BIO: Isaac S. FINNEY, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 256-257. _______________________________________________________________ FINNEY, ISAAC S., son of George Washington and Elspey (Smith) Finney, was born September 6, 1835, at Halifax, Dauphin county, Pa. He entered the navy as third assistant engineer in 1859, and joined the "Mystic," which was detailed for duty on the coast of Africa. On November 25, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of second assistant engineer. He afterwards joined the "Tuscarora," and was present during the engagement at Fort Fisher and while engaged in the pursuit of the "Alabama," and remained on her until 1864, when he was promoted to the rank of first assistant engineer and ordered to shore duty, but this lasted only for a few days, for on June 23 he was ordered to join the frigate "Susquehanna," belonging to the North Atlantic squadron, and remained on her until June 25, 1866, when he went on shore duty at the Philadelphia and Portsmouth navy yards for a brief period of time. On May 25, 1867, he joined the "Minnesota" and remained on her until January 31, 1868. On January 26, 1870, he joined the frigate "Colorado," fitting out for the Asiatic squadron, and remained on her until she went out of commission March 25, 1873. Upon his turn he received his promotion to chief engineer. During the "Virginius" excitement, and when a war with Spain appeared probable, he voluntarily relinquished the agreeable position he held of superintendent of construction of government machinery at Newburgh-on-the-Hudson, to join his old ship, the "Colorado." From the evil effects of his six months' sojourn on board that vessel off the coast of Cuba and Key West he never recovered, and died at Brooklyn, New York, November 19, 1874. He was interred in the family burial lot in the Harrisburg cemetery.