Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....Sweeney, Owen 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2008, 12:35 am Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899) OWEN SWEENEY. - There are men whom it is a delight to know, and in whose cheery presence it is a delight to be - men whose natures seem to overflow with geniality and good nature. Such men are popular. If with those qualities are combined industry, a love for work, and thrift, material conditions must be such as to preserve and enrich that geniality. His neighbors say that Owen Sweeney is a man of that kind. He is engaged in general farming in Cherry township, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, and the outlines of his family history are herewith presented. He was born at Greene, Chenango county, New York, August 14, 1835, the son of Michael and Catherine (Sweeney) Sweeney. Though the parents were of the same name and natives of the same county in Ireland (Sligo), they were not related. Michael Sweeney was the son of Owen and Catherine (Hebern) Sweeney. He married in his native land and soon afterward, in 1830, set out for a new land. It was some years before he finally found the spot in America on which he resolved to make his home. Landing at Montreal in 1830, he remained there a short time, then went to Maine, where he remained a year. He then lived successively in New Jersey and in New York until 1836, when he moved to Bradford county, Pennsylvania. In 1842 he came to Sullivan county (then Lycoming) Pennsylvania. He had previously worked on the Chenango canal and on the North Branch canal, and had saved a portion of his wages. Upon his arrival in Sullivan county, in 1842, he purchased fifty acres of wooded land, at two dollars per acre, and there for more than half a century he remained. His wife died June 24, 1877, and Michael survived until February 14, 1895, when he passed away at the age of ninety-two years, five months and fourteen days. Both are buried in St. Basil's cemetery, Dushore. The seven children of Michael and Catherine Sweeney are as follows: Mary; Owen, subject of this sketch; Martin, a farmer of Cherry township, Sullivan county; Ann, who died at the age of eighteen months; Michael, who resides with his brother Owen; Patrick, a sawyer of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania; and Ellen, wife of Thomas Lavelle, of Walla Walla, Washington. Our subject remained at the home of his parents until he attained his majority. Then for five years he engaged in lumbering during the winter and farming during the summer. At the age of twenty-six years he was married and he began housekeeping on his present farm of one hundred and four acres, which he purchased at one dollar and fifty cents an acre, from Colonel C. Jones. It was densely wooded, and when he came to the place he had to make a clearing for the plank dwelling which he erected, a dwelling which in 1893 he enlarged and improved. The wife of Mr. Sweeney was Miss Margaret Jordan, and the marriage occurred at Dushore, October 6, 1861. She was born in county Sligo, Ireland, February 3, 1839, the daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Walsh) Jordan, natives of counties Sligo and Mayo, respectively. Patrick was the son of Henry and Mary (Cosgrove) Jordan, who remained through life in Ireland; but Michael and Mary (Howley) Walsh, the parents of Patrick's wife, emigrated to America in 1842 and settled in Cherry township. With them came Patrick and Margaret Jordan. Patrick Jordan settled in that part of Cherry township which later became Laporte township. He was for many years justice of the peace, and held various other offices of trust and responsibility, becoming a man of great prominence in the community. He died in 1889, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife survived until June 2, 1891, when she passed away, at the age of seventy-eight years. Both are buried at St. Basil's cemetery, Dushore. The children born to Patrick and Margaret Jordan were as follows: Mary, Mrs. Thomas Cavanaugh, of Forks township; Margaret, wife of our subject; John, a lumberman of Cherry township; Martin, a farmer of Cherry township; Michael, a farmer living on the old homestead in Laporte township; Thomas, a carpenter living on the old homestead; Abby, the deceased wife of Michael McDonald, a farmer of Cherry township; Bridget, wife of Michael Byron, a farmer of Bradford county; Ann, wife of Francis McDonald, a farmer of Cherry township. The marriage of Owen and Margaret Sweeney has been blessed with the following children: Anna, wife of Michael McDonald, of Cherry township; Catherine, wife of Michael L. Daily, a florist of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mary M., wife of Timothy J. Casey, a machinist of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Margaret M., now residing in New York; Ella B., a school-teacher, at home; Elizabeth A., wife of Thomas J. Froley, a blacksmith of Dushore; Abby J., residing in New York; Stephen M., at home; John J., at home; Agnes, deceased; Martin M. and Thomas J., at home. Mr. Sweeney and family are members of the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat. He has frequently been called to fill local office. For a year he was township tax collector. For two terms he has been a school director and is now serving in that capacity. He is also assistant assessor. Mr. Sweeney has proved a successful farmer, and like him his children are industrious and steadily advancing. He has a pleasant home, in which good cheer reigns, and he finds comfort and pleasure in the vocation of his life. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania by Thomas J. Ingham Compendium of Biography The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1899 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb