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Fergus Arnold Sweeney is Born
On the 19th of February, Fergus Arnold Sweeney is brough into the Irish world. He was born into a middle class estate and loving family. Fergus will soon have 2 more siblings living in the house. His parents are well educated and prospering in the community. Fergus will soon leave this new world for another one. -
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Fergus Sweeney's Life
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New Desire
At age 13, in the middle of a winter, Fergus decides to move somewhere new when he matures. He is tired of his own life and wants to start a new one. In school Fergus learns more about a new world: The United States of America. He wishes to journey there as an adult. -
Mother Becomes Sick
At age 16, Fergus’s mother falls dangerously ill. He is uncertain to whether he will be able to make his way to America. The boy might have to stay home and care for his mother and take care of the crop shortages. If his mother does not get better in time, his dream will be in jeopardy. -
Leaving for New World
6 years later, his mother has finally recovered enough to care for herself. Within that time, Fergus convinces his 3 year younger brother, Seamus, to come along with him to the new world. The two brothers buy tickets for a boat to Ellis Island, New York. They bid their last farewells and board the ship. Fergus hopes to see them again in the future. -
Promising Stories
While on the 2nd class voyage, the Sweeney brothers hear a wide range of stories, from streets made of gold to beautiful rolling hills. These stories excite the other immigrants. Fergus cannot wait for the arrival of their ship. Soon they will make their arrival in the U.S. and continue the journey to possessing land. -
First Sight of America
One day, Fergus wakes up early because of some peculiar shouts and commotion. He fears the boat is taking on water. Sweeney puts on his clothes and steps outside. Fergus wakes up his brother and they both step out onto the main deck. The brothers get their first glimpse of America. -
Ellis Island
The docking of the ship was smooth and erratic as the high-paying passengers exited first. The Sweeney brothers packed up the decent amounts of money and supplies they brought and headed towards the paperwork station on Ellis Island. After 3 hours of intensive procedures, Fergus and Seamus followed the path to the docks. They admitted onto the ferry headed to the mainland. The streets aren’t actually painted with gold, but the city does look promising. -
Stocking up on Supplies
After almost three years working in a local furniture shop, Fergus and Seam us have Earned enough money to buy supplies for the move west. The things they bought included a covered wagon, 5 months of food, two horses, and a dog they named Marlow. It was not emotionally hard to leave New York because the living conditions were not the best. After all, the brothers shared a room in a shabby apartment building. -
Problems Ahead
A few months into the trip, one of horses collapses into an exhausted heap. Fergus had to kill it in order to keep on moving. The next rancher they saw traded the remaining horse for two oxen. They were slower but easier to handle. The journey for land continued as Fergus and Seamus made their way to free land. -
Arriving in Town
The brothers arrive in a small city called Cavalry Post, which runs the nearby land competition based off of the Homestead Act. The Sweeney’s sign up for it, which will start in a few months. In the meantime, Fergus finds a beautiful woman who he proposes to. The fiancés will find a suitable plot of land for their needs. The brothers find temporary jobs at a food store. -
Officially Their's
The competition begins and the couple finds a very nice plot of land to settle on. The legal paperwork is done and Fergus finally has the land he has dreamed of for 12 years. Within a month, a small house is standing which will mark the beginning of a prosperous plantation. Seamus owns the plot right next to Fergus, and they conjoin them to make a large plot of land. -
Fergus Sweeney Passes Away
At age 68, Fergus Sweeney passes away to leave his two sons an equal share of the land he owned. His legacy lives on for many more generations as the land he once claimed. The plantation he founded has grown in efficiency and size. Now the Sweeney plot is four times as much as it used to be.
