Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/29

Rh " Mental Hygiene " (New York. 1843 ; London, 1844) ; and " Human Life " (1867).

SWENEY, John Robson, musician, b. in West Chester, Pa., 31 Dec, 1837. He received a common- school education, and gave early evidences of mu- sical talent. He was leader of a band during the civil war, and upon the cessation of hostilities re- sumed instruction in music at his native place, shortly thereafter essaying his first attempt at the composition of Sunday-school music. His songs were first brought before the public by his teach- ing them to the Sunday-school under his leader- ship. The local reputation that he thus acquired enabled him to find a publisher to issue them in pamphlet-form. A demand for his music was created almost immediately, and each year in- creased his hold upon public favor. In 1874 the degree of M. B. was conferred upon him by the Pennsylvania military academy, where he has been professor of vocal and instrumental music for eigh- teen years. In 1884 he received the degree of Mus. D. His Sunday-school songs are used not only everywhere in the United States, but in the missions in China, Japan, India, and Africa, and his name as a composer of this kind of music is widely known. He now (1888) has charge of the music in Bethany Presbyterian church, Philadel- phia. His publications are " Gems of Praise " (Philadelphia, 1877); "The Garner" (1878); "Joy to the World " (Cincinnati, 1878) ; " The Quiver " (Philadelphia, 1880); "The Wells of Salvation" (1881) ; "Anthems and Voluntaries " (1881) ; " Songs of Redeeming Love " (2 vols., 1882-7) ; " Songs of Triumph" (1882); "Our Sabbath Home" (1884); "Melodious Sonnets" (1885); "Songs of Jov and Gladness" (Boston, 1885); "Joyful Wing" (Phila- delphia, 1886) ; " Infant Praises " (1887) ; " Banner Anthem Book " (1887) ; " Glad Hallelujahs " (1887) ; and " Showers of Blessing " (1888).

SWENSSON, Carl Aaron, clergyman, b. in Sugar Grove, Warren co., Pa., 25 June, 1857. His father was one of the pioneers of the Swedish Lu- theran church in the United States, and labored successfully among the widely scattered Swedes, gathering them into congregations and organizing them. At his death in 1873 he was president of the Swedish Augustana synod. The son received his classical and theological training in the Augus- tana institutions at Rock Island, 111., being gradu- ated at the collegiate department in 1877 and at the seminary in 1879. In the same year he was ordained to the ministry, and at once assumed charge of the Bethany Lutheran congregation, Lindsborg, Kan. He was the founder of Bethany college and normal institute in that town in 1880, and is its president. He was English secretary of the general council in 1886, secretary of the synodi- cal council of Swedish Augustana synod in 1886-'7, and a member of the board of home missions for Kansas in 1884-'7. He has been editor of " Ung- doms Vaennen " in Chicago, 111., for six years ; of " Framat," Lindsborg, Kan., which he founded in 1885 : " Korsbaneret," an annual (Rock Island, 111., 1880-'6) ; and " Sondagsskolboken," a Sunday- school book (Chicago, 1885). He has published " Minnen fran Kyrkan " (Lindsborg, 1888).

SWETT, John Appleton, physician, b. in Boston, Mass., 3 Dec, 1808 ; d. in New York city, 18 Sept., 1854. He was graduated at Harvard in 1828, received his medical degree there in 1831, and after serving in the New York dispensary studied in Paris and visited hospitals in Europe. From 1842 until his death he was one of the physicians to the New York hospital, and delivered courses of lectures there on diseases of the chest and kidneys. In 1853 he was appointed professor of the theory and practice of medicine in the University of the city of New York. Several years before his death he gave particular study to Bright's disease. About 1840 he became associated with Dr. John Watson as editor of the " New York Journal of Medicine." His lectures were published in the New York "Lancet," and afterward ap- peared in book-form, under the title " Treatise on Diseases of the Chest " (New York, 1852).

SWETT, Josiah, clergyman, b. in Claremont, N. H., 4 Aug., 1814. He was graduated at Nor- wich university, Vt., in 1837, where he was a pro- fessor in 1840-'5, studied theology, took orders in the Protestant Episcopal church in 1847, and has been rector of churches in Bethel, Jericho, Fair- fax, and Highgate, Vt. He was professor of systematic theology in the Vermont Episcopal in- stitute in 1865-'7, president of Norwich univer- sity in 1875-'6, and since 1866 has been presi- dent of the standing committee of the diocese of Vermont. Trinity gave him the degree of A. M. in 1856, and Norwich that of D. D. in 1864. Dr. Swett has published "Citizen Soldier " (Nor- wich, 1841) ; " English Grammar " (Windsor, 1842 ; revised ed., Claremont, 1844) ; " Thomson's ' Sea- sons ' and Pope's ' Essav on Man,' with Grammati- cal Notes" (1844); "Primary Grammar" (1845); " Pastoral Visiting " (1852) ; " Let us Pray, or Prayers and Hymns for Family Devotion " (1861); "The Firmament in the Midst of the Waters" (1862) ; and various sermons.

SWETT, Leonard, lawyer, b. near Turner, Me., 11 Aug., 1825. He was educated at North Yar- mouth academy and at Waterville (now Colby uni- versity), but was not graduated. He read law in Portland, enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war, and at its close in 1848 settled in Bloomihgton, 111. He travelled the circuit in fourteen counties, and was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln and David Davis. In 1865 he removed to Chicago. In 1852- : 61 he took an active part in politics, can- vassing the state several times, and in 1858, at the special request of Mr. Lincoln, was a candidate for the legislature on the Republican ticket, and was elected by a large majority. This is the only official place he has ever held. When Mr. Lincoln became president Mr. Swett was employed in the trial of government cases, one of the most noted of which was that for the acquisition of the Califor- nia quicksilver-mines in 1863. In the course of his practice Mr. Swett has defended twentv men in- dicted for murder, securing the acquittal of nine- teen, and a light punishment for the other one. He has also been retained in criminal cases in nearly every part of the country, though his professional work has been mainly devoted to civil suits. His success is attributed to his careful personal atten- tion to details and his eloquence as an advocate. He has rendered much gratuitous service to work- ingmen, servants, and other poor clients. He deliv- ered the oration at the unveiling of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Chicago, 111., 22 Oct., 1887, and at the Chicago Republican convention in June, 1888, in an eloquent speech, proposed Walter Q. Gres- ham, of Illinois, as a candidate for the presidency.

SWETT, Samuel, author, b. in Newburyport, Mass., 9 June, 1782 ; d. in Boston, Mass., 28 Oct., 1866. He was graduated at Harvard in 1800, studied and practised law, and afterward became a merchant. During the war of 1812 he served on the northern frontier on the staff of Gen. George Izard, with the rank of major. He sat for some time in the Massachusetts legislature, and also devoted himself to the study of military history. His