Butte County
Biographies
JAMES DUNCAN FINNICUM
JAMES DUNCAN FINNICUM.--The exciting
tales, narrated in the yellow-backed novels which were great favorites with the
younger generation many years ago, found their realism in the actual life and
experiences of the pioneer stage-drivers on the Pacific slope. James Duncan Finnicum was one of these pioneer drivers. That he had a
level head and steady hand was evidenced by the fact that during his long
service in this capacity he never met with a serious accident. In those days,
as at a somewhat later period, hold-ups were quite a common thing; and yet,
though many years a driver, he had an almost unparalleled record in that he was
so singularly fortunate as never to have met with one of these gentry of the
road.
James
D. Finnicum, was born near West Middletown, Washington
County, Pa., October 6, 1827. His
father, William, was born in England,
from whence he came to Pennsylvania, where he was married to Maria Richards, who was born in West Virginia.
From Pennsylvania he came to Carroll
County, Ohio, where he died.
His widow then moved to Adair County, Mo.,
where she died. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Finnicum, of which James D. was the youngest. After the
death of his parents James resided with his grandfather, David Richards, a
native of Maryland, who lived at Carrollton,
Ohio. At Carrollton,
James learned the engraving trade, after which he was connected with the firm
of Louden Bowland at Steubenville,
Ohio. Leaving Steubenville,
he was for five years in West Virginia and Pennsylvania,
acting in the capacity of salesman.
Mr.
Finnicum was married in Carroll
County, Ohio, to Miss Eleanor
Moorhead, who was born there on July 29, 1827. Seven children were the result
of this marriage, of whom five grew to maturity: Angeline, Mrs. Mark L. Barham, who died in Glenn County, Cal., in 1907; William,
who is a farmer in Carroll County, Ohio; Merriman, popularly known as Joe, now living
in Chico; Mary, who is Mrs. Barnes, of Chico; Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. Kreager of Chico. Mrs. Finnicum
died in Chico, August 12, 1903,
respected and beloved
by all who knew her.
In
1858, James D. Finnicum came to California
with his wife and three children on the steamer Golden Gate, via Panama,
to San Francisco. From there he went
to Brushy Mill, where he was engaged in the saw-mill business for two years,
after which he began driving stage from Forest Hill to Auburn.
In 1864 he left this route and began driving from Marysville to La
Porte, a distance of eighty miles. In 1865, the line,
which was owned by Dr. Brewster, was moved to Oroville, from which place Mr. Finnicum drove to La Porte
for about five years. In 1870 he came to Chico and entered
the employ of the California Stage Company, driving from Chico
to Red Bluff, one trip daily. In 1872 the company moved their office from Chico
to Tehama and he became their agent. From
there they removed to Red Bluff,
running their stages to Redding,
Mr. Finnicum still continuing as their agent. Leaving
the service of this company, he returned to Chico and
purchased the stage line from Chico
to Oroville. He continued driving himself, one round trip a day. He continued
the business for about twenty-four years, until twenty years ago, when he sold
out. Sometime in the fall of
that year he began running a stage from Chico
to Newville. He also ran a line from Oroville to Biggs. During his long career
as stage-driver he often carried large sums of money, which, as well as the
passengers who accompanied him, were safely delivered. He was an excellent
judge of horses and his long experience in connection with them enabled him to
successfully doctor them when sick.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 519-520, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2007 Sande Beach.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library