Placer
County
Biographies
WILLIAM N. FINNEY, M. D.
Devoted to the noble and humane
profession that has for its object the alleviation of human suffering, Dr.
Finney has gained notable precedence as a regular physician and surgeon. He is practicing in Lincoln and his patronage
is extensive. He was born on the 1st
of February, 1849, in Vienna, Johnson County, Illinois, and on the paternal
side is a representative of one of the old families of Virginia, while his
maternal ancestors were from Tennessee.
His paternal grandfather became one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois,
and there G. P. Finney, the Doctor’s father, was born and reared. When he had arrived at years of maturity he
married Miss Rachel Latham, who also was a native of Illinois and a consistent
member of the Methodist Church. Mr.
Finney followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood, having for his
family a wife and eight children. He
died in the thirty-ninth year of his age, and his wife departed this life in
her thirty-fourth year. Only two of the
children now survive.
The Doctor acquired his preliminary
education in the public schools, and his professional training was obtained in
the Missouri Medical College, in which he was graduated in March, 1878. He began the practice of his profession at
Clear Creek, Illinois, and for six years was a member of the medical fraternity
of Missouri, also conducting a drug store there. In 1888, however, he disposed of his
interests in the Mississippi Valley and came to California, establishing his
home in Lincoln, where he soon acquired a large and lucrative practice. He realizes fully the responsibility which devolves
upon the profession and is therefore a close and earnest student, who embraces
every means that will assist him in preserving health and life. He has made judicious investments of his
capital and is now the owner of a good residence in Lincoln and a ranch of one
hundred and fifty acres, on which he is raising Jersey cattle and fine
poultry. The loyal and patriotic spirit
of Dr. Finney was manifest in his boyhood, and on the 1st of
January, 1865, when he was only fifteen years of age; he enlisted in Company E
of the Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, for service in the Union army. With his regiment he was sent to Texas to aid
in suppressing secession movements there and in guarding government
property. At the close of the war he
received an honorable discharge and while in the east he was a prominent member
of the Grand Army of the Republic and served on the pension board for two
years. He is a Royal Arch mason, is a
member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of
Foresters. He is of a genial nature and
sterling worth which renders him a favorite with his brethren of these
fraternities. His political support is
given to the Republican Party and he and his family are Congregationalists in
their religious connection.
The Doctor was married in El Dorado,
Saline County, Illinois, to Miss Rachel Baine, and
three children were born to them: Charles
Edward, who is now engaged in the drug business; Ellen, now the wife of F. C. DeLong; and Alice B., the wife of H. Taylor. Both daughters are residents of New York
City. The mother died in 1885, and after
coming to California Dr. Finney was married to Mrs. Martha F. Leavell, who by her first marriage had two sons: Lewis and Arthur, whom they have reared. One is now in the drug business, the other in
the grocery business. There are two
children by the second marriage: John
Marshall and Norma Frances.
Dr. Finney is a popular resident of
Lincoln, rendered so by his uniform courtesy, kindly disposition and interest
in others’ welfare, as well as his professional skill and ability.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 624-625. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.