Nathan Sweet was born on June 15, 1887, in the village of Kapule, Russia, the fourth son of Chaim (Herman) and Nechamia Sweet. As a youth, he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and he remained in the building trade until his retirement. At age 18, he fled Russia and settled for three years in London, where he enjoyed the excitement and carefree living of the big city. He was forced to leave London after receiving a ticket to join his brothers in Madison, Wisconsin. Unsatisfied with the slow pace of life in Madison, Sweet moved to Chicago for three years, where he became a bricklayer. Upon his return to Madison, he continued in the construction trade, and assisted in the building of one wing of the Capitol, two high schools, and several elementary schools. The Sweets were among the earliest Eastern European Jews in Madison, and were active in the establishment of Congregation Agudas Achim (now the Beth Israel Center). For the past year, Sweet has been living in Los Angeles with his daughter, Mrs. Lillian Katz.
