Butte County
Biographies
MERRIMAN FINNICUM
MERRIMAN FINNICUM.—Many of the present
residents of Chico are sons of the pioneers of the early
days of California, and still
retain the energy and perseverance so characteristic of their forebears. Merriman Finnicum,
familiarly known as Joe, is a son of one of these pioneers; his father, James
D. Finnicum, was for many years a stage-driver and
owner in the early history of the state.
Merriman Finnicum was born in Steubenville,
Jefferson County, Ohio,
May 10, 1855. In
1858 he came with his parents via Panama,
to San Francisco, on the steamer Golden Gate.
With his parents
he resided at Brushy Mill, Forest Hill, Sayersville
and Chico, at which places he attended school, until 1872,
when he began driving his father’s stage between Oroville and Chico,
a distance of twenty-four miles, making a round trip each day. He continued on this line for about five or
six years, when he began driving for his father between Oroville and Biggs. He drove for his father about ten years altogether. He
then began driving for Johnnie Veal, between Chico and Powellton, afterward driving for Henry C. White, from Chico
to Sutton House. Leaving the stage
business, he was for three years and eight months employed on the Glenn estate; afterwards for five months on the Henry Wilson
place, Tehama County. From there he went to Auburn,
where he drove stage from Auburn to Georgetown. On his first trip the stage was held up, the
robber securing only twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. There were five passengers on the stage at
the time, one of whom, William Zwissler, notified the
authorities and the robber was caught at Auburn. Mr. Finnicum
subsequently drove from Auburn to Placerville,
and on other lines, continuing stage-driving about twenty-two years altogether.
During this long period of service he never had a serious accident.
Mr. Finnicum was married in Auburn, in
1890, to Miss Adeline Lillian Deller, who was born at
Spanish Dry Diggings, Eldorado
County, Cal. She was the daughter of Andrew and Anna Eva (Husse) Deller, the latter born in
Bavaria. Andrew Deller was a
blacksmith who came to California in 1849,
and for a time was engaged in mining and later in ranching in Eldorado County,
where both he and his wife died. They
had four children, Mrs. Finnicum being the
youngest.
Coming to Chico,
Merriman Finnicum was employed by Mr. Schwein in the butcher business. When the Butte
County railroad was built he drove
a butcher wagon for Cramer and Sons, for six months, afterward being employed
by the Sierra Lumber Company. He
remained with this concern five years, until they sold their business to the
Diamond Match Company, when he entered the service of the Northern Electric
Railroad, remaining with them seven years as carpenter and inspector. In 1915, he entered the employ of the City of
Chico. In 1901 he purchased the lot on the corner of
Seventh and Main Streets, upon which he built his present residence and also a
house on the rear of the lot. It has now
become business property and is a valuable corner. He is a member of the Independent Order of
Foresters, Loyal Order of Moose, and of the Foresters of America. In politics he is a Democrat, while his wife
is a Republican. Mrs. Finicum is a member of Annie E. Bidwell Parlor, No. 168,
Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Transcribed 4-15-08
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 884-885, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
©
2008 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
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