Martin Sweeney 1830-1899

SWEENEY, DONOVAN, ROONEY, MURRAY

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/12/2010 at 03:50:55

Died.
Sweeney - At Holy Cross, Dubuque county, Thursday, Sept. 7, 1899 at 5:45 o'clock p.m., Martin Sweeney, aged 69 years. Funeral services Saturday, Sept. 9, at 9 o'clock a.m. from his late residence in Holy Cross.

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Martin Sweeney Dead
After many weeks of suffering, Mr. Martin Sweeney, a pioneer resident of Holy Cross and one of the best and most favorably known citizens of Dubuque county, died at his home at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He had been in poor health for several months and for the past three weeks his illness had been of a critical nature.

Deceased was born in County Fermanah, Ireland, in 1830 and came to Holy Cross with his parents, nine brothers and two sisters in 1842. He had lived in Holy Cross for fifty-seven years previous to his death, making him one of the very oldest settlers in Dubuque county. Mr. Sweeney was married in 1857 to Catharine Donovan, who died in 1867. He was a township supervisor for many years and at the time of his death was treasurer of the school district in which he lived, a position which he had held for many years. Mr. Sweeney was the last of the men who had built the old log church in Holy Cross, which was erected in 1844.

Deceased is survived by five children, two brothers and two sisters. The children are: Thomas, of Homerd, S.D.; J.J., of Dyersville; Michael, Elizabeth and Mrs. Francis Rooney, of Holy Cross. The brothers and sisters are: Mrs. Mary Sweeney, of Dubuque; Mrs. Ellen Murray, of Kingsley, Iowa, and Francis and Maurice, who reside on the old homestead. Mr. Sweeney was a practical Catholic and died fortified with the last rites of the church. No man in Dubuque county was better known than he, and his death causes general regret. He was one of Dubuque counties best and most helpful citizens, and in his life did much towards its growth and development. The passing away of this good many means a loss to the community in which he lived for nearly three score years. The funeral will be held at 9 o'clock Saturday morning.

~Dubuque Daily Herald, September 9, 1899

Posted for genealogical purposes, contributor is not related.