Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Joseph Finney
Joseph Finney who was one of the extensive and wealthy agriculturists of Wayne county, was born in West Milton, Miami county, Ohio, December 11, 1815. and died in Fountain City, July 16, 1898. His parents, Robert and Hannah (Hickman) Finney, were natives of Grayson county, North Carolina, the former of English, and the latter of English and Irish descent. The father served in the war of 1812, on the frontier of Indiana territory, being then a resident of Kentucky. In 1814 he took up his residence in Miami county, Ohio, and there reared a family of four daughters and two sons, Joseph being the fifth in order of birth. The parents spent their remaining days in Miami county.
Joseph Finney was reared in his native town, and at an early day entered upon his business career, his wages going for the support of the family. His school privileges were quite limited, but he was ambitious to learn, and made the most of his opportunities in leisure hours. Thus he qualified himself for teaching, which profession he followed for fifteen years, meeting with good success in the undertaking. He also engaged in keeping books and making collections for the merchants of Milton, and later followed merchandising in Gettysburg, Ohio, for a time. Subsequently, however, he engaged in farming in Miami county, about four miles south of Peru, and engaged in its cultivation for twelve years, when he came to Wayne county, making his home in Wayne township for eight years, when he removed to New Garden township. In 1884 he retired from agricultural pursuits and took up his residence in Fountain City, but still continued to manage his farming property, which had become quite extensive. From time to time, as his financial resources had increased, he had added to his land. His home farm was located south of Fountain City, and he owned what is known as the Tommy Brown farm a mile and a quarter northeast of town. These he rented, deriving therefrom a good income. He also had a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Jay county, Indiana, and in 1893 he purchased his father's old farm in Miami county, Ohio, of which he had inherited eighty acres,—the old homestead on which his boyhood days had been spent and which is now in possession of his family. He also had considerable money out at interest, and in all his business transactions manifested keen discrimination, great energy and strict integrity. These qualities insured him prosperity, and although he started out in life for himself empty-handed when a youth, at the time of his death he was accounted of the wealthy men of Wayne county.
Mr. Finney was twice married. On the 1st of November, 1855, he wedded Margaret Ann, daughter of James and Margaret Reed, of Miami county, Indiana. She died April 18, 1863, after which Mr. Finney came to Wayne county, his sister acting as his housekeeper until his second marriage. It was on the 26th of August, 1869, that he married Elizabeth, daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Elleman) Pemberton, of Miami county, Ohio, by whom he had one child, Margaret. The children of the first marriage are Ginevra, who became the wife of Charles Clark, and died in her twenty-third year, leaving a son, George R.; Eldridge, who is now an inmate of an insane asylum; Mrs. Almeda Trueblood, of Richmond, who has three children, —Virgil, Laura B. and Herschel J. Trueblood. Margaret, the daughter of the second marriage, is with her mother.
Mr. Finney was in poor health during the last five years of his life, but continued in the active management of his property and business interests until two years prior to his death, when Benjamin B. Myrick was appointed guardian. His daughter Margaret had been his able assistant in business during the five years prior to his death, having attended to the farms and detail of business. She familiarized herself with everything in this connection and was in close touch with her father's financial affairs, he placing the utmost confidence in her ability and judgment.
Mr. Finney cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and when the Republican party was formed he joined its ranks and cast his last ballot for William McKinley. He had been a stanch opponent of slavery in ante-bellum days, and when many abolitionists were threatened with death by the Knights of the Golden Circle he challenged them to come on, asserting that he was prepared for them. At all times he stood fearlessly in defence of what he believed to be right, and neither fear nor favor could swerve him from such a course. He was thoroughly versed in the Bible, and attended the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, but was not a member. He also kept well informed on the issues of the day and did not regard lightly his duties of citizenship and his obligations to his fellow men. He was honorable in his dealings, straightforward in all life's relations, and commanded uniform respect throughout his adopted county.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899