At 18 years, Tom Sweet enlisted in 1864 with the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery for duty on coastal South Carolina. The major offensives by the Union Army upon Charleston and Fort Sumter had already occurred the year before. Still held by the Confederate Army, artillery was a vital arsenal. Tom became assigned to light artillery-some forerunners of gatling guns--which would take him out of more remote and protective bunkers and bring him closer to the skirmishes which took place. He mustered out in August, 1865. Judging by his military headstone and photograph, he was most proud to have served our country.
The 4th of 6 children born to his namesake father and Amey Wade, Tom returned home to Glocester at war's end to farm and to cut timber for his widowed mother. In 1868, he traveled west to California; then to Oregon, spending some years mining, hunting, and cow-punching. He would return to Rhode Island in between two such sojourns before heading to the Black Hillls in 1877 for the gold rush.
In 1879, Tom became the first elected sheriff of Custer County, South Dakota. He had the right grit to provide justice and peace in a frontier area. Finally, in 1881, he crossed the border to WY Territory to homestead on Beaver Creek in present day Weston County. Over time, he would accumulate around 500 prime acres and lease another section to farm and raise cattle and horses; providing for financial security and prominence.
In 1892, Tom wed Francis Viola Roache Johnson, a widow with one daughter. They would have 3 children: Stella Mae, Fred Thomas and Delia Naomi. Tom became a contributor in many ways to the Newcastle community and garnered the respect and admiration of his neighbors.
Contributing source: History of Wyoming, I. S. Bartlett, Editor, 1918.
-submitted by Clint Black, Sep 2011
NOTE: From Frances Viola's obituary - His wife was Frances Viola JOHNSTONE and she was first married to Wesley P. Hannum in 1876. Two children were born to this union, Bessie and Junior (Hannum). In 1891 she was separated from Mr. Hannum and came to Newcastle.
On March 8, 1892, she was united in marriage to Thomas P. Sweet and moved to Stockade Beaver Creek where she spent the most of her remaining years. To this union were born three children, Stella, Fred, and Della Sweet.
Thank you,
Jean Lewis
The 4th of 6 children born to his namesake father and Amey Wade, Tom returned home to Glocester at war's end to farm and to cut timber for his widowed mother. In 1868, he traveled west to California; then to Oregon, spending some years mining, hunting, and cow-punching. He would return to Rhode Island in between two such sojourns before heading to the Black Hillls in 1877 for the gold rush.
In 1879, Tom became the first elected sheriff of Custer County, South Dakota. He had the right grit to provide justice and peace in a frontier area. Finally, in 1881, he crossed the border to WY Territory to homestead on Beaver Creek in present day Weston County. Over time, he would accumulate around 500 prime acres and lease another section to farm and raise cattle and horses; providing for financial security and prominence.
In 1892, Tom wed Francis Viola Roache Johnson, a widow with one daughter. They would have 3 children: Stella Mae, Fred Thomas and Delia Naomi. Tom became a contributor in many ways to the Newcastle community and garnered the respect and admiration of his neighbors.
Contributing source: History of Wyoming, I. S. Bartlett, Editor, 1918.
-submitted by Clint Black, Sep 2011
NOTE: From Frances Viola's obituary - His wife was Frances Viola JOHNSTONE and she was first married to Wesley P. Hannum in 1876. Two children were born to this union, Bessie and Junior (Hannum). In 1891 she was separated from Mr. Hannum and came to Newcastle.
On March 8, 1892, she was united in marriage to Thomas P. Sweet and moved to Stockade Beaver Creek where she spent the most of her remaining years. To this union were born three children, Stella, Fred, and Della Sweet.
Thank you,
Jean Lewis
At 18 years, Tom Sweet enlisted in 1864 with the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery for duty on coastal South Carolina. The major offensives by the Union Army upon Charleston and Fort Sumter had already occurred the year before. Still held by the Confederate Army, artillery was a vital arsenal. Tom became assigned to light artillery-some forerunners of gatling guns--which would take him out of more remote and protective bunkers and bring him closer to the skirmishes which took place. He mustered out in August, 1865. Judging by his military headstone and photograph, he was most proud to have served our country.
The 4th of 6 children born to his namesake father and Amey Wade, Tom returned home to Glocester at war's end to farm and to cut timber for his widowed mother. In 1868, he traveled west to California; then to Oregon, spending some years mining, hunting, and cow-punching. He would return to Rhode Island in between two such sojourns before heading to the Black Hillls in 1877 for the gold rush.
In 1879, Tom became the first elected sheriff of Custer County, South Dakota. He had the right grit to provide justice and peace in a frontier area. Finally, in 1881, he crossed the border to WY Territory to homestead on Beaver Creek in present day Weston County. Over time, he would accumulate around 500 prime acres and lease another section to farm and raise cattle and horses; providing for financial security and prominence.
In 1892, Tom wed Francis Viola Roache Johnson, a widow with one daughter. They would have 3 children: Stella Mae, Fred Thomas and Delia Naomi. Tom became a contributor in many ways to the Newcastle community and garnered the respect and admiration of his neighbors.
Contributing source: History of Wyoming, I. S. Bartlett, Editor, 1918.
-submitted by Clint Black, Sep 2011
NOTE: From Frances Viola's obituary - His wife was Frances Viola JOHNSTONE and she was first married to Wesley P. Hannum in 1876. Two children were born to this union, Bessie and Junior (Hannum). In 1891 she was separated from Mr. Hannum and came to Newcastle.
On March 8, 1892, she was united in marriage to Thomas P. Sweet and moved to Stockade Beaver Creek where she spent the most of her remaining years. To this union were born three children, Stella, Fred, and Della Sweet.
Thank you,
Jean Lewis
The 4th of 6 children born to his namesake father and Amey Wade, Tom returned home to Glocester at war's end to farm and to cut timber for his widowed mother. In 1868, he traveled west to California; then to Oregon, spending some years mining, hunting, and cow-punching. He would return to Rhode Island in between two such sojourns before heading to the Black Hillls in 1877 for the gold rush.
In 1879, Tom became the first elected sheriff of Custer County, South Dakota. He had the right grit to provide justice and peace in a frontier area. Finally, in 1881, he crossed the border to WY Territory to homestead on Beaver Creek in present day Weston County. Over time, he would accumulate around 500 prime acres and lease another section to farm and raise cattle and horses; providing for financial security and prominence.
In 1892, Tom wed Francis Viola Roache Johnson, a widow with one daughter. They would have 3 children: Stella Mae, Fred Thomas and Delia Naomi. Tom became a contributor in many ways to the Newcastle community and garnered the respect and admiration of his neighbors.
Contributing source: History of Wyoming, I. S. Bartlett, Editor, 1918.
-submitted by Clint Black, Sep 2011
NOTE: From Frances Viola's obituary - His wife was Frances Viola JOHNSTONE and she was first married to Wesley P. Hannum in 1876. Two children were born to this union, Bessie and Junior (Hannum). In 1891 she was separated from Mr. Hannum and came to Newcastle.
On March 8, 1892, she was united in marriage to Thomas P. Sweet and moved to Stockade Beaver Creek where she spent the most of her remaining years. To this union were born three children, Stella, Fred, and Della Sweet.
Thank you,
Jean Lewis
Inscription
C.O. A
3 R.I. H.A.
Gravesite Details
Death Year taken from wife's Civil War Pension showing Widow Nov 20, 1924
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