HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis
Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, 
Vol. III, pp. 1281-82. [Full page photograph of Mr. Sweeny included with bio.]
[Jefferson County]

JOSEPH ADDISON SWEENY, M.D.--A specialist in the treatment of the diseases
of the digestive system, Dr. Sweeny is engaged in the practice of his
profession in the city of Louisville, where he retains a large and
representative clientage and where he is recognized as a physician of fine
attainments and marked discrimination.  The Doctor has the distinction of
being a scion of old and honored families of Kentucky, where both is
paternal and maternal ancestors settled in the early pioneer days.  He has
been a resident of Jefferson county, save for short intervals, from the
time of his birth, and his success in the work of his chosen and exacting
profession has been on a parity with his recognized ability.
     Dr. Sweeny was born in the city of Louisville on the 19th of July,
1873, and is a son of John T. and Catherine (Carpenter) Sweeny.  John
Talffe Sweeny was born in Jefferson county, this state, on the 14th of
November, 1847, and he here continued to maintain his home until the close
of his life, his death having occurred while he was visiting in the city
of Lexington, Kentucky, on the 6th of September, 1884.  He was a son of
Rev. Joseph Addison Sweeny, who was one of the pioneer clergymen of the
Christian church in Kentucky, where he followed the work of the ministry
for many years and where he continued to reside until his death, in the
fullness of years and well earned honors.  He was an intimate friend of
Rev. Alexander Campbell, from whose name the Christian church has been
designated as the Campbellite church, and was an ardent supporter of that
distinguished figure in the history of the denomination.  Rev. Joseph
Addison Sweeny was a native of Buckingham county, Virginia in which
historic commonwealth the family was founded in the Colonial days, and he
came to Kentucky in the pioneer epoch, the family home being established
in Jefferson county, with whose annals the name has continued to be
closely identified during the long intervening years.
     John Talffe Sweeny, father of Dr. Sweeny became one of the
representative agriculturists and influential citizens of Jefferson county,
where he was a leader in the ranks of the Democratic party and where he
was called upon to serve in various positions of public trust.  He was
possessed of sterling qualities of mind and heart, was well qualified for
leadership in thought and action, and wielded much influence in his
community, where he ever commanded the fullest measure of popular
confidence and esteem.  He was a zealous member of the Christian church,
as is also his widow, who still resides on the fine old homestead in
Jefferson county.  Mrs. Sweeny was born in Shelby county, this state, and
is a daughter of Calvin and Lucinda (Tyler) carpenter, members of families
that were established in that section of the state at a very early date.
John T. and Catherine (Carpenter) Sweeny became the parents of five
children, of whom Dr. Joseph A. was the first-born, and his two brothers
and two sisters are living.
     Dr. Sweeny passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm and early
began to contribute his quota to its work.  After availing himself of the
advantages afforded in the public schools of his home neighborhood he
entered the Louisville Male High School, in which he was graduated as a
member of the class of 1892.  Soon afterward he became the confidential
secretary and advisor of the late Captain William F. Norton, of Louisville,
with whom he was long and intimately associated, having been with the
Captain at the time of his death, which occurred in California, in 1903,
at which time the Doctor was private physician to his venerable and
honored patron and friend.  In preparation for the work of his chosen
profession Dr. Sweeny entered the Louisville Hospital College of Medicine,
in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902 and from which
he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine.  He has taken post-graduate
course in the leading clinics of Europe and has made a special study of
the diseases of the digestive system, to which he now devotes practically
his undivided attention and in which he is a recognized authority.  He
lectured on this class of diseases in the Louisville Medical College until
the same was merged into the medical department of the University of
Louisville, when he resigned his position.  He is actively identified
with the American Medical Association, the Kentucky State Medical Society
and the Jefferson County Medical Society.  In the Masonic fraternity the
Doctor has attained the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite and is also affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.  He has not as yet assumed connubial
responsibilities.

Sweeny Carpenter Campbell Tyler Norton
=
Shelby-KY Lexington-Fayette-KY Buckingham-VA CA Europe

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/sweeny.ja.txt