Thomas Sweeney Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1632 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	A photo of Thomas Sweeney faces page 1632.


	THOMAS SWEENEY, of Rapid City, Pennington county, was born at 
Booneville, New York, on October 20, 1856, and received his early 
education in a little log schoolhouse in the adjoining county of Lewis, 
about fifteen miles from his home. When he reached the age of thirteen 
he began the battle of life for himself, working on railroads in 
different parts of the state. After a few years of this sort of 
employment he apprenticed himself to a carriage trimmer and learned the 
business thoroughly at Watertown, New York. In 1878, while living at 
Watertown, he hired to a stage line, engaging to come to Cheyenne and 
drive stage between that town and Deadwood. He came to Sparta, 
Wisconsin, where he got an outfit together, and from there proceeded to 
Napoleon's ranch, where Pierre is now located. Learning at that place 
that the stage line had changed hands, he determined to retire from his 
engagement, and opened a barber shop which he conducted for a time at 
Fort Pierre and then came to Rapid City. Here he went to work for Evans 
& Loveline, leading grocers, he having met Mr. Evans at Fort Pierre. He 
remained with this firm about six months, then started in business for 
himself. He was successful from the beginning, his line being hardware 
and machinery and his place of business a little one-story building on 
Main street. The business rapidly increased in magnitude and importance 
under his vigorous and progressive management, and from the little 
beginning already described, which was born into commercial life on 
November 7,1880, it has grown to be one of the largest enterprises of 
its kind in the Black Hills, and expanded from a new and second-hand 
hardware store into an immense general or department store, carrying 
almost every kind of commodity needed in his community. In 1886 he built 
the building he now occupies, which has more floor space than any other 
business house in Rapid city. and since then he has kept it filled with 
the most extensive and varied stock to be found in this part of the 
state. In 1892 he bought the adjoining building. The firm, which is the 
Tom Sweeney Hardware Company, is known all over the west and is as 
widely esteemed as it is known. It employs fourteen men, including 
plumbers tinners, saddlers, harness makers, blacksmiths and wagon 
makers. One article in the stock of which Mr. Sweeney is justly proud is 
a "Round-Up Stove," which was invented and is manufactured by him and 
which finds a ready and rapid sale from Texas to the Canadian line, it 
being considered the most complete and convenient stove of its kind on 
the market. In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Sweeney also has 
extensive interests in the stock industry in this state and Wyoming, 
being among the largest cattle men in the Hills. 

	On May 17. 1883, at Rapid City, Mr. Sweeney was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary A. Wells, a native of Missouri and daughter of George 
Wells, a pioneer of 1877 in the Black Hills and a prominent stock man of 
this section. Mr. Sweeney belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Rapid 
City and the Elks at Deadwood and takes an active interest in the 
proceedings of his lodge.