San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ALFRED L. SWETT
A vineyardist, whose scientific,
practical methods are as interesting as his exceptional and enviable results,
is Alfred L. Swett, who lives one-half miles to the north of Clements. He was born at Newport, Orleans County,
Vermont, on July 25, 1855, the son of John and Lydia (Prouty) Swett, and had
the misfortune to lose his father when he was twelve years old. His mother, however, attained her fiftieth
year, passing away in California.
In 1877, Alfred came out to the
coast on an emigrant train such as was then beginning to be a frequent kind of
service, and settled at Acampo; and for two or three years he found work
here. He then went to Roberts Island and
was foreman on Mr. Peters’ ranch for a year and a half. Then he engaged in teaming for S. L. Magee,
who had the Star Mills, to the mountain towns, Jackson, Ione, and San Andreas,
running from Stockton and carrying provisions, while also doing general teaming
and hauling.
He was married in 1880 at the old
Athearn Rancho to Miss Fanny Athearn, the daughter of Prince A. and Louise
(Hastings) Athearn, the former a forty-niner, after whom the Athearn School was
named. Following their marriage, they
rented the ranch to the northwest of Clements, now owned by William
Hildebrand. Finding this quarter-section
insufficient for their growing operations, they rented the quarter-section
adjoining. There they farmed for four
years; and then they went to Lockeford and leased the Sam Baird place for a
couple of years. After that they removed
to Colfax, in Placer County, and Mr. Swett purchased a half interest in a
mercantile establishment in that city, with a Mr. Williams as partner, and
engaged in a general merchandise trade as Williams & Swett. After continuing together for a year and a
half, the partners sold out, and then Mr. Swett came to his present ranch of
eighty-six acres one-half mile north of Clements, which is a part of the old
Athearn Rancho. Here he set out
twenty-two acres to vineyard, which today is in splendid bearing form. He set out a family orchard, built a
comfortable, attractive home, and otherwise improved the ranch. Mrs. Swett died in August, 1897, mourned by
all who had come to know and appreciate her sterling qualities as a woman,
friend and neighbor. She was the beloved
mother of three children; and six grandchildren have come to gladden their
affectionate grandfather. Alice married
Dr. C. D. Sweet of Oakland, and their two children are named Clifford and
Elizabeth. Oscar A. married Miss Sadie Mohrmann, now the mother of two children, Virgil Oscar and
Charles Alfred. Oleta has become Mrs.
Dee Frank Akers of Clements; and she has two children, Dee Frank, Jr., and
Barbara Frances. Oscar is living with
his father; and both father and son are Odd Fellows, affiliated with the
Clements Lodge, and have gone through all of the chairs. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Swett are both Rebekahs,
and have gone through all of the chairs of that branch. Politically, father and son are
Republicans. Mr. Swett has always been
interested in the cause of education, and served as trustee of Athearn district
for sixteen years.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
820. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Genealogy
Databases