Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Joseph Leonard Finch, 1920
25 Jan 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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FINCH, JOSEPH LEONARD
(22 Apr 1920, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
BROTHER DROWNED AT GALVESTON.
Chas. Finch of the First National Bank here received a message Monday
morning that his brother, Leonard Finch had been drowned Sunday, while
spending the day at Galveston, Texas.
Leonard was a son of the late Joe Finch, who at one time lived near
Grimes, Okla., and his mother's home is now at Weatherford.  Leonard was
book-keeper at the Cheyenne State Bank until he went to the army, and
since the war was over has been associated with his brother, Walter Finch
of El Reno in the real estate business.  He has been very successful and
was ever looking after the comfort of his mother.
(22 Apr 1920, Thursday, Sayre Democrat, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
DEATH OF J. L. FINCH
J. L. Finch, formerly of Beckham county and well known here, was drowned
in the bay at Galveston, Texas, this week.
The following is from the Daily Oklahoman of Tuesday:
"Joseph Leonard Finch, 26 years old, brother of E. F. Finch of Oklahoma
City, drowned Sunday shortly after noon in the bathing beach in Galveston
bay.  He was sent to the government hospital at Houston, Tex., about two
months ago to take treatment in connection with disabilities received
while in the army, and had gone with a number of other men to Galveston to
spend the afternoon in the bay.
Mr. Finch was connected with the National Livestock Co. of this city until
January of this year, when he moved to El Reno and went into the loan
business with his brother, W. J. Finch, who is vice president of the First
National Bank at that place.
He was a graduate of the Southwestern State Normal school at Weatherford. 
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served in the American
Expeditionary forces in France.  Previous to going to war he was located
at El Reno.
He is survived by his mother, who lives at Cushing, and three brothers, E.
F. of this city, C. B. Finch of Elk City, and W. J. Finch of El Reno.  The
body will be sent to El Reno for burial.
(23 Apr 1920, Elk City Press, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
LEONARD FINCH DROWNS IN GULF AT GALVESTON
Chas. Finch of this city received word last Monday of the drowning of his
brother, Leonard at Galveston, Texas, Sunday.
Leonard Finch was well known here, as he formerly lived near Grimes. 
Since returning from the army he had been working with his brother,
Walter, in the real estate business at El Reno.
(29 Apr 1920, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Finch returned Monday morning from El Reno where they
attended the funeral of their brother, Leonard Finch at El Reno, which was
held at the Catholic Church in that city last Sunday afternoon.
Rev. Severns was in charge of services and gave a great tribute to the
life of the young man who had ever been a true christian and model young
man.  He spoke of how just before leaving for Texas, Leonard, with beaming
eyes, came to altar and took the communion, and the happy look on his face
while in death showed the nobleness of his clean life.  He did not have
any bad habits, never became addicted to tobacco in any form, and was ever
upright and true.  There was a mass of flowers sent from everywhere,
showing the deep respect in which he was held by all.  Over $700 worth of
flowers was sent in by friends.  Many telegrams of sympathy was received
by the family from all over the country.  Leonard was of a quiet
disposition but the friends he made were numerous, who did not forget him,
though he moved to other places.
He leaves a mother, whose home is in Weatherford, four brothers, Walter
Finch, of El Reno, Charles Finch, of Elk City, Ned Finch, Oklahoma City,
and Ives Finch of Cheyenne and two sisters, Mrs. Kate Friend, Memphis,
Tenn., and Mrs. Teresa Chiles, Weatherford.
Leonard was born in Franklin county, Iowa, but when a small child moved to
Bethany, Mo., where he lived until the family moved to Oklahoma nearly
fourteen years ago.
While it is thought he had been drowned while in swimming his death was
caused in a different manner than was at first supposed.  In a letter
received by his brother, Walter, at El Reno, from the medical officer in
charge of hospital 25 at Houston, Texas, where Leonard had been for a few
weeks for treatment for nervous trouble, he said:
"Your brother Joseph L. Finch, together with three other men, namely John
C. Lessing, James F. McKee and Arthur Hingst, left this hospital at 9:30
Sunday morning to go to Galveston.  They had dinner at 12 noon, and at
1:30 p.m. decided to go in swimming.  Lessing states that when in two feet
of water, your brother asked him if he could swim, if not he could stay in
the shallow water, and that he (your brother) was going out further, that
he was a good swimmer and had swam both in the Atlantic and the Pacific,
also that he was used to breakers.  He went out further, and there was
quite a crowd in swimming, so that Lessing soon lost sight of your
brother.  After about 5 minutes he heard calls for help from some people
and saw Life Guards going out.  He did not know until later that it was
your brother who had drowned.  Lessing also states that it was not the
general opinion that he was drowned, as he had a bruise on the head (side)
that he had been diving and had been washed up against one of the iron
posts that are placed to maintain the life line."

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