Mrs. James "Elizabeth" Sweeney 1789-1871

SWEENEY, MURRAY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 10/29/2015 at 12:05:44

Dubuque-Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, October 17, 1871

DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT
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At an early hour on Thursday morning last Mrs. Elizabeth Sweeney aged 82 years, died at the residence of her son Francis M. Sweeney, in Concord Township, Dubuque County. She came to Dubuque County 28 years ago, and was one of the earliest settlers in Concord Township, where she has constantly resided ever since her first arrival in this country. Her husband, James Sweeney, died so 16 or 17 years ago.

Mrs. Sweeney raised a large family of children, and lived to see her sons not only well-to-do men but leading an influential citizens in their section, and her daughter’s well married and settled in life. Her five sons, Arthur, Miles, Martin, Maurice and Francis are all residents of Concord, and have as large farms probably as any in the county. Francis is the youngest, and has the old homestead, and with him his mother resided. The two daughters are married, one to Timothy Murray of Bankston Prairie, and the other to Hugh Sweeney of Concord Township.

The older Mrs. Sweeney was a native of the county Fermanagh, Ireland and came to this county about the years 1842. She was an excellent wife and mother, and a good woman. She went through the hardships and privations of a new county, but lived along to enjoy the fruits of her labors when the country was turned from new to old, and she saw her children respected and honored among their fellow men. After life’s long battle, may she sleep well the sleep that knows no waiting this side of the grave.