By Adolf W. Schalck, David C. Henning

                                                                                                        PAGE 489-490

Sweeney, Patrick Francis, who is incumbent of the responsible office of chief burgess of the borough of Shenandoah, is one of the honored and popular citizens of the county. He was born in county Mayo, Ireland, Nov. 2, 1862, and was there reared to the age of fifteen years, in the meanwhile securing a good common-school education. In 1877 he came to America in company with his uncle Michael Sweeney, and he remained in New York city about eighteen months, at the expiration of which, in the latter part of 1879, he came to Shenandoah. Pa., where he has since maintained his home and where he has attained success through well directed effort and honorable methods. Upon coming to Shenandoah he secured work as a laborer in the mines and finally became a mining contractor, in which connection he so managed his affairs as to gain financial success and a reputation for being a thorough and reliable business man.

He continued actively identified with mine contracting until his election to the office of chief burgess, Feb. 20, 1906. He assumed the duties of the office on the first Monday of the succeeding March. He was elected on the Citizens' ticket, which was brought forward to compass the overthrow of the ring which had so long controlled governmental affairs in the borough, and the magnificent run made by Mr. Sweeney testifies alike to his personal popularity and his eligibility and to the attitude of the voters in regard to the previously existing regime.

Mr. Sweeney has ever been a stanch friend of organized labor, and his efforts in behalf of the same have been timely and zealous. He first joined the Amalgamated Labor association and when this was absorbed by the Knights of Labor he became affiliated with the latter organization, which continued in existence until 1888. The losing of the strike in that year sounded the death knell of the Knights of Labor in the anthracite field of Pennsylvania. In 1900 Mr. Sweeney became associated with the United Mine Workers, and he was elected president of the local union, No. 1685, an office of which he has since remained continuously incumbent. He was a member of the committee of the organization which met the mine operators in New 'York city in 1902, and though the committee was unsuccessful in its mission the miners' demands were granted later. Mr. Sweeney has attended all the joint conventions of the three districts in the anthracite field, and is a recognized leader in the councils and deliberations of the miners. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Democratic party, in whose cause lie has done effective service. He has never been a seeker of political office and his present position is the first he has held in the line.

He and his wife are cummunicants of the Church of the Annunciation, Roman Catholic. June 19, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sweeney to Miss Ellen T. Reilly, who was born and reared in Shenandoah, a daughter of Thomas Reilly, one of the first settlers of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney have four children — John Emmett, William, Humbert, and Bessie.