Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-14
E. D. SWEENEYIN
HIS FINAL SLEEP
Death Closes Career of Pioneer
Legal Practitioner of
Rock Island.
AILIMG SEVERAL MONTHS
Recently Had Celebrated His 5Oth
Anniversary as Member of the
State Bar-A Useful Life.

Edward D. Sweeney, one of the lead
ing attorneys of this city, died at hi
home, SIC Twentieth street, this morn
ing at s o'clock. He had been in boo
health for several months and hi.
death, although shock to his man,
friends, was not unexpected.
Mr. Sweeney celebrated his 77tl
birthday Aug. IS last, and Aug. 8 cele
brated the 50th anniversary OF his ad
mission to the bar of this state. In
the same month Mr.. Sweeney's early
associate, William Jackson, celebrated
his 50th anniversary as a practitioner
Mr.. Sweeney was born at Simsville
on the banks of the Brandywine, in
the state of Delaware, Aug. 10, 1888
from whence, with his father, he re.
moved to western Pennsylvania in
1889. He received his education at
the famous old Allegheny college,
Meadville, Pa, teaching school during
part of the time to assist in defraying
his college expenses. After leaving
college he came west, first stopping
at Alton, Ill, in February, 1857, and
| from there went to Greene county,
where he taught school for a few
months.
School Principal and Law Student
Learning of better inducements at
Rock Island, he came to the place des-
tined to be the scene of his Iabors and
future home in July, 1857, and was
shortly thereafter chosen principal of
its Second ward school. While en-
gagged in this work he spent his spare
time in the study of law, under the
direction and guidance of Hon. George
W. Peasants, then a practiciug law
yer here, and who was afterwards for
many years judge of the circuit and
appellate courts. In August, 1860, Mr..
Sweeney was admitted to the bar of
this state and at once began the prac-
tice of his profession, in which he con-
tinued practically up to the date of
his death.
Shortly after his admission to the
bar, Mr.. Sweeney, together with Will
liam Jackson of this city, formed a
partnership in the practice of law TN
der the firm name of Sweeney & Jack
son. Afterwards, when c. L. Walker
j
came Sweeney, Jackson & Walker.
Mr.. Jackson Withdrew from the firm in
1884. since which time the firm has
been Sweeney & Walker, and of which
Mr.. Sweeney was the senior member /
at the date of his death
Long District CommissiOner
Early in his legal career Mr.. /
Sweeney was appointed United States /
commissioner for the district. including
this county. which position he contin-
ued to hold, performing it's duties ac-
and we'll until the abolish |
ment OF commissionerships outside of /
the larger cities a few years ago. His I
firm has always had a very large gen. /
eral practice, representing many i'm
portant corporate interests and for !
over 80 years has been division attor[
neys for the st. Louis and Rock Is
land division of the C. B. & Q. rail f.
road.
Mr.. Sweeney was for many years
one of the leaders of the Rock Island |
bar and was engaged either
on one side or the other in much of |
the important litigation arising in the
county. He was an able and well read |
lawyer, industrious and indefatigable |
in all he undertook, a good business
man and an excellent citizen. In pol
itics he was always a steadfast re-
publican, one of those desiring no Of
fees for themselves but working al
ways for the success of the party. He
stood high in the ranks of the repub-
lican party and during his earlier
years was active in political work. AS
an orator he took high rank, being
both eloquent and forcible, and made
addresses on many notable occasions,
chief among which perhaps was an
oration delivered by him on the laying
Of the cornerstone for the new court
house at Rock Island some years ago.
Oldest Member of His Church
For over 40 years Mr.. Sweeney had
been an Odd Fellow, having member
ship in Rock Island lodge No. IS, 1. o.
D. F. In religion he was a Methodist
and a regular attendant at the First
NJ. E. church of this city, to which he
was much attached and through his
efforts and means did much to aid and
lpbuild the church and extend its In
1uence. He was the Oldest living mem
Der of the church here.
For over 80 years and until his
leath Mr.. Sweeney was a director of
he Rock Island National bank. He
vas also one of the officers of the
rock nd-Davenport Ferry company
md was the president and one of the
ounders of the Black Hawk Home
tead, Building, Loan & Savings as
ISOLATION. He had also been for many