Willis Sweet

Willis Sweet
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's at-large district
In office October 1, 1890 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	Fred Dubois (as territorial delegate)
Succeeded by	Edgar Wilson
Personal details
Born	January 1, 1856 Alburgh, Vermont, U.S.
Died	July 9, 1925 (aged 69) San Juan, Puerto Rico
Political party	Republican
Profession	Attorney

Willis Sweet (January 1, 1856 – July 9, 1925) was the first United States Representative elected from Idaho following statehood in 1890. Sweet served as a Republican in the House from 1890 to 1895, representing the state at-large.

Born in Alburgh, Vermont on New Year's Day 1856, Sweet attended public schools and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He learned the printer's trade in Lincoln and relocated west to Moscow in the Idaho Territory in 1881. Sweet was the first editor of the Moscow Mirror in 1882,^[1] studied law and became an attorney, judge, and supreme court justice in the territory. Also a territorial legislator, he was instrumental in bringing the University of Idaho to Moscow,^[2] and was the first president of its board of regents.^[3]

Sweet was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1896, but was defeated in the Idaho Legislature by Populist Henry Heitfeld. He was an attorney in north Idaho in Coeur d'Alene until his appointment as the attorney general of Puerto Rico in 1903.^[4] Sweet served until 1905 and then worked as a newspaper editor in San Juan from 1913 until his death in 1925.^[3][5]

A residence hall at the University of Idaho is named for Sweet.^[6] Opened in 1936, the building is now Carol Ryrie Brink Hall, a faculty office building. The Willis Sweet residence hall was relocated to the new Theophilus Tower in 1969,^[7] and later to the former McConnell Hall, on the northeast corner of Sixth and Rayburn streets.^[8]

References

1. "Rival papers at Moscow merged". Lewiston Morning Tribune. November 1, 1939. p. 12.
2. Petersen, Keith (June 18, 1988). "Genesee legislator wrote bill creating the university". (Moscow) Idahonian. p. 3C.
3. "Willis Sweet and the founding of the university". University of Idaho Library. January 2001. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
4. "Idaho man given important appointment". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 7, 1903. p. 1.
5. Dubois, Fred T. (August 6, 1925). "Sweet greatest orator of Idaho". Spokesman-Review. p. 10.
6. "New residence hall honors Willis Sweet". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. July 30, 1936. p. 10.
7. "Theophilus Tower". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1970–71 (2 yrs). p. 261. Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. "Special collections: UI buildings, W". University of Idaho Library. Retrieved November 29, 2012.

External links

• Willis Sweet at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Willis Sweet at Find a Grave