John Sweeney(1832-1917)

SWEENEY, REED, MCGOVERN, HARRINGTON, OCONNER, MCCARTHY, CONLAN, BIES

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 8/30/2008 at 09:04:43

Maquoketa Excelsior-Record
August 10, 1917

Death Calls Pioneer.

Still another of our venerable rural residents has been called to the ranks of the immortals the past week. On Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock Mr. John Sweeney, aged 85 years, was released from his suffering of the past two months by death. Mr. Sweeney was a native of County Mayo, Ireland, where he was born in 1832. Later, as a young man of 22 he came to Jackson county and made his home for four years with the late Wm. Reed. After spending another summer at Clinton he came back to Washington township and has since lived there continuously. On Feb. 14, 1915, he observed the 50th anniversary of his marriage to Miss Julia McGovern, who became his wife in this city and is today left a widow to grieve for the companionship of her loved one. They have lived together very happily all these years on their productive farm south of town and the breaking of home ties is an especially pitiable affliction to Mrs. Sweeney, who has only recently become blind and quite ill. Three sons and four daughters are left, however to sustain her, Mrs. Dave Harrington, Thomas, Dave and Mrs. M. P. O’Conner of Bellevue, Ed. of Montana, Mrs. Ben McCarthy of Spragueville and Mrs. James Conlan of Dubuque. The funeral was held Saturday at 9 a.m. from St. Joseph’s church of which he was a devoted member, Rev. N. J. Bies officiating.