Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 709
WALTER G. FINLEY, M.D.

Dr. Walter G. FINLEY has spent his whole life thus far in Harrison county. After receiving a high school education he was graduated from a medical college in 1903, and has since then engaged in the practice of medicine in this county. Since 1912 he also has operated a drug store in Mondamin in connection with his general practice as a physician. Doctor FINLEY is a wide-awake and public-spirited citizen and is interested in everything that pertains to the development of his community. In his younger days he was considered one of the best athletes in the county. He played football in the first Rugby game ever played in Logan. He also was captain of the Logan baseball team for several years.

Walter G. FINLEY, the son and only child of Hiram L. and Isabelle (MCCLURE) FINLEY, was born May 17, 1879, five miles northeast of Logan, Harrison county, Iowa. His father was born in Laporte county, Indiana, and his mother in Botetourt county, Virginia.

About 1874 Hiram L. FINLEY came to Harrison county, Iowa, where he worked for his uncle on a stock farm, the farm being known as the T. M. C. LOGAN farm. After working there a few years Mr. FINLEY returned to his native state and induced his father, William FINLEY, also to come west. The latter located in Harrison county and bought a farm five miles east of Logan, which is now owned by his son, M. J. FINLEY. Doctor FINLEY's grandparents spent the rest of their lives in Harrison county. Soon after the FINLEY family came to Harrison county, Hiram L. FINLEY was married and he at once located on the farm where Doctor FINLEY was born. While working for T. M. C. LOGAN, Hiram L. FINLEY helped to remove the county records from Magnolia to Logan. This performance took place at night and a large number of men throughout the county were parties to the daring deed. The interesting story of this removal is told elsewhere in this volume. About 1882 Hiram L. FINLEY moved to Logan and bought a dray line, which he operated for several years. He then sold out and learned the barber trade, eventually buying a barber shop, which he managed for about eighteen years. In 1903 he sold his shop and moved back to LaPorte, Indiana, where he is now engaged in the barber business.

Dr. Walter G. FINLEY was graduated from the Logan high school with the class of 1898. He then worked for one year in the drug store of Dr. J. E. JONES at Logan, and in the fall of 1899 went to Omaha to study medicine in Creighton Medical College, being in continuous attendance until the spring of 1903, in which year he received his degree. On June 3 of that year he established himself in Mondamin, this county, for the practice of his profession, and remained there until 1909, in which year he removed to Missouri Valley, remaining there three years, at the end of which time, in 1912, he returned to Mondamin and bought out the W. L. STEWART drug store. On March 3, 1914, Doctor FINLEY's store was destroyed in the big fire in Mondamin, but he at once rebuilt and again established himself in busines. He has erected a three-thousand-dollar brick building in which he has his drug store and office. His drug store is one of the best arranged and most modern drug stores in western Iowa. Doctor FINLEY does a large business in Mondamin and the surrounding community, and has built up a large and lucrative professional practice, being justly regarded as one of the 1eading practitioners of his county.

Doctor FINLEY was married June 17, 1908, to Teresa B. MORROW, who was born August 20, 1887, in Allen township, this county, a daughter of Hugh P. and Rose (FERGUSON) MORROW. Her father was born in Canada of Irish parentage, and was one of the earliest settlers of Harrison county. The FERGUSONs also were pioneers in the county, having located near Magnolia. Doctor FINLEY and his wife have two daughters, Eleanor H., born September 10, 1909, and Rose I., born January 8, 1912.

Doctor FINLEY is a Republican, but owing to the nature of his business has never taken an active part in political affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the encampment. He holds membership in the Woodmen of the World, the Homesteaders and the Daughters of Rebekah. He also is a member of the Harrison County Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

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