We are too prone to associate the fine qualities of courage and
heroism with the great crises and with military campaigns,
forgetting that courage as splendid and heroism as daring may be
shown by a boy in his fight against poverty and in his struggle for
an education. The life and work of Thomas Lewey Sweeney, the only
colored lawyer at Fayetteville, W. Va., illustrate this. He was
born near Red Sulphur Springs in Monroe County, W. Va., on
September 19, 1870. His parents were Lewey and Annie Sweeney. The
father was a shoemaker by trade, but passed away when his son was
only eighteen months old. When he was five years of age he lost his
mother also. Thus he was completely orphaned at an early age when
he was unable to provide for himself. He says, "After my mother
died I went to live with some white people who lived on a large
farm in Monroe County, West Virginia. I lived with them some eight
or ten years. There was a large family of these people, most of
whom were grown, where I was living. Some of them were going to
school and others were teaching school. I sat around the fireside
during the winter nights for a number of years and watched them
prepare their lessons. They never undertook to teach me, but would
sometimes say to me, "you ought to learn and educate yourself." I
made up my mind then to educate myself although I had no one to
help me. I went down to Richmond, Va., and there learned my
alphabet, and then I attended Harpers Ferry School one year. From
there I went to Howard University, Washington, D. C., and remained
there for twelve years in school, receiving my A.B. degree in 1896,
and LL.B. degree before leaving in 1898. I worked my way all the
time in all of these schools." This simple narrative leaves much
untold. The struggle for an education meant not only years of
application and study, but also years of hard work and close
economy. That sort of regime sometimes makes misers of men, but it
did not of Mr. Sweeney. After leaving the farm referred to above,
his first work was as a water boy on the railroad section. He was
then only fourteen, but he was faithful and when ready to start to
Richmond, his foreman provided him a pass. When school was out he
returned to the section, and while it was a time of depression and
the force was out, he was retained and so was able to return to
school again in the fall. The third year he went to Storer College
and after one term there entered Howard University for both his
literary and professional courses. After going to Howard he secured
work at northern hotels or on the boat lines with the exception of
one year when he was attached to the P. O. Department at
Washington.
In 1900 he began the practice at Fayetteville, where he has
since resided and has prospered. His practice has grown steadily,
and he has accumulated valuable real estate and other property. In
politics Mr. Sweeney is a Republican and is a member of the State
Republican Executive Committee, and has done considerable
campaigning for the party. He is a member of the Baptist church,
and among the secret orders and benevolent societies is identified
with the Mason and the Red Men.
On Sept. 6, 1906, Mr. Sweeney married Miss Carrie Anderson. Mrs.
Sweeney was educated at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute and
is an accomplished teacher. They have three children, Thomas L.,
Jr., Carlos B. and Joyce Virginia Sweeney.Mr. Sweeney is an
intelligent observer and student of conditions, and is
characteristic of men of his type that they never prescribe short
cuts to success or progress. He says "The interest of the race are
to be promoted by stimulating the desire for education and economic
advancement." The particular book that has been most helpful to him
is the Life of Abraham Lincoln. Speaking in a modest way of his
work and attainments he says, "For several years after the
completion of my course of study at Howard University, Washington,
D. C., and after my graduation from the Law Department, I taught
school in West Virginia and was designated by the State Department
of Schools to hold teachers' Institutes for the training of
teachers in various parts of the State, a work much enjoyed by me,
and I sometimes think that if I have any calling, it is to the
school room as teacher. In 1912 I was elected attorney for the
United States Council of the Independent Order of Red Men of
America and I am still retained as attorney for this
Corporation.
Money getting has never been my chief and highest ambition. I
had rather be considered a highly cultured man with a highly
cultured mind than to have great riches.
However without a great effort along that line, my residence
cost me $5,000.00; I have under construction a three-story brick
business building at a cost of $14,000.00; I have other real estate
valued at $10,000.00 besides carrying a $5,000.00 life insurance
policy."
