Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-29
AFFAIRS IN GEORGETOWN
Death of the Venerable Henry NJ. Sweeney
Formerly Mayor of the City.
Testimonials to His Worth by His Old
Business AssOciates-Mnn Found
Dcnd-FaIse Burglar Alarm.

NJ Henry NJ Sweeney one of the oldest
and best-known residents of Georgetown.
died yesterday afternoon, shortly after
o'clock at his residence, 3265 n street,
after an Illness of some time. He was for
two years mayor of the city. The deceased
had been sick for some time, and death was
due to a general breaking down of the
whole system. after an extremely busy HE
For the last few years his health had been
quite bad. and last winter his condition
was SO serious that 1t was thought he
would die. He rallied, however. and during
the past season has been able to be out
again. His last Illness had not been of such
long duration. and there We're a good many
people who did not know that he was con-
fined TO his room again.
The death of Mr.. Sweeney ends a life full
of perseverance and filled with good works.
He was purely a self-made man, and what
ever he acquired was due 10 his business
qualities alone. He was born In George
town. October IL, 1909, nearly elghty-seven
years ago. and spent most of his time here.
At the early age of eight years he APP
prenticed to cotton manufacturer by the
name of Patterson, whose factory was just
above the Chain bridge. Beginning at the
bottom of the business he went all through
the various grades of cotton manufacture
ing. remaining at the factory until he was
sixteen years of age. when he left, and
employ of Mr.. Woodward, a dyer of some
repute.
Interested in Manufacturer,
He learned this trade an adjunct to
cotton manufacturing, and spent four or
I'VE years at it In the meantime anxious
TO improve himself. he began to study at
his leisure moments to increase his stock of
knowledge He next went to Winchester
Va where he engaged in the manufacture
OF cCtton cloth He operated factory at
this place for some years with considerable
success, but owing to a change of poIitical
parties and a consequent change In the
tarlI duties the business was so badly
crippled that IL did not pay any longer
ana ne accordingly discontinued the work
He came back TO GEORGETOWN and on
gagged In various enterprises. He worked
Tor some time clerk in a store and
then branched out in business once more
Tor himself. In the meantime he married
Miss Woodward. the daughter of his for
hier employer His next step in the ac-
1--WE world was the opening of a flour BUSH
ness on W alter street, which at that time
was the principal business thorouphfare of
the District. There was money i'm the bns;-
ness at that time. and in a short time he
aLiaSseG competency He remained in
the business until shortly after the out
hreak OF the war, when he retired from ac
tive business 9"
As Capitalist.
He became identified with the Potomac
Fire Insurance Company of GEORGETOWN in
1879. At special meeting of the board of
directors of the company. held May Z, 1889
he was elected as president, to fill the va
eGncy caused by the death of Fir. A. H.
plckrell, who had previously held the posi-
ton for some years. Mr.. Sweeney held the
oHice OF the head of the company ever
since and guided the affairs of the com
pahy In businesslike way that brought it