BIO: Harrison Hayes SWEENEY, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 506 & 507.
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  HARRISON HAYES SWEENEY, postmaster at Houtzdale, Pa., has been a resident of 
this borough for thirty years and for the past twenty-five years has been 
associated with his father in the furniture and undertaking business.  He was 
born at Powelton, Center county, Pa., June 2, 1872, and is a son of John and 
Mary (Hayes) Sweeney.
  John Sweeney was born in Ireland in 1836 and learned the cabinet-making trade 
in his own land.  In 1863 he embarked for the United States and safely reached 
America after a voyage of six weeks and three days.  He found work at his trade 
in the city of Philadelphia, where he remained for two years and then moved to 
Broad Top, Huntingdon county, and in 1873 from there to Houtzdale, where he 
embarked in the undertaking and furniture business.  His records show that he 
has conducted more burials than any other undertaker in the same length of time, 
in all Clearfield county.  He married Mrs. Mary (Hayes) Corbin, in 1869, who was 
the widow of Jesse Corbin, who had been superintendent of schools in Center 
county.  She was born in Blair county and was but six years old when she was 
left an orphan.  Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Corbin:  Clara, a Mrs. 
Hayes, who lives at Glen Campbell; B. M., who is a conductor on the Middle 
Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Altoona; and Nettie, who is the wife 
of Dr. D. S. Rice, a noted physician of Clearfield county.  To Mr. and Mrs. 
Sweeney the following children were born:  Minnie, who is the wife of J. R. 
Cornelius, of Patton, Pa.; Harrison Hayes; and Nellie, who is assistant 
postmistress and is associated also in the undertaking business.
  Harrison Hayes Sweeney was reared at Houtzdale and is a graduate of the 
Houtzdale High School and also of Duff's Business College, at Pittsburg.  Prior 
to settling permanently in the borough, he was on the road for seven years for 
John Murphy & Co., in undertaking supplies and also taught embalming, being a 
graduate of an embalming school.  He is not only a very enterprising and 
reliable business man but he has been active in public affairs at Houtzdale, 
where he served for six years as a member of the council, during five years of 
the period being its president, an unusual honor.  He has been a member of the 
school board for the past two years and in February, 1911, was appointed 
postmaster at Houtzdale.  He is identified with the Republican party, and is in 
close touch with party organizers.
  Mr. Sweeney was married in January, 1906, to Miss Alice Gleason, who was born 
and reared at Houtzdale, and is a daughter of Andrew Gleason, who was one of the 
old and successful merchants of this place.  Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney have had three 
children, but one of whom survives, John Burke, a sturdy little lad of two 
years.  Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney are active members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and Mr. Sweeney is an interested and interesting teacher in the Sunday-
school.  He is identified fraternally with a number of organizations, including 
the Knights of Pythias, the Brotherhood of America, the P. O. S. of A., the Elks 
at Clearfield, and the I. O. R. M. at Brisbin, together with the United 
Commercial Travelers, of Clarksburg, W. Va.  He is a charter member of Fire 
Company No. 1, at Houtzdale.  Personally Mr. Sweeney is of frank and engaging 
manner and as a public official cannot fail to meet with the approbation of his 
fellow citizens.