James M. Finney
James M. Finney was born in Holmes County, Ohio, December 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., 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 a part of the Brown homestead, 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 August 20, 1871; Bessie, born August 29, 1875, and Bertie, born June 12, 1882. In politics Mr. Finney is a Republican.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889