Nevada Genealogy Trails Carson City Hon. James G. Sweeney Biography

HON. JAMES G. SWEENEY, attorney general of Nevada, is a native of the state, having been born in Carson City, January 22, 1877. He enjoys the honor of being the youngest man in the entire United States who ever occupied the office of which he is now incumbent. He is a son of Edward D. Sweeney, one of the honored early pioneers of Carson Citv. who located in that locality in the spring of 1857. He was born in Ireland in 1829, but came to America in 1833, when only four years of age, so that nearly all of his life has been spent in the land of his adoption. In 1849 he was attracted to California by the discovery of gold, and was a placer miner at Hanghtown, now Placerville. Later he went fb the Frazer river, and experienced many thrilling adventures. Upon arriving in Nevada he went directly to Eureka, Humboldt county, built a cabin and conducted a toll road, sometimes taking in as much as two thousand dollars a day. He delivered water at Carson City in barrels to the first settlers of that place, and a little later piped the first water to the city. Among his other holdings was a ninety-acre ranch above the town on which he built a reservoir and from it supplied the city with water. He also acquired three thousand five hundred acres of woodland, on which he built a sawmill and supplied the town with wood and lumber, and many of the buildings now standing were put up with his lumber. Later he built the first brick structure in the city, which was for years occupied by the state land office and law office.

Edward D. Sweeney has been a life-long Democrat, and for years was chairman of the district central committee of the state. In 1866 he was married to Miss Ellen Cavanaugh, a daughter of Peter Cavanaugh, a pioneer of Nevada and a noted architect and builder. Among the buildings for which Mr. Cavanaugh had the contracts were the United States mint building and the capitol building, as well as many others too numerous to mention. Both Mr. Edward Sweeney and his wife are living, occupying a very pleasant home in Carson City. They had six children, of whom four are now living, namely: Nellie, who married George L. Lemon, of Oakland, California; Margaret, at home with her parents; Louise, a successful teacher in Carson City; and James G.

Mr. James G. Sweeney was educated in the public schools of Carson City, graduating from the high schools, after which he went to St. Mary's College at Oakland, California, from which he was graduated with the degree of B. A. He then returned to Carson City and studied law, and when only twenty-one years of age was admitted to the bar. After that he entered the Columbia Law University at Washington, D. C, from which he was also graduated with high honors. Once more he returned to his native city, and soon thereafter the brilliant young attorney was nominated by the Democratic party as a candidate to the general assembly. Mr. Sweeney stumped the district and was returned with a large majority. While so very young, Mr. Sweeney possessed unusual ability and distinguished himself as a legislator, and returned home at the close of the session covered with political honors. The intervening time between his return and 1902 was spent in carrying on a large and extremely successful practice, but in that year he was nominated by his party as candidate for the office of attorney general of the state. In his own behalf and that of the ticket Mr. Sweeney stumped the entire state, meeting with an enthusiastic reception everywhere, and so effective was his campaign that he was elected by a majority of 1,570. Since entering upon his duties he has faithfully discharged them personally, having no deputy.

On December 14, 1902, he was united in marriage with Miss Mable Trembath, the accomplished daughter of Hugh Trembath, of Virginia City. Mrs. Sweeney was born in Virginia City, Nevada, and is a most charming and highly educated lady. Although barely twenty-six years of age, Mr. Sweeney has already accomplished more than many men in a lifetime, and honors have been heaped upon him. That his future will be equally brilliant is a certainty to those who have the privilege of his acquaintance or have followed his remarkable career.