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Miles George Sweeney

 

 Born: 14 Mar 1822, Donegal, Ireland

 

Parents: unknown

 

Siblings: Catherine, Matthew and Hugh

 

Emmigration: No record can be found confirming date of 1844.

 

Marriage: to Mary McGlynn, 1846, Hazelton, PA

 

Children: Miles Glynn (1850-1938), Catherine “Kate” (1854-1948),  Mary (1855-1928), Daniel (1859-1940),  James Francis (1861-1939),  Charles Edward (1864-1941),  Hugh Thomas,  Matthew (1870-1870),  Katherine Anna (1871-1882),  John M.(1874-1961)

 

Death: 28 Feb 1897, Porter Township, Rock Co. WI. An article appeared in the Edgerton Reporter 1/1/1897 that he fell down some stairs; he died 2/28/1897 so may have been from complications from the fall.

 

Buried: St. Joseph’s Cemetary, Edgerton

 

Obituary: Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter March 5 1897:
Mr. Miles Sweeney, whose illness was spoken of quite frequently in these items, was called to his eternal reward on Sunday Feb. 28. The deceased had been a sufferer for some time and the end was expected, although a sorrowful blow to the wife and six sons who survive him. Mr. Sweeney was a good upright Christian and what more fulsome praise can be given anyone. His funeral  was held on Tuesday conducted by the the Rev. Father Harlin, and his remains were followed to the grave by a large number of sympathizing friends.

 

Biographies

Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Co, WIs, published 1889 (pg. 941): In 1862, the St. Joseph’s Church was erected in Edgerton. Several families in the area contributed to the building and grounds, among them Miles Sweeney. He was listed as one of the prominent citizens in the area who “aided the church in it’s earliest days”. Prior to that time, the various congregation members took turns having services in their homes. In 1882, a society was organized called ‘Father Mathew’s Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society,’ the object of which is to promote regular and industrious habits; to discourage the use of intoxicating drinks; to mutually assist in the case of sickness, and to provide, in case of necessity, for the wants of the members. There were 80 members at the time of publication

 

Notes from granddaughter Marie Sweeney Quisling:

Miles George Sweeney was born in Donegal, Ireland on March 14, 1822 and died Feb. 28th, 1899 at the age of 77. He came to America in 1844 with his brothers Hugh, James, Matthew and a sister Catherine, entering the port of New York.
We do not know how or why they chose Hazelton, PA as their destination, but assume it was suggested via the grapevine; that there was work there in the mines. The Irish had been branded second rate citizens by the English, so when they did arrive there were only menial jobs available to them. The family arrived in Hazelton late in 1844. Brothers Hugh and Matthew were not recorded in the census of 1850 (of Luzerne Co, PA), but the others are. Most of the Irish settled in “Irishtown” and that made a social life possible. Many of them spoke gaelic and many were trying to learn to read and write English. Among the inhabitants here were the McGlynns; Mary, Owen, Patrick and Owen Patrick. Since Catherine Sweeney and Mary McGlynn were almost the same age, it is logical they should become acquainted. They both were working as domestics and caring for their homes while their parents and/or brothers worked in the mines. Miles G. Sweeney took a real “liking to” Mary McGlynn and in 1846 they were married in Hazelton. They moved to Pittsburgh, PA where Miles Glynn was born Feb. 20th, 1850. On May 11, 1853, Catherine was born. The family was back in Hazelton for a time when baby Miles was only 3 months old and in 1854 they left by wagon for the west.
Up until 1857, Miles and Mary worked land for other farmers, but in they purchased 40 acres in Rock Co, Town of Porter. In 1865, they purchased 120 acres from Tom Young in the town of Porter. Miles was a good farmer and God knows he had a lot of built-in help. He was the first tobacco settler in the area. Tobacco was just coming in as a profitable crop at this time. There were two houses on the farm; a small tenant house and the “big” house. The family lived in the big house until their son Charlie, who was married and living with them, needed more room than the little tenant house on the farm could provide. When Charles and Mary Ellen’s daughter Mary Veronica  was born in 1890, the “old folks” moved into the smaller tenant house. The front door in this house opened right into a small area at the top of the stairs to the basement.  One day, Grandpa Miles (Sr) forgot about that and fell down those stairs. This was in 1892 I’ve been told (there is a note about a fall he took about 2 months before his death in 1897). He developed cataracts and was very particular about his appearance, even though he was becoming blind. Granddaughter Veronica was only a little girl then, but his constant companion. He died in 1897 and his little helper went to join him in 1908 as she died of diabetes. Mary, now 67,  stayed in the little house and later moved in with daughter Catherine Hyland, visiting son James who had moved to Iowa in the summer.

The concensus is that Miles George Sweeney was a very gentle man with a keen sense of humor. He accomplished much with a look from his very attractive deep blue eyes. He wanted his sons to enjoy farming as he did and was glad to try new methods and equipment. My father, Hugh T. was amused at the dressed-up appearance of father out there in the dust of the fields. They were all taught to wash up before coming into the house from the fields. Farm houses were set up that way. There was an ever present wash stand, water, pitcher, soap and towels beside the hat and coat rack and a broom to brush each other down. All this was done before anyone was allowed in the dining room. Everyone in the fields came in to eat at about 11:30. They rested after their repast until about 1:30, or on very hot days, until 2:00. This was as much in consideration for the horse as for the help.
In about 1885, Miles purchased a new implement called a Tobacco setter. This was a most welcomed piece of machinery. No more using a wooden peg to make a hole for the plant, pouring water in from a pail, then hoeing the dirt up around the plant. Think of it - now the planters sat down to do their work, the water ran out from a barrel in a predetermined amount, and the shoe enveloped the plant with soil! I wonder how much this had to do with the Sweeneys going into the tobacco business.

 

Census:

1880 Census, WI Rock Co, Porter Township:
Miles age 53, married farmer, born Ireland; Mary age 48, keeping house, born Ireland; Daniel age 21, farmer, born WI; James age 18; Charles age 16; Hugh age 12; Annie age 9, John age 5.

 

1870 Census, WI Rock Co, Porter Township: enumerated 6/1/1870
Miles (looks like age 49, but should be 46), farming, value of  Real Estate $1600, value of personal estate $800, born Ireland, both parents of foreign birth, column marked as unable to read or write; Mary, age 35 (should be 40), keeping house, born Ireland, parents of foreign birth, unable to read/write; Miles age 20, at home, (all children able to read and write); Mary age 15; Daniel age 10; James age 7; Charles age 5; Hugh age 3.

 

1860 Census, WI, Rock Co, Porter Township: (note: spelled Sweney) enumerated 6/1/1860
Miles Sweeney, age 36, day labourer, value of personel estate $75, born Ireland; Mary, age 30, born Ireland; Miles age 10, born Pennsylvania; Catherine age 7, born Pennsylvania; Mary age 5, born WI; Daniel age 7 months, born WI

 

1850 Census, Pennsylvania, Luzerne Co, City of Hazle: (6/1/1850)
Miles Sweeney, age 25, male, works in mines, born Ireland, wife Mary, age 18, born Ireland, Miles, age 3 months; Owen McGlynn, age 24, male, labourer, born in Ireland

note: next residence was Neal Boyle, age 26; Patrick McGlen, age 14, born in Ireland, lives there (likely Mary McGlen’s brother) Also living there is Catharine Sweeney, age 22, born in Ireland.

Miles Sweeney farm purchased 3/5/1865      

120 acres on North Casey Rd. Photo taken 10/2004

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