Oliver J. Felton was reared at home and after completing the course of study prescribed by the local school near his birthplace, attended Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he received further instruction in the fundamental branches of English education and also the culture that is distinctive of men of his profession. In 1887 he engaged in teaching, being connected with educational work for the greater part of the five subsequent years. In 1889, he took up the study of law under the preceptorship of E. M. Sharow, of Davenport, and in January, 1891, was admitted to the bar, before the supreme court of Iowa. Straightway he established himself in Oxford Junction, where for nine years he practiced with a success that suggested the feasibility of entering larger and more remunerative fields. Accordingly in 1900 he removed to Cedar Rapids and has permanently identified himself with the bar there. A large constituency indicates the confidence he has won from the people among whom he has practiced for almost a decade, while a more tangible evidence of his success is afforded by the extent of the landholdings entered upon the records in his name or in that of his wife, for in addition to the old Felton homestead of two hundred acres which he and a brother, G. L. Felton, cashier of a bank in Middleton, Oklahoma, own, Mr. and Mrs. Felton are possessed of over one thousand acres in Jones and Linn counties. The greater part of the land in the latter county is embraced in the Brookdale farm, lying upon the outskirts of Cedar Rapids and is considered of great value.

On the 8th of December, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Felton and Miss Emma J. Eldred, a daughter of J. S. Eldred, a well known private banker of Oxford Junction. He was also one of the pioneer settlers of his part of Jones county, for in 1853 he entered two hundred and fifty-three acres of government land, which is still in the possession of the family.

Politically Mr. Felton gives unqualified allegiance to no party, but the best man and the measure that has for its object the advancement of the welfare of his fellow citizens invariably receives his support. The acumen which has distinguished his conduct of cases has also marked his land investments, for he has made a specialty of buying Iowa property and has derived therefrom a pronounced success. Ever a stanch advocate of his clients' interests, clever in summing up the evidence of a case and keen in the detection of subtleties in his adversary while he is ever on the alert to grasp the clue that will obtain for him an honorable victory, his name may well be placed among those who work for the fair name of their profession, at the same time acquiring a gratifying reward for the thought and labor expended in the behalf of others. He has never sought public office, but his influence has been just as effective for the advancement of the community as if he were the actual incumbent of a public trust.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 123.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 590.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 593.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 557.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 615.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 667.

John Finn, the father, was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1816, and came to America in 1837, settling in Boston, Massachusetts. There he found employment with a Mr. Champney, who was in the service of the government, and for three or four years acted as general utility man in his establishment. In 1842 he was married to Miss Alice Murray, also a native of Erin, whose birth occurred in 1815 and who had come to America in 1836. After their union the couple started upon their journey to Jones county, Iowa, traveling only thirty miles by rail, for they passed by boat through the canal and the Great Lakes. Having arrived here Mr. Finn bought of Mr. Hutton, the first county clerk of Jones county, three hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie land, the warrant to it bearing the date of October 1842. Immediately he began to break the soil and built a log cabin, putting a clapboard roof upon it. With continual repairing and additions, this served as his home until 1870, when he erected a new house, which with repairs, additions and improvements has done duty to the present time. Upon this half section of land he pursued his vocation as a tiller of the soil with a success which won the approbation of those who witnessed the manner in which he had surmounted the obstacles that beset his path. However, toward the close of his life, he sold part of the original farm, so that he owned only two hundred and forty acres at the time of his death. It was on the 15th of January 1878, that his life was brought to a close. He was one of those energetic and persevering Irishmen, who had no fear or doubt that an undertaking might be beyond their powers and nothing presented an appearance of such harshness as to daunt them. His one idea in life was to succeed; he spared no effort to accomplish his purpose; but his record of work is honorable as well as gratifying from a financial standpoint. Having never enjoyed the advantages of a good education, he was but the more eager in his support of progressive educational facilities, doing everything in his power to bring schools of standing into the little pioneers community. He was equally zealous in working for the church and was one of the committee of three to whom was intrusted the work of obtaining a site and securing the funds for the erection of the first Catholic church in Cascade. He was very attentive in the performance of his religious duties and surely his was a life which commanded the highest respect of everyone who knew him personally or by hearsay.

Of the family of seven children born to John Finn and his wife, Thomas J. and Michael, alone survive. The former was born September 7, 1845, the latter February 14, 1857, on the old homestead, on which they both grew to maturity. They attended the district school of Washington township, but the education derived there was meager indeed, so that the well informed minds, and the intellectual keenness which distinguish them today have been of necessity the result of patient home study and experience. When death deprived them of their father's assistance they came into the possession of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land. In the years that have since elapsed they have added to their heritage until they now own eight hundred and sixty acres all in one farm, which they own and operate in conjunction. In addition to general farming, the brothers keep about one hundred and fifty head of cattle each year, about three hundred hogs, and have six horse teams. Unforgetful of the rule of life which brought such large returns to their father, with energy, industry and carefulness they have conducted their undertakings, regarding nothing as impossible, should they but put their minds to its accomplishment, but at the same time are aware that the reputation for honesty and integrity was as covetable a thing as the attainment of prosperity.

Thomas J. Finn has not married but in 1893 Michael Finn was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Murray, a daughter of James and Bridget (Kinney) Murray. Her father was born in County Roscommon, March 25, 1826, but when a very young man emigrated to the united States. For a short time he lived in Fall River, Massachusetts, and then, in 1849, came to Jones county, Iowa, where he secured a farm. Here through industry and frugality he accumulated a large competency, until in 1890 he felt he was justified in retiring from active work. Accordingly he took up his residence in Cascade, which remained his home until he was called to his eternal rest. On the 26th of April, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Kinney, a native of this country, who with the following children survives him: Mrs. Frank O'Brien, of Washington township, Albert, of Cascade; Mrs. Michael Finn, of Washington township; and Josie, of Cascade. During his lifetime Mr. Murray was one of the strong men of the community, a type of the courageous citizens who contributed to the early development and settlement of the wilderness. A man of firm character and uprightness, the eighty years of his life were spent earnestly and honestly, as should be those of a man who is at heart a Christian. He was a member of the Catholic church.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Finn are the parents of three children, namely: Josephine, born March 21, 1895; Joseph Louis, born April 26, 1897; and John C., born September 1, 1899. All are attending school. The family are members of the Catholic church, devout and attentive in the performance of their religious duties. In political matters the brothers have supported the democratic party, and although ever strong in their adherence to it, some years ago when Thomas J. Finn was the candidate for county supervisor, he was elected largely through the votes cast by the republicans, an evidence of the general respect and high esteem in which he is held throughout the county. For twelve years he has also, served as township trustee, and the public has had little need to regret their choice of a representative.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 364.