****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: Atlas Map of Fulton County, Illinois, 
Andreas, Lyter, and Co., Davenport, Iowa. 1871
(page 50)

****************************************************************************


Major K. Sweney is the son of Montgomery Sweney, who was born in Ireland, in the year 1877[sic, 1777?], and emigrated with his parents, to the United States in 1794, and settled in Pennsylvania, and lived there until 1837, when he moved to Illinois, and settled on section 24, in Lee township, Fulton county, where he died in 1868. In 1815 he married Miss Mary M. Kehr, who bore him nine children, four sons and five daughters -- four still living. Mrs. Sweney is still living, and is now in her seventy-seventh year, and in good health. 
    
At the age of twelve years, Mr. Sweney went into the printing business in Northumberland, and became a first-clas[sic] printer, and was editor and proprietor of two papers -- first the Miltonian and afterward the West Branch Farmer. After he settled in Illinois he pursued farming and raising stock. He was frequently elected to office in his township, and was always considered a competent and reliable man for any position he might hold 
    
Major K. Sweney was born in Pennsylvania, in 1817, and lived with his parents and worked at the printing business until 1838, when he went back to Pennsylvania and remained there about seven years. In 1842 he married Miss Eliza Tenbrock; and, in 1846, he again moved to Illinois and settled on section 24, in Lee township, where he still resides. 
    
He helped to edit and publish the first newspaper that was ever published in Fulton county; It[sic] was the Canton Herald. He is now the oldest practical printer in Fulton county. 
    
When Major K. Sweeney settled in Fulton county, he was very poor, and being then an inexperienced farmer, he consequently saw many hard and tough times; but, being encouraged by the prosperity of the country, and the success of his neighbors, he has succeeded to be one of the independent farmers of Lee township. 
    
He is the father of eleven children, six sons and five daughters -- nine living, two dead, and one married -- the rest at home. Mr. Sweney always lived a pious and upright life, and is a popular man in his community, and a good farmer.