Finn, Eugene bio

EUGENE FINN
Biography

transcribed by Sheryl McClure

from Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties, Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890

EUGENE FINN - The year 1863 found Eugene Finn upon Kansas soil, and settling in Atchison he occupied himself at whatever he could find to do until 1866. That year he changed his residence to Washington County, locating upn a farm in Washington Township, where he now lives. He has 153 acres of good land, on Section 3, and in addition to general farming is interested in stock raising. He is a native of County Kerry, Ireland, and was born Sept. 23, 1832.

The father of our subject was Barthomel Finn, likewise a native of County Kerry, Ireland, where he spent his entire life, dying at the advanced age of 73 years. He was the son of another native born citizen of County Kerry, who lived to be 72 years old, and who was of Spanish extraction. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary O’Donnell. She survived her husband over twenty years, spending her entire life in her native Ireland, and died at the advanced ago of 92. All were members of the Catholic Church.

The parents of our subject had a family of six children, viz: Mary, Martin, Thomas, Eugene, Barthomel and James. Eugene was the third child, and after a brief season spent in the common school learned the trade of a shoemaker, at which he worked in his native county until 1853. then, a young man of twenty years, and desirous of something better than he could hope to obtain in his native land, he set out for America, and after a safe voyage reached his destination. We next find him located in Clark County, Ohio, where he sojourned until 1860. Next, he changed his residence to Randolph County, Ind., where he conducted a boarding house until 1862. He then removed to Fortville, Madison County, that State, where he lived until the following year, when he cast his lot with the people west of the Mississippi.

Mr. Finn was reared in the doctrines of the Catholic Church, to which he still gives his faithful adherence. Before leaving Ireland he was married, May 14, 1853, to Miss Mary Maloney, who was born in County Kerry, in 1835. She became the mother of six children—Mary, Catherine, Lizzie, Anthony, Nellie and Maggie—and departed this life at her home, Sept. 3, 1874, at the early age of 39 years. Her parents were of Irish extraction. Mr. Finn as a farmer has proved his success, and as a member of his community is contributing his quota toward its advancement.

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