A Memorial and Biographical Record of
Iowa
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896
Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.
Joseph W. Finarty,
M. D.
Joseph W. Finarty, M. D., a successful medical
practitioner of Knoxville, who has spent the greater part of his life in Iowa,
and is one of the worthy adopted sons of the State, was born at Point Pleasant,
West Virginia, January 16, 1848. He is descended from Scotch ancestry, his
grandfather, Joseph Finarty, having been a native of Scotland. He was the only
child of Joseph and Emily (Day) Finarty, and being left an orphan at a very
early age he went to live with his grandparents in Pella, Iowa, where he grew to
manhood. He was sent to the public schools, and after completing the course
there entered the Iowa Central University at Pella, where he pursued his studies
until sixteen years of age.
The Doctor then went to the front in response to the
country's call for aid. Although but a boy he felt that he must render the
nation all the assistance possible, and his military career was one worthy of a
man many years his senior. He joined Company D, Sixty-third Illinois Infantry,
under Colonel J. B. McCown, and was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee,
taking part in some of the most important battles and engagements of that
sanguinary struggle. He participated in the battle of Missionary Ridge and the
engagements at Atlanta, Marysville (Tennessee), Savannah, Columbia and
Jacksonville, and was one of that column of blue-coated soldiers who followed
Sherman on the victorious march to the sea, after which he participated in the
grand review in Washington. In 1864 he was transferred to the commissary
department, in which he continued until after the cessation of hostilities. In
July, 1865, at the close of the war, this brave soldier boy was honorably
discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and returned to his home.
When he again reached Pella, Iowa, the Doctor resumed his
studies in the Central University, and later took up the study of medicine with
Dr. R. D. Wilkin, of Pella, now of Atlantic, Iowa. In the fall of 1869 he
entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, where he was graduated
in 1873, on the completion of the four-year course. He entered upon the practice
of his chosen calling in Dallas, and there remained for twelve years, building
up an excellent business and demonstrating his skill and ability by his
successful practice. Embracing every opportunity possible for his further
advancement in his chosen calling, he took a post-graduate course at Rush
Medical College, of Chicago, in 1882, and has always been a close student of
medical literature, thereby keeping fully abreast with the times. In 1884 he
returned to Knoxville, where he has since conducted a successful practice. In
the same year he entered into partnership with Dr. A. D. Wetherell, under the
firm name of Wetherell & Finarty, and the connection has since been
continued. The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa
State Medical Society, the Capital City Medical Society, of Des Moines, and the
Marion County Medical Society.
In 1872 Dr. Finarty was joined in wedlock with Miss May
Auld, a sister of Dr. Auld and a daughter of James Auld. They have four
children: Clyde is a student in the Barnes Medical College, of St. Louis,
Missouri; Carl is a druggist, and Roy and Harry are attending school.
The Doctor is a prominent Mason, holding membership with
Orella Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M.; Tadmore Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M., of
which he is High Priest; and has advanced in the Scottish Rite to the
thirty-second degree. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and to
John Ferguson Post, G. A. R. He and his wife hold membership with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and in politics he is an unfaltering Republican, recognized as
a wise leader and able counselor in the ranks of his party. He takes an active
interest in everything calculated to promote the growth and insure the success
of his party, and has served as chairman of the Republican county central
committee.
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