John Wesley Finnell

Saturday. June 15, 1935. Evening Kansan.
John Wesley Finnell was born on July 19, 1857 in East Tennessee to Dolphice Dow Finnell and Nancy Pickens Finnell. He passed away at his residence 610 East Fifth street on June 12, 1935 at the age of 77 years, ten months and 23 days at the time of his death.
In 1871 he moved to Emporia, Kansas and in 1898 he came to Newton. Mr. Finnell gave 37 years of his life to railroad work serving for most of the time as a conductor on the Santa Fe. When he retired from this occupation he followed various occupations, being for the last 12 years street overseer of Newton. Efficient in his work, but kind and considerate of the men who worked under him, he was lovedby his associates as well as the city officials who employed him. Mr. Finnell's interests centered in his work and in his home and children.
He was married to Nettie Luella Merriam on Nov. 11, 1888 at Florence. To this union were born five children, four of whom survive. They are Pearl of Newton; Ralph now at Parsens; Charles of Emporia and Nell of Newton. On son, Lauren made the great sacrifice for his country in the great war on sept. 27, 1918. Mrs. Finnell passed on in 1925. The local post of veterans of Foreign Wars, named the Whitesell-Finnell post honored Mr. Finnell by making him an honorary member of the post.
The funeral services were held on Friday afternoon at the Congregational church, the Rev. Fred Smith in charge. He was laid to rest in Greenwood cemetery by the side of his wife and son.