Biography: Lewis SWEERS

From Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan..., Chicago, Chapman Bros., 1892, pp. 622 - 623:

LEWIS SWEERS. Among the prominent, thrifty and enterprising citizens of Atlas Township, Genesee County, none is more worthy of the notice of our readers than the subject of this sketch. He is a native of the county, having been born here February 29, 1853, and is a son of Manley and Lydia (VanCleve) Sweers. The father was a Vermonter by birth, and the mother a native of the Empire State, and the Grandfather Sweers is said to have been a soldier in the War of 1812.

Manley Sweers, the father of our subject, migrated in the spring of 1836, from New York to Genesee County, this State, and purchased land from the Government where he put up a small log house and resided with his family for a number of years. Later in life, he erected a better residence and is now in his eighty-third year, and counted as one of the oldest living pioneers in Atlas Township.

This sturdy pioneer endured the usual hardships incident to the life of an early settler and had but limited means with which to provide for his family. He has ever been wide awake and enterprising, willing to undertake work for the upbuilding of the county and helpful to the community in every way. He first farmed with the help of oxen but in due time was able to command a team of horses. His education had been limited and he had been blessed with but few advantages. His wife, who died September 29, 1891, was also one of the first pioneers of Atlas Township.

Lewis Sweers, our subject was reared to man's estate in Atlas Township, and from early youth engaged in farming, although his parents granted him time to secure a good common-school education. It was in 1877 when he was married to Amelia, daughter of William Siebenhar of Atlas Township, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. By this union one son was born, Lewis L., who was born May 27, 1878. Our subject has made his own property and now owns a good farm of one hundred and fifty acres. He has served as Treasurer of the township for two years and in 1890 was the Enumerator in this township for the Eleventh Census. Politically, he is a Republican and is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees at Goodrich.