Biographical Sketch of Rev. William FINNEY (1879): Harford Co., MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Maryland and Wash- ington, DC", National Biographical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland, 1879, pp. 563-4. FINNEY, REV. WILLIAM, a prominent Minister of the Presbyterian Church, was born near New London, Chester County, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1788. His father, Judge Walter Finney, a native of the same place, was a Major in the Revolutionary Army. His commission, which is now in the possession of his grandson, Walter Finney, of Churchville, Maryland, bears the date of August 10, 1776. He served through the Revolutionary and Indian wars, and was afterward appointed an Associate Judge in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which office he held until the time of his death, which occurred in 1820, in the seventy-third year of his age. He married Miss Mary Hara, and had two children, one of whom died in his thirteenth year, and the other is the sub- ject of this sketch. "William received a good education. After passing through the preparatory course in New London, Pennsylvania, and Newark, Delaware, academies, he was sent to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he entered the Sophomore class in 1806, and graduated with distinction in 1809. At an early age he deter- mined to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, with which denomina- tion his parents and ancestors for many generations had been connected. Soon after his graduation at Princeton, he commenced the study of theology with the Rev. Samuel Martin, D.D., Pastor of the Chanceford Presbyterian Church, York, Pennsylvania, under whom he received a thorough theological training. On April 4, 1810, Mr. Finney was taken under the care of the New Castle Presbytery as a candidate for the Gospel ministry. He passed a very satisfactory examination on the subjects assigned him by the Presbytery, and, October 1, 1812, having completed his theological studies, he was li- censed to preach. In 1812 he was called for two-thirds of his time, and at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, to supply the Deer Creek Church, in Maryland. When called upon to preach his trial sermon before the elders appointed by the Deer Creek Congregation to select a pastor, as was the custom in those days, Mr. Finney wrote a sermon for the occasion, but being displeased with it he threw it into the fire. To his deep regret and embarassment, he did not have time to write another before the hour appointed, and was therefore compelled to rely upon an extemporan- eous effort. He succeeded far beyond his expectations, and made such a fav- orable impression upon the minds of the elders, who were captivated by his eloquence, that he was selected for the charge above named in preference to four worthy competitors, who were candidates for the same place. This cir- cumstance led to his first call, and made him a fluent and graceful extemp- oraneous speaker. Mr. Finney's pastoral relation continued with that con- gregation until October 4, 1854, nearly forty years. "Deer Creek Church was organized in 1738 under the instrumentality of the celebrated Whitfield. It was originally called 'Whitfield's Meeting House.' It then stood about three miles nearer the creek from which it took its name; and for some reason not known it was removed, before the Revolutionary war, to the village where it now stands. Through Mr. Finney's influence, the name of the village was changed from 'Herbert's, or the Cross Roads,' to 'Churchville.' Hence the present name of the church. This change was made about the year 1834. "When he entered upon his ministry, Mr. Finney was in very delicate health, but soon became strong and robust, and for forty years was prevented but once by sickness from filling his pulpit on the Sabbath day, and although he lived beyond his threescore years and ten, he was comparatively free from the infirmities of age. He was then the great pioneer of Prebyterianism in Harford County, Maryland, and known throughout that community. All the old residents of that locality speak of him with great reverence and love, and their children echo the praises which they have caught from their parents' lips. He was exceedingly pleasant in his manners, full of anecdote, and his conversation abounded with wit and humor. He loved children, and they were fond of him. He encouraged all improvements, did much to advance Harford County in agriculture and the useful arts, and to elevate the tastes and habits of the people, as well as to preach them morality and religion. He ever extended a helping hand to all who were in need, and was liberal in all his dealings with his fellow-men. He so loved his first charge, that he remained there until the close of his ministry, declining numerous calls to go elsewhere. "After growing old in the service, and having seen the generation to which he had ministered in his youth almost entirely disappear, he closed his min- istry, January 1, 1854, by delivering a farewell sermon, reviewing the his- tory of the Churchville Church, and tendered his resignation, which was ac- cepted with great reluctance, October 4, of the same year, on condition that he should remain a member of the Presbytery and give the church the benefit of his counsels and the inspiration of his presence, as circumstances would permit. Her lived about twenty years after this and took part in the ser- vices frequently, always preaching with his accustomed ease and fluency. "He died, Thursday morning, July 1, 1873, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. His remains were interred near the church, the pulpit of which he had so long filled. His own people, with the help of his friends and admirers throughout the county, have erected to his memory a handsome marble monument, which stands in front of the church. It was unveiled with appropriate cere- monies November 24, 1874. "Mr. Finney was twice married. His first wife was Miss Susan Correy, of New London, Pennsylvania, to whom he was married September 7, 1815. She died at the age of twenty-six, two years after their marriage, leaving an infant son, who survived her but six months. His second wife was Miss Margaret Miller, third daughter of John and Margaret Miller, who came over to this country from Scotland, and settled in Philadelphia. Mr. Miller was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, adn his house was the headquarters of Presbyter- ian ministers. "Mr. Finney's second marriage took place October 10, 1820. He spent a happy married life of forty-five years, his wife dying, July 21, 1865, in the sixty-fourth year of her age. By this marriage he had one daughter and five sons, all of whom are still living in Harford County, except his third son, William Finney, Jr., who died in California in 1862 in the thirty-sixth year of his age. "Mr. Finney always spoke without manuscript or notes, and his sermons were usually prepared in a very short time. His language was figurative and poetical, and his delivery very impressive. He never seemed at a loss for a word to express his thought, and always had the right word for the right place. He was never verbose, but chose words to express his thought as briefly as possible. His remarks at the communion table, and at funerals, were always happy and appropriate, eloquent and instructive, elevating and comforting. His addresses on temperance and kindred topics were of a high moral tone, and well calculated to do good. His fugitive pieces in poetry and prose exhibited great readiness with the pen. He always held the attention of his hearers until he ceased speaking. "In speaking of him, the editor of the Philadelphia Presbyterian, in the issue of August 9, 1873, said: 'Mr. Finney was a fine scholar, a man of learning and rare accomplishments, acquainted with the best English authors and the classical writers; was well read in theology, and all branches of learning required by his profession. His exceeding modesty prevented his fine qualities and attainments from being widely known; but those who were admitted to his intimate friendship do not doubt that he was one of the most cultivated men to be found in the Presbyterian ministry of his day. His ministry was discharged quietly, faithfully, and without the slightest de- sire for the world's applause. He preached the Gospel in a most instructive and attractive way, and won many souls to the love and service of Christ.'"