Joseph Henry Sweney

Joseph Henry Sweney (October 2, 1845 – November 11, 1918) was a one-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district in northeastern Iowa.

Joseph Sweney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 4th district
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889
Preceded by	Luman H. Weller
Succeeded by	Joseph H. Sweney
Personal details
Born	(1845-10-02)October 2, 1845 Warren County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 11, 1918(1918-11-11) (aged 73) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Iowa
Military service
Branch/service	Union Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Company K, 27th Iowa Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	Civil War

Born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, Sweney attended the public schools of Pennsylvania and Iowa. During the Civil War enlisted in the Union Army and served as a sergeant in Company K, 27th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. After the war, he served as colonel of the Sixth Regiment of the Iowa National Guard for four years and brigadier and inspector general of the State.

He was graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1881. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Osage, Iowa. He also engaged in banking and agricultural pursuits.

He was twice elected to the Iowa Senate, serving as president pro tempore in 1886. He was elected to two four-year terms (beginning in 1883 and 1887), but left the Senate in 1889 following his election to Congress.

In 1888, Sweney was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-first Congress, following the decision of incumbent Republican William E. Fuller not to seek a third term. However, his re-election bid was thwarted when he was upset by Democrat Walter Halben Butler as part of a Democratic landslide in 1890. He served in Congress from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1891.

After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Osage. He died while on a visit in Norfolk, Virginia, on November 11, 1918. He was interred in Osage Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "Joseph Henry Sweney (id: S001112)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by William E. Fuller	U.S. House of Representatives, 4th Iowa District 1889–1891	Succeeded by Walter H. Butler

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress