Anthony Bernard Sweeney
Contributed by William A. Sweeney, grandson of Anthony B. and Mary Ann SweeneyAnthony Bernard Sweeney was born in Donegal County, Ireland, Donaghmore Parish, near the village of Killygordon, on 11 April 1852. This is in northern Donegal County. He was the son of John and Bridget Sweeney, both natives of Ireland. John and Bridget had three known children, Edward Daniel, Anthony Bernard and Sarah. The early years of Mr. Sweeney in Ireland are unknown.
He emigrated to America in 1874 (Census Reports) and settled in Philadelphia, PA, as his older brother, Edward Daniel had departed Ireland in May 1869 and was now living in Philadelphia. There he stayed for several years and practiced the trade of Bartender. About 1882 both brothers moved on to Missouri. There Edward settled in Pierce City and went into the Mercantile business. About 1883, Anthony B. Sweeney moved on to Texarkana, Arkansas where he knew some old friends from the Emerald Isle. These friends were Michael Cassidy and C.C. Dorrain. Dorrain would later become the Mayor of Texarkana, Ark. Some other friends would be William Howard and Thomas Quinn. Believe all these men were from the same area of Donegal County as all were very good friends from information found. The Quinn's were readily found to be from the same area in Donegal County, just a few miles from where the Sweeney's lived in Ireland. Michael Cassidy was Anthony Sweeney's best man when he got married on 16 November 1886 in Texarkana, Ark.
From early newspaper articles, we learn Anthony B. Sweeney was a City Policeman in August 1884 and in the performance of his duties, had to shoot a burglar at the railroad yards. In another article, April 1887, now the owner of Sweeney's Capitol Saloon, he is shot and wounded while trying to separate two men fighting in a paint shop. (I had heard about this shooting as a young boy, but never knew the details until now.)
From all indications, Mr. Sweeney was very successful in the Saloon Business. Sweeney's Capitol Saloon was located at 306 East Broad Street, Texarkana, Ark. He was in partnership with Michael Cassidy and later with Thomas Quinn. The 1901 Texarkana City Directory has Sweeney and Quinn as owners of a saloon. The Sweeney's lived at two known locations, first at 511 5th Street, Texarkana, Ark. and later when he had a new two story home built at 406 Beech Street, Texarkana, Ark. Anthony was married 16 November 1886 in Texarkana, Ark. to Miss Mary Ann Murry, a native of Desoto, Jefferson Co., MO. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney had six children; John L. (1887), Mary E. (1889), Anthony B. (1893), Joseph O. (1895), George E. (1897), and Leo T. (1899).
With the arrival of of early prohibition, Mr. Sweeney had to close his business and retire. He would die 7 April 1926 and was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie Co., Texas. (There was not a Catholic Cemetery on the Arkansas side of town at that time.) Mary Ann, his wife would follow him on 25 January 1930. She is buried next to her husband. Also buried here is Mrs. Sweeney's father, Owen Eugene Murry, a native of Ireland and formerly of St. Francois County, MO.