Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/93

 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 61 enjoying the reward, in the fullest extent, that he so justly merits. Charles Gould, Snow the trader, Calvin Potter, James McGinnis, William Freeborn and my father, Dr. W. Sweney, thus begin- Following Mr. Hancock, or possibly in one or two cases pre- ceding him, came John Bush, Benjamin Young, James Wells, Charles Gould, Snow the trader, Calvin Potter, James McGinnis, William Freeborn and my father, Dr. W. W. Sweney, 'thus begin- ning the influx of modern settlement. William Montgomery Sweney, whose studious article appears above, was born in Fulton county. Illinois, November 6, 1849, son of William Wilson and Maria M. Sweney, and was brought to this village with his parents as an infant. He attended Rev. J. W. Hancock's mission school and later took a course in Hamline University, at that time located in Red AVing. Having spent the early part of his life amid pioneer conditions, he early accpiired a love of nature, which has since resulted in exhaustive studies in archaeology and geology, in both of which he was a thorough student and able writer. In 1876 he graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in New York City, and took up the practice of medicine in Red Wing. Yielding to the solicitation of his friends, he has served the city as alderman, and in this capac- ity has been an earnest advocate of purer water for general use in the city, his efforts resulting in the now projected municipal artesian well water supply. Dr. Sweney was married in 1880 to Delia M. Drew, by whom he has four children — William M., born February 8. 1882; James H.. born November 2, 1881: Marjorie M. born May 11. 1893, and Edward B., born February 23, 1898.