In 1882, Cheney's daughter, Margaret Swan Cheney (September 8, 1855 – September 22, 1882), died of tuberculosis while a student in the 1882 class at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
A room in the Technology building was fitted up and named for her, the Margaret Swan Cheney Reading Room.

In 1887, she was elected president of the hospital she had helped to found.
She was a delegate to the Woman's Council in Washington, D. C. in 1888.
In 1890, she attended the Lake Mohawk Negro Conference.

Cheney died at Jamaica Plain, November 19, 1904, and was buried at East Cemetery, Manchester, Connecticut.
In 1882, Cheney's daughter, Margaret Swan Cheney (September 8, 1855 – September 22, 1882), died of tuberculosis while a student in the 1882 class at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A room in the Technology building was fitted up and named for her, the Margaret Swan Cheney Reading Room.
In 1887, she was elected president of the hospital she had helped to found. She was a delegate to the Woman's Council in Washington, D. C. in 1888. In 1890, she attended the Lake Mohawk Negro Conference.
Cheney died at Jamaica Plain, November 19, 1904, and was buried at East Cemetery, Manchester, Connecticut.
Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney