Carroll Co., AR - Biographies - Col. George W. Sweesy

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Col. George W. Sweesy, of the Eureka Springs Times, was born in Mercer 
County, Penn., on March 28, 1839. He is a son of Thomas and Alice 
(Forbes) Sweesy. Thomas Sweesy was born on December 25, 1813, and was 
of French lineage on his father's side. In 1849 he removed his family 
from Pennsylvania to Iowa and located on a farm, on which he resided 
until his death, which occurred on March 23, 1881, in Kansas, he being 
there on a visit. His wife was a native of Ireland, and died in 1846. 
George W. Sweesy was reared on his father's farm, and secured a good 
education in Iowa. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in farming in Iowa 
and continued until the beginning of the Civil War, when he enlisted 
in the Federal army. He joined Company M, Second Iowa Cavalry, and 
served three years. On March 13, 1863, he was taken prisoner [p.1075] 
and sent to Libby Prison. After being released from prison he was 
assigned to detached service at St. Louis under Col. B. L. E. 
Bonneville, post commander of Benton Barracks and chief commissary of 
the muster department of Missouri. Remaining here until September 24, 
1864, Mr. Sweesy was commissioned second lieutenant of the Forty-first 
Missouri Infantry and was brevetted lieutenant colonel and assistant 
commissary of musters. After three months he resigned his commission 
and returned home. Engaging in merchandising at Spragueville, Iowa, he 
continued three years when he sold out and removed to Harvey County, 
Kas. He remained in Kansas until 1883, when he came to Eureka Springs, 
and during that time he owned three newspapers, Halstead Independent, 
Burlington Republican and Indian Chieftain. The last named was 
published at Vinita, I. T. He served as postmaster and land agent for 
the town of Halstead, and also land agent for the Santa Fe Railroad 
Company. In 1885 he located at Eureka Springs, and on November 1, 
1887, in partnership with George Weymouth, purchased the Eureka 
Springs Times of H. A. Cook. In 1857 Mr. Sweesy wedded N. E. Humphrey, 
a native of Pennsylvania, and to them have been born four children, 
viz.: J. LeRoy, a printer in California; Elmer E., Lenore D. B. and 
Leoti. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sweesy worship at the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a Mason and a member of the K. of P. In politics he is 
an ardent Republican, and his paper is one of the leading Republican 
organs of Northwest Arkansas.