Résumé

It is likely that Robert C. Sweatt learned much about construction from his father, a builder, John B. Sweatt.

Bookkeeper, J.B. Sweatt Lumber Manufacturer and Dealer, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, 1895. (See R.L. Polk & Company's Sault Sainte Marie City Directory, 1895, p. 185.)

Partner, J.B. and R.C. Sweatt, Lumber Manufacturers and Dealers, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, 1898. This firm operated 545 Portage Avenue East in town. (See R.L. Polk & Company's Sault Sainte Marie City Directory, 1898, p. 161.)

Registrar of Deeds, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, c. 1900.

Partner, [Lewis R.] Stritesky and Sweatt, Architects, Spokane, WA, 1905. (SeeR.L. Polk & Company's Spokane City Directory, 1905, p. 700.)

Principal, R.C. Sweatt Company, Architect, Spokane, WA, -1917. Sweatt leased Room #605 in the Jamieson Building in 1909. (see R.L. Polk & Company's Spokane City Directory, 1909, p. 1012.) In 1913, Sweatt's practice was listed in the city directory as "Robert C. Sweatt, Architect." It operated in Room #416 of the Realty Building in Spokane. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane City Directory, 1913, p. 975.) In 1916, Sweatt had his office in Room #400 of the Fernwell Building, and called his business "The Robert C. Sweatt Company." At this time, his father, John B. Sweatt, worked as a building contractor in Spokane, with an office in Room #406 of the Rookery Building. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane City Directory, 1916, p. 846.)

In 1913, Sweatt served as the consulting architect for the Spokane Public School system. (See The Architects' Directory and Specification Index for 1913-1914, [New York: William T. Comstock Company, 1913], p. 27.)

Salesman, H.W. Johns-Manville Company, Vancouver, BC, Canada, c. 09/1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: Spokane; Roll: 1992106; Draft Board: 3, accessed 07/19/2018.)

Machinery Agent, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1940. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, accessed 07/19/2018.)

Relocation

His parents John and Jennie Sweatt, lived in Chicago, IL, in 1870, according to the US Census of that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Chicago Ward 5, Cook, Illinois; Roll: M593_200; Page: 166A; Family History Library Film: 545699, accessed 07/19/2018.) Robert was born in Chicago, IL, in late 1872; eight years later, his family resided at 3510 Dearborn Street in Chicago, IL, as per the US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 186; Page: 279C; Enumeration District: 030, accessed 07/19/2018.) The family was not listed in the Chicago City Directory of 1882

The Sweatt Family lived in Sault Sainte Marie, MI, in 1895, where John owned a lumber business at 221 Portage Avenue East. Robert worked as a bookkeeper in his father's firm, and lived with his parents at 215 Portage Avenue East. (See R.L. Polk & Company's Sault Sainte Marie City Directory, 1895, p. 185.)

Robert Sweatt married Jennie Odegaard in Hennepin County in 1896. Jennie Odegaard (sometimes spelled "Odegard,") lived in Minneapolis in 1894, and worked as a stenographer for the Emerson and Hall Company, brokers. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1894, p. 723.) It is not clear how the two met, as Robert did not seem to have ever lived in the Minneapolis area. It is possible that he lived there or the two met each other while on a vacation or family visit.

After his marriage, he and Jennie Odegaard lived at 210 Barbeau Street in Sault Sainte Marie. By 1898, Robert and John co-owned the lumber business. (See R.L. Polk & Company's Sault Sainte Marie City Directory, 1898, p. 161.) Although Robert was listed as a "registrar of deeds" in 1900, John continued to manage the lumber yard. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Sault Sainte Marie Ward 3, Chippewa, Michigan; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0021; FHL microfilm: 1240707, accessed 07/19/2018.)

Father, mother, son and daughter-in-law relocated to Spokane, WA, by about 1904 or 1905. Both Robert and his father appeared in the Spokane city directory of 1905. Robert practiced with a partner in an architectural firm, and lived at 5th Avenue and Washington Street. John and Jennie lived at 1901 1st Avenue. John had a partner in a general contracting business. (See R.L. Polk & Company's Spokane City Directory, 1905, p. 700.)

He and his family lived at 1723 West 14th Avenue in Spokane, WA, by 1909. (See R.L. Polk & Company's Spokane City Directory, 1909, p. 1012.) According to the US Census of the following year, Sweatt resided with his wife, his mother-in-law, Maren Odegaard (born c. 1837 in Norway), his sister-in-law, Nellie B. Odegaard, (born c. 1880 in MN), and two nieces, Ruth F. Thurston (born c. 1897 in MN) and Lois E. Thurston (born c. 1902 in IA). Maren Odegaard, a widow, had her own income, and Nellie worked as a piano teacher. Maren had had eight children during her life, six of whom survived in 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Spokane Ward 3, Spokane, Washington; Roll: T624_1670; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0176; FHL microfilm: 1375683, accessed 07/19/2018.) He remained at this address in 1916. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane City Directory, 1916, p. 846.) By the 1917, he and Jennie lived at 1730 West 12th Avenue in Spokane.

In 1918, Sweatt changed careers ahd became a salesman for the Canadian affiliate of the H. W. Johns-Manville Company. In 09/1918, he lived in the Royal Mansions at Bute and Pacific Streets in Vancouver, BC. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: Spokane; Roll: 1992106; Draft Board: 3, accessed 07/19/2018.)

In 1940, the Sweatts lived in Apartment #53 (which they seemed to share with Mr and Mrs. William E. Bland) at 2046 Beach Avenue in Vancouver, BC. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, accessed 07/19/2018.)

Sweatt passed away at the age of 76 in Vancouver, WA.

Parents

His parents were John B. Sweatt (born c. 04/1847 in MS-d. 08/03/1926 in Spokane, WA,) and Jennie E. Carlisle (born c. 07/1851 in NY). John's father, James Sweatt (born c. 1806 in SC) was a farmer, who had acreage in Attala County, near the town of Burketsville, MS. As noted by the US Censuses of 1870 and 1880, John Sweatt left farming and worked as a contractor and builder in Chicago, IL. As per those two censuses, Jennie E. Sweatt managed the household that, by the latter, consisted of three children, Eva, (born c. 1871 in Chicago, IL), Robert and Elsie L., (born c. 09/1874 in Chicago, IL).

Daughter Elsie married at age 50 to a man three years older, David W. Freeman (born c. 1872), who was a neighbor on West Mallon Street in Spokane, WA, in 06/1925. This marriage certificate was the only document found listing Jennie Carlisle's maiden name. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Reference Number: easpmca36493, accessed 07/19/2018.)

Spouse

He and his wife, Jennie Odegaard, (born 11/1874 in MN), married on 09/13/1896 in Minneapolis, MN. (See Ancestry.com, Source InformationAncestry.com. Minnesota, Marriages Index, 1849-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 07/18/2018.)

In 1914, Maren Odegaard, Jennie's mother, visited Mandal, Norway. This may have been her family home. She returned to the US from Kristiansund, Norway to New York, NY, on 10/31/1914. (See Ancestry.com, Source CitationYear: 1914; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 2383; Line: 26; Page Number: 191, accessed 07/19/2018.)

Biographical Notes

According to his World War I draft registration card, Sweatt was tall with a medium build, gray eyes and brown hair. He had a distinguishing feature: he was missing the second joint on the fourth finger of this left hand. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: Spokane; Roll: 1992106; Draft Board: 3, accessed 07/19/2018.)

• Vancouver, WA (Architect's Death)
  Vancouver, WA

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