John F. Finerty : Short Biography

John Frederick FINERTY was born in Galway, Ireland on September 10, 1846. He was reared by his uncle, Father Kenyon in North Riding, Tipperary, Ireland. He received a classical education. Mr. Finerty emigrated to the USA in 1864 and served in Company "E" in the 99th New York Volunteer Regiment where he served until the end of the [U.S.] Civil War.  

By 1866 Mr. Finerty began working as a newspaper reporter for the Chicago, Illinois Press. He later worked at the Chicago Republican, Chicago Tribune, and then in 1875 the Chicago Times.

Later he was dedicated to Irish-American journalism and was the editor of The Chicago Citizen.

Mr. Finerty served in Congress from the state of Illinois from 1883 to 1885. He was also a lecturer and an author. 

John F. Finerty married twice. His first wife, Alice Radin Finerty died in 1878.  In 1882 Mr. Finerty married Sadie Isabell Hennessey. They had two children, John F. Finerty, Jr., and Vera Finerty.

As an author, John F. Finerty may be best known for his two-volume book, The People's History of Ireland. He also wrote the books: Warpath and Bivouac.

Col. Finerty died on June  10, 1908, in Chicago, Illinois. His funeral followed on June 12, 1908, at the Church of the Holy Angels.  He was buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois.

His widow applied for a military pension on Col. Finerty's record in 1908.

Sources:

Catholic Advance, Wichita, Kansas, December 30, 1905.

Chicago Citizen, June 27, 1908, p. 8.

 "An Ardent Patriot," Irish Standard, June 27, 1908, p. 8

Find A Grave-[online] Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston, Cook County, Illinois, USA. [lists burials of John F. Finerty and his wife].

Fold3--copy of military widow's pension application. Also a  copy of a letter written by  John F. Finerty to the Adjutant General.

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Note: This is not my ancestor--JS

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