Untitled
Surnames: Thompson, Engles, McDowell, Vedder, Hogle, Wood, Alsip, Gardner, Teasdale, Johnson, Nickles
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 125-126
J. L. FINLEY, a prosperous farmer, and prominent resident of Cassville, is one of the pioneers of Grant county, having been identified with its interests for half a century. He is a native of Missouri, born at Ste. Genevieve, Dec. 3, 1833.
John FINLEY, his father, was born in Finleyville, Washington Co., Penn., in 1794, and in that State grew to manhood and was married, his first wife dying in Washington county. At an early day he moved to Corydon, Ind., where he wedded Miss Margaret THOMPSON, who was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1802. There he was engaged in merchandising for two years, and later conducted a story at De Witt, Ark., after which he moved to Ste. Genevieve, Mo., where he was similarly employed. In 1834 he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and became one of the early merchants of that place, conducting a general supply store for about four years. In 1838 he located on the Mississippi river, at what became known as Finley's Landing, named in his honor, and there he kept a wood yard for five years. At the end of that time he located on a farm at Durango, in Dubuque county, Iowa, where he made his home until his death in 1847. Subsequently his widow and family settled near Spechts Ferry, on the Mississippi river, and during the season of 1849-50 her son J. L. had charge of the ferry. In 1851 the family moved to Potosi, Wis., and Mr. FINLEY has since made his home in Grant county. The mother died in Waterloo township, Aug. 22, 1860. The children were Thompson, who died at Finley's Landing in June, 1842, at the age of seventeen years; Wilmot, who died in Hurricane, Grant county, in 1855, aged twenty-eight; Margaret, who died at the age of twenty-four years; J. L., whose name introduces this sketch; Howard, who enlisted at Waterloo, in 1862, in the 25th Wis. V.I. and was killed at Decatur, Ga.; Mrs. Julia ENGLES, a resident of Oelwein, Iowa; and Mrs. Isabelle McDOWELL, a resident of Missouri. The rest of the family, which numbered eleven children, died young.
The boyhood and youth of J. L. FINLEY were principally passed in Iowa, and in the spring of 1851 he came with the family to Grant county, Wis., where he has since successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1855 he took up his residence in Waterloo township, where he opened up and improved a farm, making his home there until his removal to Cassville, in 1879. He still carries on farming.
Mr. FINLEY was married in Beetown, in 1855, to Miss Eliza J. VEDDER, a native of Chautauqua county, N.Y., and a daughter of A. W. and Susan (HOGLE) VEDDER, the former born in Cortland county, same State, in 1809, the latter in Genesee county, in 1820. Her paternal grandfather, John VEDDER, was one of the early settlers of New York. Her maternal grandfather Andrew HOGLE, a Revolutionary hero, came to Grant county, Wis., in 1842, and located in Lancaster township. During 1841 and 1842 he carried the mail between Galena and Prairie du Chien, and also drove a stage and engaged in farming. In 1875 he moved to Le Mars, Iowa, where he made his home until his death, in 1897. His wife died in 1894, at an advanced age. In 1842 A. W. VEDDER, father of Mrs. FINLEY, came to Grant county from New York, making the journey from Chicago with teams. He located at Beetown, where he owned and operated a farm of 200 acres, and, being a machinist, he manufactured the first threshing machine used in Grant county. He worked at his trade in the government employ two years. His death occurred in Beetown, in May, 1898, and his wife died in October, 1896. Their children were Jefferson, a resident of Dakota; Mrs. Eliza J. FINLEY; Mrs. Irene WOOD, who lives on the old home farm; and Mrs. Ella ALSIP, a resident of Bushnell, S. Dak. Mrs. FINLEY also has a half brother and sister, A. J. VEDDER, of Mason City, Iowa; and Mrs. Lucy GARDNER, of Lancaster, Wis. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. FINLEY, namely: Clara B., now the wife of Frank TEASDALE, of Cassville; James, who wedded Mary JOHNSON, and lives in Twin Valley, Minn. Myrta, wife of Willis C. NICKLES, of Cassville; and Effie D., at home.
When President Lincoln issued a call for more volunteers to aid in crushing out the Rebellion, Mr. FINLEY enlisted in August, 1862, in company H, 25th Wis. V. I., for three years, and on Aug. 20, 1864, he re-enlisted in company E, 43d Wis. V.I. for one year or during the war, being sworn into the United States service at Milwaukee. His regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac. For some time he was stationed at Johnsonville, Tenn., on detached duty, and also near Nashville, where he assisted in the construction of blockhouse No. 1. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, July 6, 1865, and mustered out at Milwaukee. In politics Mr. FINLEY is a Republican, and he most efficiently filled the office of constable for four years while a resident of Waterloo township, and three years in Cassville. He and his wife are widely and favorably known, and are numbered among the leading citizens of the county, as well as among its honored pioneers. Mrs. FINLEY is a prominent member of the Order of the Eastern Star., which she has served as matron and associate matron, and is also a great worker in Woman's Relief Corps, No. 4, of Lancaster. In her youth she was a school teacher.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck