Thomas C. Sweney, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Thomas C. Sweney
THOMAS C. SWENEY, farmer and surveyor, was born August 7, 1807, at Gettysburgh, Penn. His parents died in Ohio. His early education was begun in a log schoolhouse in Adams County, Penn. At the age of eighteen, he began teaching, and at the age of twenty-one was appointed Surveyor of Crawford County, Ohio, which position he filled for ten years. In 1835, he was united in marriage to Margaret Dinwiddie. To this union there were born three children - William E., John M. and H. D. Mrs. Sweney died in 1874. In 1837, he emigrated to Porter County, Ind., locating near Hebron, on Horse Prairie. Mr. Sweney left the prairie in 1875, and divided his property with his children. In the beginning, one had to drive forty miles to a mill, and to Michigan City and Chicago for marketing and produce. The nearest post office was at La Porte, forty miles distant. Mr. Sweney was appointed Surveyor in 1839, and held the office twelve years, during which period he selected the swamp lands of the county. Previous to dividing among his children, he owned 400 acres; he now owns a fine brick business room, with hall above and basement. Mr. Sweney is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 326
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook