Marshall E. Finton, b. 11 Mar 1833

GOODENOW, JENKINS, BAKER, DISE, POTTER, WHEATON

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/19/2004 at 06:36:03

Marshall E. Finton, a well-known and highly-respected resident of Maquoketa, is engaged in the livery business here, and he is besides quite extensively identified with the agricultural interests of Eastern Iowa and Kansas, owning two good farms, one a half mile from this city, and one in Brookfield Township, Clinton Co., and a half interest in a half section of land in Trego County, Kan.

Mr. Finton is a native of the State of New York, his birthplace, Bolton, in Warren County, and the date of his birth March 11, 1833. He was derived from sturdy New England stock, and his father, Jabin Finton, was born in that section of the United States. His father, Orange Finton, removed from New England to the State of New York with his family, and settling in the woods of Warren County became an early pioneer of Bolton, where he bought a tract of heavily timbered land. He engaged in milling and farming, and there spent the remainder of his life. The father of our subject was reared and married in Bolton, Miss Sarah E. Goodenow becoming his wife. Mr. Finton engaged in the lumber business, and paid much attention to agricultural pursuits until his death in Bolton in 1836, which closed a busy and honorable career while he was yet in the prime of life. He was the father of three children - Marvin, our subject, and Luke. Marvin is a prosperous farmer in Clinton County; Luke died in the State of Michigan. The mother of our subject married a second time, becoming the wife of Alexander Jenkins. In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins went with their family to Michigan, going by Erie Canal and Lake Erie, etc., to Detroit, and thence by team to their destination in Oakland County. Mr. Jenkins brought a tract of timbered land, and the family resided there until 1845, when they again took up the westward march, and made their way to the then Territory of Iowa. Mr. Jenkins bought 320 acres of Government land on sections 11 and 12, Brookfield Township, Clinton County, and he proceeded to build a dwelling and other necessary buildings, and to open up a farm, and there his eyes closed in death in 1879. The mother of our subject survived her husband until 1887 when she too passed away. She had four children by her second marriage, as follows: Jedediah, who lives in Linn County, Maria, wife of E.P. Baker, of Marion; Hattie, wife of Samuel Dise, resides on her father's old homestead; Palmer died at the homestead in Clinton County, Iowa in 1886.

Marshall Finton was but three years old when his father died, and ten years of age when his mother and stepfather moved to the wilds of Michigan; he was about fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Iowa, and therefore much of his life has been passed in this State, where he grew to a strong and energetic manhood. He can well remember the wildness of the surrounding country in the vicinity of his father's homestead, where on the rolling prairies and in the woody coverts by the streams, deer, wolves, and other wild animals roamed at will. He resided with his parents until he was twenty-one, and then buying a team, he went to work on his own account as a teamster from Maquoketa, and the different river towns, and to Freeport and Warren, Ill. In 1856 he sold his team, and made a trip of inspection to Western Iowa, and after exploring that section a few weeks, returned to Eastern Iowa, being better satisfied with the land here, and entered a tract from the Government in Hickory Grove, Brookfield Township. He broke a part of the land, and then having a chance to dispose of it at a good advance on the cost price sold it. After that he bought a sawmill in Monmouth Township, Jackson County, and engaged in the lumber business there one winter. After selling his mill there his next venture was to visit Minnesota on an exploring expedition, making his journey with a team. A few weeks later he returned to this State, and for a time was actively engaged at carpentering.

In 1856 he bought 160 acres of arable land on section 11, Brookfield Township. He did not, however, locate there then but continued to ply his trade the most of the time, until he determined to lay aside all personal considerations and unite with the other brave defenders of our country in the hour of her utmost need, and assist in saving the Union. Actuated by that high and patriotic motive, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company F, 31st Iowa Infantry, and going to the front served faithfully and well in some of the hardest fought battles in the South until after the close of the war. Among the most important battles in which he took an active part we may mention Chickasaw Bayou, seige and capture of Vicksburg, he having borne a part in the brilliant charge of May 22; battles of Jackson and Arkansas Post; and after the fall of Vicksburg, after remaining in Memphis for awhile, he went with his company to Chattanooga, and was present at the famous battle above the clouds. He then went with Sherman on his march to the sea, and fought in all the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta, including the seige and capture of the latter city. From there his regiment was ordered to Savannah, and then on through the Carolinas to Richmond and to Washington where it took part in the grand review. Our subject was not absent from his regiment, except while on a short furlough, during the whole of his service which extended over nearly three years, he being finally discharged July 1, 1865. After the close of his military career our gallant subject returned to Iowa and settled on his land, and for several years was actively engaged in farming and buying and shipping stock. In 1887 he bought some real estate in Maquoketa, and building a barn, established himself in the livery business, which he is still carrying on with good financial success. He continued to reside on his farm until 1888, when he moved into the city. He still owns his farm in Brookfield Township and others, as mentioned in the opening paragraph of this sketch. He is a man of good business qualifications, and his credit is good wherever he has dealings. He has always shown himself to be a good citizen, no less at present than during the dark days of the great Civil War. He is a valued member of the A.W. Dripps Post, G.A.R.

In 1865 Mr. Finton took an important step in his life whereby he secured a good wife to assist him in building up their present commodious, comfortable home. He was then married to Miss Almeda Potter, a native of Jackson County, and a daughter of Nicholas and Eliza (Wheaton) Potter, natives of Ohio and residents of Minnesota.

Our subject and his wife have three children: Burt, Irma, and May, who are all at home receiving a good education.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)