The Ford Family
Origins and History
Mary (Dunn) Sweeny
Personal & Family Data
| Nickname | Nana |
| Born | August 3, 1858 |
| Died | July 31, 1943 |
| Father | Daniel Dunn |
Spouse
 |
William Thomas Sweeny |
| Children | Joseph Thomas Sweeny John Leo Sweeny Catherine Grady Nora Sweeny William Daniel Sweeny Edward Joseph Sweeny Vera Grane |
Ancestors & Descendants
Mary (Dunn) Sweeny
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Bio
Mary (Dunn) Sweeny was the last child of Daniel and Ann Dunn, and the only Dunn born in the United States. The family came to America along with many Irish immigrants and settled in New York where Mary was born.
By 1870 the family was living in Cleveland where Mary's father and relatives were working as laborers on the docks of the Cuyahoga River. This may be where she met her soon-to-be husband, William Sweeny, who is a ship's carpenter. The two were married in 1879 when Mary was 21.
The couple settled in the ANGLE, an Irish ghetto near St. Malachi's and Whiskey Island. Their address was 9 &1/2 North (but is no longer there of course). This was an isolated community of Irish folks who resented outsiders. It is said they were a very chauvinistic society.
Mary receives some property from the estate of her father Daniel Dunn, and a house is built for the family at 6711 Bridge Avenue. Life is good with her oldest two children married and son John working with his father as a ship's carpenter. Nora has a job too as a stenographer, and William at 19 is a book keeper who will one day rise to become an executive for a large manufacturer. Little Vera wants to get a job but is still in school and told to stay at home.
Life marches on for Mary. Her children grow up. Her oldest son becomes the Director of Finance for the City of Cleveland. She celebrates her 50th wedding anniversary with her family in 1929. A year later her husband dies. Her daughter Nora and son William and his wife Carmalita live with her, and now they can afford a maid to help Mary. As her mind begins to fade, "Nana" goes to live with her youngest daughter Vera and family. Mary's granddaughter Margaret said, "it was great when Nana lived with us. She thought she was 7 years old and my best friend."
Mary dies on July 31, 1943 and is very much missed by her grandchildren.
Mary (Dunn) Sweeny was the last child of Daniel and Ann Dunn, and the only Dunn born in the United States. The family came to America along with many Irish immigrants and settled in New York where Mary was born.
By 1870 the family was living in Cleveland where Mary's father and relatives were working as laborers on the docks of the Cuyahoga River. This may be where she met her soon-to-be husband, William Sweeny, who is a ship's carpenter. The two were married in 1879 when Mary was 21.
The couple settled in the ANGLE, an Irish ghetto near St. Malachi's and Whiskey Island. Their address was 9 &1/2 North (but is no longer there of course). This was an isolated community of Irish folks who resented outsiders. It is said they were a very chauvinistic society.
Mary receives some property from the estate of her father Daniel Dunn, and a house is built for the family at 6711 Bridge Avenue. Life is good with her oldest two children married and son John working with his father as a ship's carpenter. Nora has a job too as a stenographer, and William at 19 is a book keeper who will one day rise to become an executive for a large manufacturer. Little Vera wants to get a job but is still in school and told to stay at home.
Life marches on for Mary. Her children grow up. Her oldest son becomes the Director of Finance for the City of Cleveland. She celebrates her 50th wedding anniversary with her family in 1929. A year later her husband dies. Her daughter Nora and son William and his wife Carmalita live with her, and now they can afford a maid to help Mary. As her mind begins to fade, "Nana" goes to live with her youngest daughter Vera and family. Mary's granddaughter Margaret said, "it was great when Nana lived with us. She thought she was 7 years old and my best friend."
Mary dies on July 31, 1943 and is very much missed by her grandchildren.
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