DOB:  October 20, 1842 DOD:  November 23, 1920 Age at Enlistment: 18 Date of Enlistment:  May 9, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Franklin, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Private Rank at Discharge:  Private Casualty:  None Comments:  James was born and raised in Williamson County and according to the 1850 Census was living in District 8 (the area directly north of Franklin).  The 1860 Census states he is attending school and he may be one of the Harpeth Academy students that walked out with James Hanner.  James was elected 2nd Corporal at the Company formation, but lost it at company elections on April 30, 1862.  He is listed as being sick in the hospital in September and October 1861.  James deserted on July 16, 1863 at Chattanooga with Isaac Brown, and was captured by the Federal Garrison in Franklin on August 25, 1863 and released on $1,000 bond posted by his father.  After the war he moved to Nashville and worked as a salesman for several businesses.  He first appears in the Nashville Directory in 1866.  In the 1870’s he worked for Collier, S & Co and in the 1880’s he worked for Brooks, Sweeny & Hill.  He moved around a lot and his house address seems to change in the City Directory each year.  He married Zorilda Sneed about 1865 and the couple had two children.  In the 1900 Census he is living with his daughter’s family and working as a dealer in hardware.  He died in 1920 from Chronic Heart Disease and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Section 1. 

Sweeny’s tombstone at Mount Olivet