John Simon McSweeny 1862 - 1938

MCSWEENEY, MCSWEENY, MCGUIRE, LYNCH, QUINN, BRENNAN

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 2/20/2011 at 20:16:39

With the passing of John McSweeny the community
has lost a prominent, courageous citizen, loved and
beloved by all who knew him. Friends came from
far and near to ask his advice in their difficulties.

John Simon McSweeny was born February 2, 1862
on a farm near Westgate, Iowa. The oldest son of
William McSweeny and Mary Ann McGuire McSweeny.
In 1883 he went to Wane County, Nebraska, and
worked on a cattle ranch. While there he did
considerable surveying. Returning to Westgate he
started farming for himself. In 1887 he purchased a
farm in Jefferson township and improved it by
construction of a house and barn.

He was united in marriage to Sarah J. Lynch of
Smithfield township, October 11, 1894, in St. Francis
Catholic Church, Fayette, Iowa, by Rev. Fr. James
Mulligan. To this union were born three children:
James, Mary and Leo. Mary and Leo preceded him
in death.

Renting his farm in Jefferson township, and
purchasing another farm one mile east of Randalia,
he moved there in 1911. In the spring of 1923 he
lost the sight of one eye, going to Rochester, Minn.,
for help he found nothing could be done only to
try to save the sight of the other eye. In the spring
of 1929 he lost the sight of the other eye. The
cause of losing his eyesight was detachment of the
retina. After going blind he moved to Fayette in
December, 1929.

Over two years ago upon the advice of of Dr.
Walsh he went to Iowa City where it was found he
had a malignant growth and was given a short time
to live. But this man never grew weary of his
affliction; was never known to murmur or complain
but bore his suffering courageously; never taking
any opiates to help relieve his suffering until about
seven weeks ago. Six of those weeks his grandson
John stayed with him to help him enjoy the comforts
of life by doing errands and by reading and discussing
ball games and radio news and walking with him about
the house and yard when able to do so. Not until
August 18th did he give up to remain in bed, with a
nurse to take care of him. On Saturday, August 20th,
he called his family together and made his own
funeral arrangements, picking out his pall bearers
and undertaker, and to the extent of expense he
wished his family to use on his entire funeral.

During his life he was manager of the Randalia
Shipping Association, President of the Wool Growers
Association, and President of the Greater Fayette
County Association.

On August 25th at 7:45 am, death came as a
merciful relief from his excruciating suffering. On
August 27th services were held at St. Francis Catholic
Church, Fayette. Mass was celebrated by Rev. James
Roche of West Union. Interment was made in St.
Francis cemetery near Fayette. Pall-bearers were
P. N. Sinnott, Roy Fussell, James Richard, Robert
McCormack, Warren Stranahan and John Bahl. Miss
Bessie Sinnott and Miss Helen Bahl cared for the
flowers.

He leaves to mourn his departure his faithful wife,
one son, James, daughter-in-law, five grandchildren,
Robert, John, Everett, Kathleen Ann and Rita Mary,
all of Randalia; three brothers, W. J. McSweeny,
Cedar Rapids; E. C. and James McSweeny, Oelwein;
two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Quinn and Mrs. Josie Brennan,
also a sister-in-law, Miss Laura Lynch, who has made
her home with Mr. and Mrs. McSweeny since her
mother passed away.

Fayette County Leader - 01 Sept 1938