An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 289-290
	
	DR. J.P. SWEENEY, President of the Board of Aldermen of Seattle, and a
medical practitioner of the city, was born in Lincoln, Rhode Island, April 12,
1857.
	Thomas F. and Mary (Gillan) Sweeney, his parents, were born in Ireland, but
were married in Boston, Massachusetts, where Mr. Sweeney was successfully
engaged as a bookseller and publisher. He was a prominent speaker and extensive
writer, being a frequent contributor to journals and magazines on topics of
historical and local interest. Mr. Sweeney removed to Rhode Island, on account
of the health of his family, and there his son, the subject of our sketch, was
born. The father died in 1861, leaving the care of a large family to his widow.
	Dr. Sweeney attended the public schools of Central Falls from the time he
was four until he
	was twelve years old, after which for four years he was successively
employed in a linen factory, grocery store, and in the moulding room of an iron
and brass foundry. Then he spent one year in school at Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Appreciating the advantages of an education by this time, he worked hard and
accomplished about two years' work in one. Returning to Central Falls and
finding no congenial occupation, he began shoveling coal, and in this way earned
sufficient means to start him upon his journey westward. Arriving at Cincinnati,
he applied for work in various departments, without success. Not discouraged,
however, he went out into the country and worked on a farm for a dollar a day
and his board, thus saving enough money to pay his passage on the steamer Robert
Mitchell to New Orleans, where he arrived in August, 1876. The following three
years of his life were passed in traveling through Texas and into the interior
of Mexico. He traveled over 5,000 miles in the land of Montezuma, and spent his
leisure in learning the Spanish language, in which he became very proficient. He
found ready employment in teaching the English tongue at the Polytechnic
College, San Luis Potosi. His experiences were varied and often fraught with
danger. At last, tiring of the unsettled and undeveloped condition of the
country, he returned to Central Falls to visit his home and friends.
	It was at this time that he began the study of medicine, under the
preceptorship of Dr. James E. Tobey. Then he attended the College of Physicians
and Surgeons, of New York city, where he graduated May 16, 1882. Upon the
completion of his college course, he entered into the practice of his profession
at Central Falls. However, being unable to overcome the impressions of western
push and enterprise, and being desirous of returning to that land of greater
opportunity, Dr. Sweeney secured the appointment of physician to the Coeur
d'Alene Indian Reservation, a part of the Colville agency, and in February,
1885, departed for that field of labor. He was the first physician ever sent to
that tribe, which he found in a sickly and miserable condition. After two and a
half years of service, he overcame many of the diseases of the tribe, being then
removed to Fort Spokane, the headquarters of the Colville agency. He remained at
the headquarters until the office was changed to the interior, when he resigned.
Visiting Seattle at this time, and being delighted with its future prospects, he
immediately settled there, and soon established himself in a lucrative practice.
	Upon his arrival in Seattle, Dr. Sweeney identified himself with the
Democratic politics of the city, and in 1868 was a delegate to the county
convention, he then continued an active supporter of his party principles, and
in the spring of 1891, by a petition signed by fifty electors, was nominated to
fill a vacancy at large upon the Board of Aldermen, and at a succeeding special
election was duly elected to fill the vacancy in the Eighth ward, being the only
Democratic member and the first Democrat elected at large. In the spring of 1892
he was re-elected for a term of four years, with the highest straight vote. By
the Board of Aldermen he was honored by being elected president of that body,
the duties of which he ably and enthusiastically performs. He is now the acting
Mayor of Seattle.
	Dr. Sweeney was married at Gardiner, Maine, in 1883, to Miss Lizzie Rafter,
of that city. They have two children, Mary Christina and Josephine De Smet.
	The Doctor continues a general practice in medicine and surgery, and through
his several investments in real estate is the possessor of valuable city and
acre property. He is a member of Rhode Island Medical Society, Kings County
Medical Society, and Washington State Medical Society.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.