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EDWARD SWEENEY
VOL. 3, p. 1125, 1126

One of the men who made the race for land at the time of the opening
of Cherokee Strip in 1893 is Edward Sweeney, whose farm is located
one mile east of the present Town of Dacoma. During the twenty years
in which he has resided in this community, he has not alone developed
a valuable and productive property and shown himself an intelligent
and well-trained agriculturist, but has co-operated with other
progressive and public-spirited citizens in advancing the interests
of Woods County.

Mr. Sweeney is one of the comparatively few citizens of his part of
Oklahoma for whose citizenship this common wealth is indebted to the
New England states. He was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, July 6,
1855, and is a son of Miles and Margaret (MAHAN) Sweeney. His father,
a native of Ireland, emigrated to the United States at the age of
twenty years, and was married in Connecticut, where, at Bridgeport,
he followed his trade of mechanic until his death in 1860. He was the
father of five sons and four daughters, namely: James, Ann, Patrick,
Bridget, Bernard, Mary, Edward, William and Elizabeth.

The early advantages of Edward Sweeney were not numerous, nor was
his education extensive, for he was only five years of age when his
father died, the family was large, and the widowed mother was forced
to care for her children in the best way she could and the small
means she had at hand. He attended the public schools of Bridgeport
at intervals, and having inherited some of his father's mechanical
skill adopted that calling in his youth. When he was sixteen years of
age he decided to face the world on his own account, and accordingly
left home and made his way to New York City, where he secured
employment, and subsequently visited various other parts of the
country, accepting such positions as were given him in the line of
his trade. He was married in Ohio, when twenty-four years of age, and
having saved some small capital went to Marion County, Ohio where he
began his career as a farmer. After ten years in the Buckeye State,
he decided there were better opportunities awaiting in the West, and
accordingly went to Kansas, where he located on United States
Government land in Comanche County, where he soon became recognized
as a substantial and trustworthy citizen and participated in the
organization of the county. Mr. Sweeney remained in Comanche county
until 1893, being there a member of the first jury impaneled in the
county, and at the opening of Cherokee Strip, in the year mentioned,
made the run and was successful in securing a very desirable
homestead, a claim one mile east of the present City of Dacoma. Here
he at once settled down to make improvements, and at the present time
has 240 acres of finely improved land, which he devotes to general
farming and the raising of stock. He has made many improvements,
including a fine set of substantial buildings, and is using the most
modern methods and machinery in his work. As a citizen he has taken
an active part in township and county affairs, and in his community
he is held in high esteem and regard by those with whom he has come
into contact.

Mr. Sweeney was married in 1874 to Miss Alice KEENER, a native of
Pennsylvania, and they have been the parents of four sons and five
daughters: John J., Morris, Rosa, Earl and Pearl, twins, Carrie,
James, Ellen and Laura.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, September 14, 1999.