DR. DAVID FINDLEY
David Findley, M. D., one of the leading and pioneer physicians of Cass county, was born in Washington, Guernsey county, Ohio, August 31, 1830. He was the son of Rev. Samuel Findley, a pastor of the United Presbyterian faith, who was sent to Iowa in 1840, as a missionary of the Associate Reform church, traveling on horseback both ways. He followed the ministry until his death, which occurred at the home of his son, Rev. William T. Findley, in Newark, New Jersey. Prior to his death, he established the Madison College, at Antram, Ohio, at which place he was pastor of a church for nearly forty years, and in the winter of 1861 visited with his son David, in Cass county. His wife's maiden name was Margaret Ross, who was a native of Ireland. She died very suddenly in Antram, Ohio, while her husband was in attendance at the Synod, at Pittsburg. David's early life was spent in Washington and Antram, Ohio, at which latter place he was educated until January, 1852, when he went to California by water. He came near being drowned while gaining the boat at Wheeling, and was shipwrecked on the southern coast of California and was picked up by a whaling vessel, which made his trip about a month in reaching San Francisco. He remained there but a short time and then went to Nevada and engaged in the mining business. He spent about two years in the West, accumulating quite a sum of money. He then returned to Antram, Ohio, where he was married August 26, 1856, to Miss Martha J. Barr, of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James Barr, coroner at that place. The subject of this sketch afterward carried out the desire he had maintained from boyhood--that of studying medicine. He studied under Dr. W. M. Anderson, of Antram, and in 1859 came to Iowa, where he received a diploma from the Keokuk Medical College, when he located in Madison. He followed his profession there until 1861, when he removed to Cass county, settling at Grove City, spending the winter of 1801 in the basement of Judge Barnett's house. In the fall of 1862 he moved to Lewis, but only remained there a couple of months, when he went to Indianola, Warren county. At the request and solicitation of friends he returned to Lewis in May, 1863, as the leading physician of that place had died. He remained there until September, 1875, when he removed to Atlantic, where he has since remained. Since his removal to Atlantic he has been engaged some years in the drug business, in addition to his large and increased practice, but entirely disposed of his interest in that concern recently. He owns two farms in Cass county, besides fine residence property in Atlantic, on the corner of Seventh and Linn streets. He has a family of seven children, two of whom are dead: David P. and Sarah M. Those living are: Samuel C., William J., Jessie C., Thomas P., Mary M. Mr. Findley is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, having filled all the chairs of that body. He is also a member of the Congregational church, although all his relative[s] are Presbyterians, and he has two brothers who are ministers of that denomination.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass county, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 399-400.
