My Genealogy Hound

JOHN SWEENEY, county sheriff, is a native of Ireland and was born May 6, 1849. Timothy and Mary (Walsh) Sweeney were his parents. In the early part of 1854 he came to America preceded by his mother, the father having died prior to that time. He landed at New Orleans and came at once to Cannelton. He received a common school education in the public schools of the town, and in 1865 began a year’s course at St. Meinrad’s College. After that he learned the trade of a saddler and harness-maker, which he followed until the early part of 1876. In that year he was elected county sheriff and was re-elected in 1878. Upon the expiration of his term in 1880 he was employed two years as foreman of a company of men in the quarries at Rock Island. After that time he bought and sold stock, and speculated a little until April, 1884. He was then nominated by his party for sheriff without any solicitation on his part, and without opposition. He was elected and is now serving his third term in that capacity. This is of itself a sufficient recommend of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.