JAMES M.
FINNEY was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Dec. 20, 1835, a son
of David and Hannah (Butler) Finney. The Finney
family was one of the first to come to Holmes County. They
first located in Ohio in 1812, but returned to Washington County,
Penn., where they remained until after the close of the war of that
period. The grandfather of James M. bought 500 acres of
what was known as French Soldier Land. His father who died in
1872, had a family of nine children: Sarah, John, Mary, James M.,
bought 500 acres of what was known as French Soldier Land.
His father who died in 1872, had a family of nine children:
Sarah, John, Mary, James M., Anna, Luentia, Jennie, Jonathan B.,
and Laura, all living but John and
Mary.
James M. Finney owns 110 acres of good land, sixty
acres of which were part of the Brown homestead forty acres of which
were a part of the Brown homesteads, forty acres being in
other townships. He has acquired the most of his property by
hard work and perseverance, and has earned the prosperity he is now
enjoying. He married Miss Mary Phillips and they have
three children: Louis C., born Aug. 20, 1871; Bessie,
born Aug. 29, 1875, and Bertie, born Jun. 12, 1882. In
politics Mr. Finney is a Republican. |
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WILLIAM J. FINNEY,
the subject of this sketch, was born in New Castle,
Penn., May 6, 1811. His father,
David Finney, was one of the earliest settlers of Holmes County, and, being a man
of intelligence and of an enterprising spirit, he early secured a large tract of
fertile land, containing some 500 acres, upon which he built his cabin, and
raised a family of seven children: John, David, Washington, Mary, Ann, William J. and Thomas. After his father’s death,
William J. became the owner of the
original homestead. In 1848 he
married Miss Louisa Crist, and to
them were born four children. Mr.
Finney died in 1883, aged seventy-two years.
Mrs. Finney still lives on the
homestead with her children.
~ Page 640 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne and
Holmes, Ohio, Illustrated – Publ.
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889
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JOHN FRITZ
was born in Knox County, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1849, a son of Ferdinand
and Thacia (Grim) Fritz, natives of Bavaria, Germany, latter of
whom died of dropsy, at the age of forty, after an illness of over
nine years. Ferdinand Fritz was the eldest son of
John and Mary (Husfielt) Fritz, and came to America with his
parents when eleven years old. They settled near Danville, and
there Ferdinand grew to manhood. He acquired to good
property, having at his death a valuable farm of 174 acres. He
died in 1883, aged fifty seven years, his wife in 1879, aged
forty-eight years. They had a family of nine children:
John, Catherine (deceased), Anna, Mary Joseph, Henry, George,
Leo and Sarah.
John Fritz spent his early life in his native
county, and was there educated, attending the common schools.
He learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked a number of
years, and has also given his attention to the work of the farm.
In 1880 he bought the farm where he now lives, in Washington
Township, Holmes county, which contains 110 acres of good land.
He was married in 1880 to Barbara, daughter of Paul Now,
and they have four children: Mary, Tracy, Clara Catherine, George
Edward and Thacia Elnora. In politics Mr. Fritz
affiliates with the Democratic party. He and his wife are
members of the Catholic Church. |
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