Benjamin Sweet

Benjamin J. Sweet
Benjamin J. Sweet
Member of the Wisconsin Senate; from the 19th district
	In office; January 1, 1861 – January 1, 1862
Preceded by	Samuel H. Thurber
Succeeded by	George A. Jenkins
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Jeffery Sweet; April 24, 1832; Kirkland, New York, U.S.
Died	January 1, 1874 (aged 41); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Spouses	Lovisa Loveland Denslow; (died 1878);
Children	Ada Celeste Sweet; (b. 1853; died 1928); Lawrence Wheelock Sweet; (b. 1854); Minnie Sweet; (b. 1857); Martha Winifred (Bonfils); (b. 1863; died 1936); Benjamin Jeffery Sweet; (b. 1871; died 1906);
Parents	James Sweet (father); Charlotte (Newell) Sweet (mother);
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army; Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel, USV; Brevet Brig. General, USV;
Commands	21st Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Northern Virginia campaign; Confederate Heartland Offensive Battle of Perryville; ;

Benjamin Jeffery Sweet (April 24, 1832 – January 1, 1874) was an American lawyer, politician, public administrator, and Union Army officer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and a Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

Sweet is also an important figure in the history of women's rights. The founding document he prepared for the town of Lombard, Illinois, stated that "all citizens" are entitled to vote. In 1891, Ellen A. Martin invoked that provision and voted, 29 years before women were empowered by an amendment to the Constitution to vote in the United States. His two daughters, Ada Celeste Sweet and Winifred Bonfils were also important figures in the history of the battle for women's rights.

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