finneyz
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
ZACHARIAH FINNEY, who resides
about two miles west from Wilsoncreek, is one of the earliest settlers
in the Crab creek country. He is now one of the heavy stock raisers
and also does general farming. He has a large amount of fine natural
meadow land besides considerable irrigated land. A large portion
of this is given to the production of hay for his stock and he is one of
the progressive and wealthy men in the Crab creek valley.
Zachariah Finney was born in Barren county,
Kentucky, on November 30, 1852. His parents, Franklin and Nancy J.
(Hizer) Finney, were natives of Pennsylvania and followed farming.
Later, they moved to Linn county, Missouri, where our subject was educated
and remained until he had arrived at manhood's estate. His youthful
labors were on the farm. In 1876, he moved to Iowa, then later returned
to Missouri after which he went to Colorado. He returned from Colorado
to Missouri and in 1886 came to the Big Bend country. He first located
land where Odessa now stands. Then he took his present place, a timber
culture claim, and has added by purchase and desert act until he has about
one thousand acres. He at once commenced to handle stock. He
improved his herds by the introduction of Shorthorn and Hereford strains
and now has some very valuable cattle. When first here, Mr. Finney
found the whole country open and but few people settled in the valley.
The hills formed the finest range to be found in the west and he took advantage
of the same.
Mr. Finney has nine brothers and two sisters,
John W., James T., Benjamin F., Robert, Louis S., George W., Sterling P.,
Andrew J., Alexander, Dora A. McCallum, and Mary A. Phillips.
In Linn county, Missouri, November 12, 1883,
Mr. Finney married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Squire and Mary (McLean)
Putnam. She was born in Linn county, Missouri, on April 15, 1865.
To this couple four children have been born; Roy E., in Linn county, Missouri,
on November 5, 1884; Oscar, at Odessa, Washington, on July 18, 1886; Archie,
in Lincoln county, on August 22, 1889; Cora, on August 24, 1894.
The last is a native of Douglas county.
Mr. and Mrs. Finney are communicants of the
Methodist church and are known as good people, having hosts of friends.
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