From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 450-451.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


HON. ANDREW J. SWEENEY

Hon. Andrew J. Sweeney, whose intimate connection with the industrial 
as well as the official history of Wheeling, has made him one of the 
notable men of the city, was born at Pittsburgh, Penn., January 1, 
1827, the son of Thomas Sweeney, a native of Ireland, born in 1806. 
The latter, who is still an honored resident of Wheeling, is the son 
of a Thomas Sweeney, who was a wealthy stock-grazer of Ireland, and 
settled in Duchess county, N. Y., and subsequently in 1815, removed 
to Pittsburgh.  The junior Thomas Sweeney was apprenticed in that 
city at the moulder's trade, and in 1830 he came to Wheeling and 
bought, in partnership with his brothers, C., R. H., and Michael, the 
establishment of the North Wheeling Manufacturing company.  This they 
carried on until the death of C., in 1833.  James E. Matthews was 
afterward associated with the business for a few years, and then Mr. 
Sweeney conducted it alone until in 1852 he admitted his son, T. C., 
under the style of T. Sweeney & Co.  In 1858 A. J. Sweeney was 
admitted, and the firm thus formed continued until 1874, when the 
business was taken up by A. J. Sweeney and his son John M., who 
carried on an extensive manufacturing business at the old location 
until 1880, when they removed the establishment to the Sixth ward.  
Thomas Sweeney and Michael and R. H. also engaged in the glass 
business in 1835 at North Wheeling, and their manufactory was famous 
as having produced the largest piece of cut glass in the world.  R. 
H. died in 1844, and the partnership of the other brothers was 
dissolved in 1848 by Michael selling to A. J. Sweeney and Joseph 
Bell.  The firm became T. Sweeney & Son in 1852, and in 1863 the 
establishment was sold to Michael Sweeney, Joseph Bell and James 
McCluney.  Michael died in 1875.  Thomas Sweeney during his active 
career was one of the foremost men of the city, and was prominently 
associated with the glass industry, rolling mills, bridge, etc.  He 
also from 1852 to 1860 served in the upper and lower houses of the 
Virginia legislature.  His first wife, to whom be was married in 
1826, was Rosanna Matthews, born in 1809, and died in 1844. They had 
three sons: Andrew J., Capt. T. C. Sweeney, Robert H. Sweeney, and 
one daughter, Mrs. N. F. McNaughton.  A second marriage occurred in 
1845 to Jane B. McFerran, by whom he had two sons and one daughter.  
Two of these seven children survive.  As has been noted Mr. A. J. 
Sweeney early became associated with his father in manufacturing 
enterprises and in 1875 he assumed the entire management of the 
extensive busisess, and carried on the production of rolling mill, 
steamboat and other machinery, and mowers and reapers, with great 
energy and with notable financial success.  He has always taken an 
active part in municipal improvements, and in 1862 was a projector of 
the Citizens' Street railway, and was for years director thereof, and 
was also instrumental in organizing the fire department and fire 
alarm telegraph system.  As mayor of Wheeling he has served the city 
for a remarkably long period, having been first appointed to fill an 
unexpired term in 1855, an subsequently elected in 1861, 1862, 1865, 
1867, 1875, serving after the latter election by successive elections 
until 1881.  In 1863 when several militia regiments were formed he 
commanded them as colonel, and was on duty during the Morgan and the 
Jones raids.  His prominence as a representative citizen of the state 
was recognized in 1876 by his appointment as a centennial 
commissioner for West Virginia, and he was a member of the national 
commissions to the Vienna exposition in 1873, and the Paris 
exposition of 1878.  Mr. Sweeney's fraternity membership is with Ohio 
lodge, F. & A. M., No. 1, Wheeling commandery, K. T., and Osiris 
lodge, Mystic Shrine.   He was married in 1848, to Mary R. Moore, 
daughter of John Moore, superintendant of the Wheeling water works 
for many years. She died March 10, 1860, aged thirty years, leaving 
four children: John M., Nellie B., Rose N.   and A. T.  In the fall 
of 1861 Mr. Sweeney was united to Maria E. Hanna, of Washington, 
Penn., by whom he has had nine children, six of whom are living: Mary 
R., Sallie P., Willie H., Frank B., Walter C. and James Edgar. 


(Linda Fluharty)