Finch, Milton J., 1847-1920

FINCH, MCMANUS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/31/2016 at 05:15:20

From the Hawarden Independent, February 26, 1920:

PIONEER PASSES ON
M. J. FINCH PASSES AWAY IN CALIFORNIA
Was an Early Day Resident and Served Eight Years as Clerk of the Courts

M. J. Finch, one of the pioneer settlers of Sioux county, passed away last Thursday evening at Glendale, Calif., following an illness of many months. The body was brought to Hawarden this week by his son, E. L. Finch of Santa Ana, Calif., and daughter, Mrs. M. R. Stone of Hawarden, who has been assisting in his care in California during the past six months. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, conducted by the Rev. Neil Stewart, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Ireton, and interment was made in Grace Hill cemetery beside his wife and daughter who rest there.

Milton J. Finch was born near Burington, Walworth county, Wis., Feb. 17, 1847, and passed away at Glendale, Calif., Feb. 19, 1920, at the age of 73 years and 2 days. He was the eldest of a family of six children. With his parents he moved to Charles City, Iowa, in 1861. On June 25, 1873, he was united in marriage with Amelia McManus at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and they came to Sioux county in 1875, locating at Rock Valley, where the family resided for about twelve years when he was elected to the office of clerk of the courts and the family moved to Orange City. Mr. Finch served as clerk for eight years and in 1897 he purchased the hardware business of C. L. Stewart in Hawarden and moved his family to this city. He conducted this business for about six years, selling out to W. H. Wilkinson.

Mrs. Finch passed away in Hawarden April 20, 1902. In 1904 he moved to Garner, Iowa, where he remained about two years and went from there to Seattle, Wash., in 1906 where he made his home until last summer. During the past year or two he has been in very poor health and last August he went to California in the hope that the climate would prove beneficial. His daughter, Mrs. M. R. Stone, went out to California to assist in his care and with his brother, N. L.[E. L.?] Finch, made a home for him there during the last months of his illness.

He was the father of eight children, seven of whom are living. The children are: Catherine L. Finch, Jerrie L. Finch and C. Pliny Finch of Seattle, Wash.; Earl M. Finch, Washington, D.C.; E. Lee Finch, Santa Ana, Calif.; Mrs. Nellie F. Stone, Hawarden; and Max J. Finch of Seattle. One daughter, Mrs. Olive F. Bush, passed away in Hawarden March 2, 1902. He also leaves two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Addie L. Dunham of Chicago, Mrs. Nellie F. Brownell of Cheney, Wash.; P. D. Finch and N. L. Finch of Glendale, Calif. One brother, J. M. Finch, passed away in June, 1913. Mrs. Dunham came from Chicago to be present at the funeral.

The deceased was a man of rugged honesty and was held in the highest esteem by all the earlier residents who knew him. He was ever most devoted to his children and their slightest wish he always stood ready to gratify. Through his last illness, though he suffered much, he ever maintained an attitude of stoicism which characterized his whole life. He has many old friends throughout Sioux county who will grieve with his children and relatives over his passing.

(This obit was republished in the Rock Valley Bee, March 5, 1920, noting that the family was well known in Rock Valley.)