Memorable Manitobans: Harmon Elmer Sweet (1888-1967)

Harmon Elmer Sweet Click to enlarge

Educator.

Born at Thornhill on 26 March 1888, son of Richard Sweet and Ellen Collins, he worked as a school teacher, teaching at Grassy River School (1907-1908) and Lucania School (1908), and serving as the Principal of La Riviere School (1913-1915).

In June 1915, he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and went overseas, losing his right eye during military duty. He returned to high school teaching until retirement in 1954.

He married Bertha O’Neil (1886-1965), daughter of David Henry O’Neil (c1880-1960). They had no children.

He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1955 where he died on 26 October 1967.

Sources:

Birth registration [Harmon Ehmer Sweet], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.

Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.

Obituary [David Henry O’Neil], Brandon Sun, 12 January 1960, page 11.

Death registrations [Harmon Elmer Sweet, Bertha Sweet], British Columbia Vital Statistics.

Photograph, Darlingford School Heritage Museum.

We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 January 2026

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!