Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

B. M. SWEENEY

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


 
            A successful orchardist, who has also found it worth while to follow 
vineyarding, is B. M. Sweeney, of Live Oak, who owns some forty-eight choice 
acres about two miles to the south of that town, a part of the E. Briick ranch 
bordering on the Sacramento Northern Railroad.  He came to Live Oak on the 22nd 
of November, 1897, and engaged in grain-farming on the Manaugh place.  He had as 
a partner his brother, J. T. Sweeney.  They raised wheat for the most part, that 
being the chief crop grown in Live Oak.  They had previously farmed together 
successfully for two years on other ranch lands.
            Mr. Sweeney was born at Chico, in Butte County, on July 6, 1876, the 
son of James W. and Mary Ann (McGrade) Sweeney, natives of Ireland, who arrived 
in California about 1860.  Both parents came of farmer stock, and settled in the 
Wheatland section.  They married at Marysville in 1867; and they had a family of 
six children, among whom our subject was the fifth.  Three only have survived.  
Mrs. Sweeney, now seventy-two years of age, has resided since 1885 at Berkeley; 
Mr. Sweeney, esteemed by all who knew him, passed away in 1898.  B. M. Sweeney 
attended the St. Joseph Academy at Berkeley, and then learned the blacksmith 
trade and horseshoeing under Mr. Charles A. Cain, at Berkeley.  J. T. Sweeney 
preceded B. M. Sweeney to Live Oak, and the latter went to work at the forge for 
three years in the Gridley blacksmith shop, returning eventually to Live Oak 
from Gridley.
            At Marysville, in 1901, Mr. Sweeney was married to Miss Kate Ellis, 
the daughter of Charles and Mary Ellis.  Mrs. Sweeney is the eighth child of a 
family of nine children by her mother�s two husbands.  By her first marriage, to 
Joseph Clark, she had five children; while by her second marriage, to Charles 
Ellis, she had four children.  Charles Ellis has been deceased for a quarter of 
a century; but Mrs. Ellis is still residing at Live Oak, and is seventy-six 
years of age.  She is a pioneer here, having crossed the plains with her first 
husband, Joseph Clark, and her father and mother.  Her mother died on the way 
out and was buried at Virginia City, Nev.  Mrs. Sweeney was reared in Sutter 
County and was educated in the public schools, and then was at home until she 
married.
            B. M. Sweeney has been a member of the Knights of Columbus at 
Marysville for the past five years; and he served as constable for three years, 
or from 1905 to 1908, and has always been known as a public-spirited citizen.  
He is a charter member of the Live Oak Farm Bureau, and as a director during 
1923 and 1924 he was very active in this center, doing excellent work as one of 
the committee on new members.  He has unbounded confidence in the future of the 
fruit industry in Live Oak, and is 100 per cent for cooperative marketing.  He 
also has great faith in the future of the town, and owns fourteen very desirable 
lots in Live Oak.  During the World War he did very important service in the 
various drives, loyally supporting the government.  He is always in favor of 
good roads and good schools.  Since 1915 he has become the guardian of two 
fatherless nephews, C. P. and W. B. Sweeney, who are youths of much promise, and 
general favorites.
            Mr. Sweeney has never been without influence in the community in 
which he is such an active personality, and he is especially helpful among young 
men.  Having learned the blacksmith trade, he acquired by purchase, in 1904, the 
J. F. Nelson shop, which he conducted until 1919, meanwhile working hard to 
build up a garage and also a Ford agency.  He handled all the Ford products; and 
the only car-load of Ford automobiles ever unloaded in the town of Live Oak was 
consigned to him, in 1917.  He erected a commodious building and was ready to 
carry on a larger business than ever; but since he disposed by sale of this part 
of his property to Dunning Brothers, of the California Garage at Marysville, he 
has devoted all of his time and attention to his ranch properties.  For in the 
meantime, or as far back as 1909, he had invested in some open land, or barley 
fields, which he at once proceeded to develop by the planting of prunes, now 
eight years old.  He set out the Thompson Seedless grapes about the same time, 
so that he has a fine vineyard as well as orchard.  He uses one Fordson tractor 
and four horses for his farm-power, and operates only according to the latest 
and most approved methods.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p.  576-577