Person:George Finch (8)

Dr. and Mrs. George W. Finch

An excerpt from a murder story in West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH concerning Lucy Loveless, Pamela Pattison Lash, 2007, found at <www.wcgs-ogs.com>

Dr. Finch was called to the scene of the tragic discovery and might have examined Lucy when she returned to the Grindle home, but the newspaper account implies he did not as Lucy only admitted her pregnancy before the inquest. It seems to the modern reader that the physician would have insisted that Lucy be examined if for no other reason than to insure she was physically fit after her unexplained disappearance from the Grindle home and Lucy being a prime suspect in the tragic death of the baby. However, this is all speculation as we have no way of verifying the chain of events aside from what the newspaper details. According to Goodspeed, p 667, when Dr. George W. Finch, son of Nathaniel Finch, born in Belmont Co, OH on 15 June 1819, first came to West Unity with his wife, Mary Morrow Finch, his two worldly possessions were a horse and $10. From this he set up a medical practice, having graduate credentials from Delaware College; his practice thrived until his death on 13 July 1879 (Deaths V2 p1), about a year after the Loveless incident; his first wife Mary died in Sept 1865 and later he married Lucy Byers Eckis, widow of Dr. Samuel Eckis, on 1 Jan 1877; however Goodspeed’s info on this marriage is opposed to the marriage record of 1 Jan 1867 (Marriages V3 p641) and the 1870 census for West Unity.

Lucy Ann was also trained as a physician, and became the principal of West Unity’s High School from 1865-1866; after Dr. Finch’s death she continued a medical practice.

The Finch couple was found in the 1850 Brady Twp, Wms Co, OH federal census p4 as George Finch 26 OH physician and wife Mary 25 OH.

From the 1860 West Unity federal census, p155a, one locates the Finch household as GW Finch 39 OH physician, Mary 38 OH, George 9 OH, Maria 7 OH, Adaline 3 OH, Clinton 3/12 OH, and Harriet Leach 14 OH.

In the 1870 West Unity federal census the family is enumerated as George W. Finch 50 OH physician, Lucy A. 46 OH, George 18 OH, Maria 16 OH, and Clinton 10 OH.

On 4 Sept 1886 in Wms Co (Marriages V5 #869) Lucy E. Finch married Stephen B. McKelvey; his first wife, Jennie Byers, was Lucy’s sister; therefore Stephen married his sister-in-law, a custom that was not uncommon for the time frame.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 History of Williams County, Ohio, Weston Goodspeed, 1882, p 667 (Brady Township).

   GEORGE W. FINCH, M.D. (deceased).
   Something over thirty-six years ago, Dr. George W. Finch and wife came to West Unity, his worldly possessions consisting of a horse and $10 in cash. The cash, with the exception of 50 cents, he expended for medicines, and immediately began the practice of his profession. He rapidly rose in the confidence and esteem of the people, and erelong had an extensive and lucrative practice. The year following his arrival, he erected an office, and soon after, on the same lot, constructed what at that time was thought a fine residence.
   
   Dr. Finch was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 15, 1819, and was a son of Nathaniel Finch, a native of New Jersey, and of Scotch and Irish descent. At the age of three, George W. was taken by his parents to Richland County, where his youth was passed on his father's farm. He was educated at Delaware College, and at the age of twenty-two commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Teagarden, of Mansfield ; and, after graduating, began practice at Frederickstown, Ohio.
   
   He was first married to Mary Morrow, a native of Richland County, who bore him five children, two of whom only are now living — George W. and Mary M. Mrs. Finch died at her home in West Unity, in September, 1865, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
   
   January 1, 1877, Dr. Finch married Mrs. Lucy E., widow of Dr. Samuel Eckis, but shortly after died at his home, July 13, 1879.
   
   He was a member of the order of A.F. & A.M., and was a fine scholar, a superior physician and a high-minded gentleman.
   
   His widow, Mrs. Lucy E. Finch, was born in Ellsworth, Mahoning County, Ohio, April 17, 1823, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Smith) Byers, American born, but of Scotch ancestry. She was educated at an Academy in Atwater, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-three married Samuel Eckis. They read medicine together, and graduated in the same class at Cincinnati, in 1852, and together practiced medicine for several years in Southern Illinois, where, in 1859, Dr. Eckis died. After his death, Mrs. Eckis taught school for several years in Southern Ohio and Indiana. In 1864, she came to West Unity, and was employed as the Principal of the High School for three years until her marriage with Dr. Finch after which she became the almost constant companion of the Doctor in his office and in his practice. At his death, she took up and has since continued the extensive practice left by him, and has met with marked and unusual success. She is well skilled in her profession, and is a lady of fine literary attainments.

2.   United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432)
   Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH, p4, 28 Aug 1850.

   Finch, George 26 OH physician
   Mary 25 OH

3.   United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
   Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 155; Image: 312.
4.   United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publications M593 and T132)
   West Unity, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 17; Image: 34.