Born in Dallas County on the 18th of December, 1857. His parents are Samuel and Savila (Phillips) Sweeley, and the former a native of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, was a tailor by trade. He continued his public-school education in the high school of his native town, Adel, Iowa, and afterward engaged in teaching in Dallas County for a year and a half. He pursued a course in law in the Iowa State University, where he was graduated in 1878 and he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Adel in the same year, there remaining until 1885, during which time he was elected clerk of the courts and was re-elected for a second term, serving in all for four years. In January, 1885, he removed to Storm Lake, where he continued in practice until December, 1890, and then came to Sioux City. From 1888 until 1890 he had served as county attorney of Buena Vista County, and then resigned in order to remove to this place. For eight years he was attorney for the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company and later resigning he opened an office for the private practice of law. He has succeeded in his profession as the result of his unwearied industry, close application, careful preparation of cases and his strong and forceful presentation of his case before judge or jury. Mr. Sweeley was married in 1879 to Miss Alice J. Slocumb, a daughter of Charles and Lydia (Vedder) Slocumb, of Albany, Illinois. Mr. Sweeley has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and is also affiliated with the Elks lodge. In every community in which he has resided for any length of time he has been called to public office and there has been no exception to this rule in Sioux City. He has been a prominent Republican since attaining his majority and was president of the McKinley Club in the campaign of 1896. In 1891 he was elected by a large majority to represent Woodbury County in the twenty-ninth general assembly and has been prominently mentioned for other offices.
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