois. His widow died August 20,1873, on Richland creek, at the residence of her nephew, John H. Harrison. Theopilus Sweet was a preacher of the Old School Baptist Church when he came to Sangamon county, and soon after changed to the Christian, or what is called Campbellite. He preached in Sangamon about eighteen years, and was then the principal mover in organizing a phalanx of Fourierites at Loami in 1844. That was disbanded in two or three years. Mr. Sweet joined the Missionary Baptists two or three years before his death.
A history of The Spring Creek (Mt. Zion) Berlin Church.reports:
In 1818 Andrew Scott came from Crawford County, Indiana, and located near Richland, in Cartwright Township, Sangamon County. He was a minister whose aim was to teach and preach the true faith and the pure gospel. He at once began to hold meetings in the log cabins of the pioneers. In 1824 he settled near Island Grove—the woods skirting Spring Creek—a mile or two northwest of the site of old Berlin. There he met Theophilus Sweet, a Baptist preacher ot the old school. It was not long until Mr. Sweet was in accord with Mr. Scott in his Christian faith and preaching. Their united labors soon developed a Christian Church on Spring Creek that met for worship in the log schoolhouse. [12]
In 1840 a call for "Our Annual Meeting" to assemble in Springfield on Friday before the fourth Lord's Day in September was signed by B. W. Stone, John T. Jones, Peter Hedenberg, D. P. Henderson, Henry D. Palmer, William Davenport, John Rigdon, D. B. Hill and Theophilus Sweet. One object of the meeting was to put "as many evangelists in the field as possible. [13]
The American Christian Missionary Society was formed at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1849. It became the mother of all the wider missionary activities among the Disciples of Christ. Friday, September 20, 1850, the "State Convention of the Christian Church in Illinois began and held at Shelbyville." Those present were J. Atkinson, Theophilus Sweet, H. W. Osborn, Jas. A. Lindsay, W. F. M. Arny, A. Kellar, Morris R. Chew, Bushrod W. Henry, Wm. Davenport, J. T. Jones, H. D. Palmer, Wm. T. Major, G. W. Minier, John M. Hodge, Elijah Vawter, Alpheus Brown, James D. McPherson, P. H. Murphy and A. A. Glenn. These men were delegates who represented local churches, counties and co-operations. Other congregations were represented by letters. The number of Christian Churches then in the State was 104, with an aggregate membership of 6,359. During the year then closing, 11233 persons had been added to the churches. The first business transacted by this meeting was the organization of "The Bible Society of the State of Illinois, auxiliary to the American Christian Bible Society." Next, "The Illinois State Missionary Society" was organized by the adoption of a constitution and the election of the following officers : President, Henry D. Palmer; Vice-Presidents, Wm. T. Major, Harrison W. Osborn, Bushrod W. Henry; Managers, Jas. A. Lindsay, Morris R. Chew, Wm. Davenport, J. Atkinson, John H. Hodge, John E. Murphy, John Houston, E. W. Bakewell; Recording Secretary, A. J. Kane; Treasurer, William Lavely. Mr. Palmer presided at this meeting, and Mr. Vawter served as secretary the first day and was succeeded by Mr. Minier. Some sessions of the convention were held in the M. E. Chapel, and their pulpit was filled on Sunday, September 22. [14]
Menard County, Tallala. Organized 1834, by Theophilus Sweet; present membership, 200; value of property, $5,000: Bible-school enrollment, 200. In October, 1834, "the church of Christ in Clary's Grove" was formed of the six following persons: John Willson, William G. White, Jane White. Jesse L. Trailer, Obedience Trailor and Miss Lydia Ann Caldwell. James W. Simpson and wife came from Kentucky the following year and at once united with the church. Their meetings were held in their residences and the old-time schoolhouse until the chapel was built in 1844. After serving them twenty years, it was sold. The coming of a railway built Tallula, and the place of meeting and local name were accordingly changed. The Tallula chapel was dedicated by John O'Kane in January, 1865. From first to last, this church has been served by about fifty preachers. Besides Mr. Sweet, this church was ministered to by Robert Foster, B. W. Stone, Maurice R. Trimble, W. W. Happy, W. H. Brown and others of the heroes of the faith. But the congregation always met for the divinely appointed worship upon the Lord's Days. This church has held in its fellowship an unusual number of brainy, forceful and helpful men and women. Colonel Judy and his wife, Dr. J. F. Willson and wife, W. G. Green, and not a few others, were of this class. [15]
Sangamon County, Berlin. Organized 1825, by Andrew Scott; present membership, 80; value of property, including parsonage, $1,500; Bible school began 1867; present enrollment, 100. (See Chap. II.) In its early years the church was served by Andrew Scott, Theophilus Sweet, Judge J. W. Taylor, A. J. Kane and Dr. Mallory. [16]
Scott County, Winchester. Organized 1832; present membership, 300; value of property, $7,000; Bible-school enrollment, 140. Early in the thirties a few families of Disciples came to Winchester. They soon found one another. As a result, they instituted regular weekly meetings in their homes for public worship. They "broke bread," read the Scriptures and exhorted one another. Among them there were Levi Harlan and Theophilus Sweet, to whom, doubtless, belongs the honor of this beginning. In 1838 this church had 100 members. In the earlier years a lot was secured in the southeast part of town and a substantial brick house built thereon. [17]
Theophilus and his family took part in the "Integral Phalanx" in Sangamon, Illinois. The participants were inspired by the ideas of Charles Fourier, a French utopian socialist and philosopher. Fourier coined the word féminisme in 1837; as early as 1808, he had argued that the extension of women's rights was the general principle of all social progress. Fourier inspired the founding of the communist community called La Reunion near present-day Dallas, Texas as well as several other communities within the United States of America, such as the North American Phalanx. Fourier declared that concern and cooperation were the secrets of social success. He believed that a society that cooperated would see an immense improvement in its productivity levels. Workers would be compensed for their labors according to their contribution. Fourier saw such cooperation occurring in communities he called "phalanxes". Phalanxes were based around structures called "grand hotels" (or Phalanstère). These buildings were four level apartment complexes where the richest had the uppermost apartments and the poorest enjoyed a ground floor residence. Wealth was determined by one's job; jobs were assigned based on the interests and desires of the individual. There were incentives: jobs people might not enjoy doing would receive higher pay. For a description of this social experiment in Illinois, see "the Integral Phalanx" by George E. Dawson [18]
In 1844 Lick Creek was a postoffice in Sangamon county, Illinois, about sixteen miles southwest of Springfield. It is said that Sangamon in Pottawatomie language, means "a country where there is plenty to eat." If so, it fitly describes the county, for nowhere can be found a more fertile soil nor a more agreeable diversity of forest and prairie. Lick Creek postoffice took its name from a small creek which ran near the then settlement, on which were salt licks frequented by the deer. It is now known as the village of Loanii. The early settlers in this neighborhood were genuine Yankees. They were a reading people and, no doubt, the new doctrine preached in Brisbane's column of the Tribune reached this remote settlement. One Rev. Theophilus Sweet of the Campbellite or Christian church, became a student of the question of association, and had as early as 1844, induced some of his neighbors to organize an experiment to test the economy and desirability of associated effort. The organization was called the Sangamon Association.
In the Harbinger, Vol. i, p. 288, October n, 1845, appears the following communication of A. W. Sweet son of the above named Theophilus Sweet.
The Sangamon Association
Mr. Editor—A short account of the Sangamon Association may not be uninteresting to you. Having had an opportunity to inform ourselves upon the Science of Social Unity, we last winter gave three lectures upon it, in this neighborhood, and got up too strong an excitement; (it is not best to have many out of the same neighborhood, on account of the neighborhood prejudices) we however, organized in February, selected our officers, and location, got some five hundred acres of land invested, principally under cultivation, and well proportioned as to prairie and timber. Our location on the head of Lick Creek timber, fourteen miles from Springfield, and on the south side of a six mile prairie with good timber adjoining. The prairie is undulating—has a deep rich and black soil and is decidedly a healthy situation, as twenty years experience proves. The railroad from Springfield to Merldocia passes immediately by the domain. We do not associate until the first of March next. The present season we are making the necessary preparations by building, etc. The plan of our present building is a frame 390 feet In length, 24 in width, the rooms to be finished off, 16 feet square, in front; two-thirds of the length is to be one story, and one-third two stories, and is intended for temporary dwellings, but eventually for work shops, the work, however, Is substantial. All the work done the present year, Is paid in stock at the customary prices of the country. We have now 64 feet In length of our building up, and inclosed, and the present season we shall burn brick, sow wheat, etc. We have a saw mill that will be in operation by the first of August. We intend to proceed in everything with the utmost caution, and yet with firmness, and can see no reason why we should not succeed. Our constitution Is liberal, but allows us to contract no debt to exceed five per cent upon the capital. We solicit subscriptions of stock, and request those who are favorable to Association to come and see our location, soil,etc. We, however, want none who view it only as a matter of dollars and cents, but those who are Assoclationists In deed and truth; no busy-bodies In other men's matters, brawlers nor contentious persons; but persons of good morals, who are willing to be pioneers in the regeneration of Society, and such as are not apt to put their hands to the plough and look back, but Philanthropists. We have now thirty-five productive members, and but fifteen unproductive (children) members and shall only admit new members as we can furnish rooms and profitable employment.
Springfield, July 5, 1845.
Alphadelphla Toscin. A. W. Sweet. [19]The experiment was short lived, and the group dissolved in 1847. A list [p. 96] of those at any time connected with The Integral Phalanx in Illinois includes [20]
Sweet, Levi, son of Theophilus Sweet.
Sweet, Mrs., his wife. Children, Manda. Henry and Sarah.
Sweet. Ansel, son of Theophilus Sweet.
Sweet. Mrs., his wife. Three children.
Sweet. Judson. son of Theophilus Sweet.
Sweet. Mrs., his wife.
Sweet. Lewis, widower, son of Theophilus Sweet.
Sweet, Cyrus S.. son of Theophilus Sweet, 18 years, unmarried.
Sweet. Theophilus W.
Sweet. Mrs. Lucinda, his wife.
Sweet, Phoebe M.. daughter of Theophilus Sweet, afterwards married Tankersley.
[1] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[2] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] Illinois Marriages to 1850, [AncestryRecord].
[6] Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860, [AncestryRecord].
[7] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[9] The Millennial Harbinger, 5th Series, Vol. 4 (1861), 58-59, [HathiTrust].
[10] John Carroll Power, History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois (), 359, [GoogleBooks].
[11] John Carroll Power, History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois, 699, [GoogleBooks].
[12] Nathaniel Smith Haynes, History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, 1819-1914 (Cincinnati: The Standard publishing company, 1915), 25, [InternetArchive].
[13] Nathaniel Smith Haynes, History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, 1819-1914 (Cincinnati: The Standard publishing company, 1915), 88, [InternetArchive].
[14] Nathaniel Smith Haynes, History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, 1819-1914 (Cincinnati: The Standard publishing company, 1915), 91-92, [InternetArchive].
[15] Nathaniel Smith Haynes, History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, 1819-1914 (Cincinnati: The Standard publishing company, 1915), 328-329, [InternetArchive].
[16] Nathaniel Smith Haynes, History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, 1819-1914 (Cincinnati: The Standard publishing company, 1915), 371, [InternetArchive].
[17] Nathaniel Smith Haynes, History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois, 1819-1914 (Cincinnati: The Standard publishing company, 1915), 381, [InternetArchive].
[18] George E Dawson, "The Integral Phalanx", Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1907, of 85-98, [GoogleBooks].
[19] George E Dawson, "The Integral Phalanx", Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1907, [GoogleBooks].
[20] George E Dawson, "The Integral Phalanx", Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1907, [GoogleBooks].