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Below is a family biography included in The History of Carroll County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Col. George W. Sweesy, of the Eureka Springs Times, was born in Mercer County, Penn., on March 28, 1839. He is a son of Thomas and Alice (Forbes) Sweesy. Thomas Sweesy was born on December 25, 1813, and was of French lineage on his father’s side. In 1849 he removed his family from Pennsylvania to Iowa and located on a farm, on which he resided until his death, which occurred on March 23, 1881, in Kansas, he being there on a visit. His wife was a native of Ireland, and died in 1846. George W. Sweesy was reared on his father’s farm, and secured a good education in Iowa. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in farming in Iowa and continued until the beginning of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Federal army. He joined Company M, Second Iowa Calvary, and served three years. On March 13, 1863, he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison. After being released from prison he was assigned to detached service at St. Louis under Col. B. L. E. Bonneville, post commander of Benton Barracks and chief commissary of the muster department of Missouri. Remaining here until September 24, 1864, Mr. Sweesy was commissioned second lieutenant of the Forty-first Missouri Infantry, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel and assistant commissary of musters. After three months he resigned his commission and returned home. Engaging in merchandising at Spragueville, Iowa, he continued three years when he sold out and removed to Harvey County, Kas. He remained in Kansas until 1883, when he came to Eureka Springs, and during that time he owned three newspapers, Halstead Independent, Burlington Republican and Indian Chieftan. The last named was published at Vinita, I. T. He served as postmaster and land agent for the town of Halstead, and also land agent for the Santa Fe Railroad Company. In 1885 he located at Eureka Springs, and on November 1, 1887, in partnership with George Weymouth, purchased the Eureka Springs Times of H. A. Cook. In 1857 Mr. Sweesy wedded N. E. Humphrey, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them have been born four children, viz.: J. LeRoy, a printer in California; Elmer E., Lenore D. B. and Leoti. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sweesy worship at the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Mason and a member of the K. of P. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and his paper is one of the leading Republican organs of Northwest Arkansas.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Carroll County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Carroll County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Carroll County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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