Senator Joseph Henry Sweney View All Years

JOSEPH H. SWENEY.

Senator Kingland, from a special committee, submitted the following report and moved its adoption :

MR. PRESIDENT — Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character and public services of Joseph Henry Sweney beg leave to submit the folowing report.

Joseph Henry Sweney was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, October 2nd, 1845. He was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Iowa. He finished his education in the State University of Iowa, where he graduated. He was early admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of law and was engaged also in his early active career at farming. He early enlisted in the Union army and served as sergeant in Company K, Twenty-seventh Regiment of Iowa Infantry. He was later made colonel of the 6th Regiment, Iowa National Guard for four years and also held the position of Brigider and Inspector General of the state. He was a member of the Iowa Senate in the twentieth, twenty-first, and twenty-second general assemblies. He was president pro tempore of the Senate in the session of 1886 and was elected and served as a member of the fifty-first congress.

The above recited facts of the public career of Colonel Sweney evidences the esteem and confidences in which he was held by his fellowmen. In all capacities in which he served, both in public and private, he served with honor and distinction to himself and rendered faithful service to those whom he served. He was unassuming and the positions of honor and trust which he occupied during his life were due to the worth and ability of the man rather than to any self-seeking on his part, and it may be said of him that the office sought the man rather than the man the office.

He spent his entire active life in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, where he practiced law as his occupation when not holding office and the esteem and confidence he enjoyed from his fellowmen and colleagues is well attested by the following extract from the memorial resolutions offered by the Mitchell County Bar Association at its meeting held December 6th, 1918, and which resolutions were spread upon the record of the district court:

“Resolved, That it is our judgment that in the death of our brother, Joseph Henry Sweney, the citizens of this county and state have lost a worthy citizen, whose life spanned almost our entire history, a citizen who was put to many severe tests with honor, patience and confidence in his Maker and his fellowmen; that our part of the universe is certainly better because he lived and mingled with us for so many years. His memory will always be fondly cherished by us, and by all who had the privilege of knowing him intimately”.

Joseph Henry Sweney died on November 11th, 1917, having lived more than the allotted years of man. His had been a life of usefulness and he died esteemed most by those who knew him best. He had been a faithful servant in private and public capacities. This is the most substantial encomium and praise that can be given to any man and constitutes the success most to be desired in the life of a human being. By his demise the community in which he lived so long feels the loss of one of natures noble men, a most worthy man and neighbor and the state mourns the loss of one of its prominent and influential citizens.

Therefore, Bt Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sorrow and regret of his death and that it recognizes the high character of his service to this state, and in his death the state has lost a worthy, distinguished and noble citizens and

Be It Resolved, That this Senate extend to his family its sincere sympathy in their great bereavement, and,

Bt It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the Senate journal and a copy sent to the bereaved family of the deceased.

T. A. KINGLAND,

J. D. BUSER,

B. J. HORCHEM.

Committee.