Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

DAVID U. FINCH

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
            More than half a century has passed since David U. Finch came to 
California with his parents, who first settled near Winters, Solano County, and 
resided there from 1869 to 1876.  David U. Finch was born in the southern part 
of Michigan, July 14, 1852, a son of William and Frances (Enos) Finch, natives 
of New York.  The paternal grandfather, David Finch, settled in Michigan in 
frontier days, where he engaged in farming; he was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War.  The father, William Finch, engaged in the lumber business 
when a young man; later he farmed in Michigan.  There were five children in 
their family:  Inez, Minnie, William, and an infant, all deceased, and David U., 
the only survivor, who was the third child.  In 1869 the family removed to 
California.  The father engaged in farming until his death, at the age of 
fifty-six, while the mother of our subject lived to be eighty-three years old.
            David W. [U.] Finch obtained his education in the public schools of 
his native state and was seventeen years old when his parents brought him to 
California.  He learned the practical side of agriculture at an early age and 
remained at Winters with his parents until he decided to start out for himself.  
He went to Folsom and eventually became superintendent for the Natomas Vineyard 
Company, and for thirty-two years was in charge of the general ranch work for 
his company.
            Mr. Finch�s first marriage occurred in San Francisco in September, 
1876, and united him with Miss Savilla J. Gwynn, a native of San Francisco, 
daughter of William M. Gwynn numbered among the prominent and progressive 
ranchers on the Sacramento River.  Mr. and Mrs. Finch were the parents of four 
children: Daisy, deceased; Lottie, now Mrs. Morgan who resides in Portland, 
Ore.; William resides at Hetch Hetchy; and Edwin lives in Plumas County, Cal.  
Mrs. Finch passed away in 1883.  Mr. Finch was subsequently married at 
Sacramento in September , 1886, to Miss Margaret McCarthy, born in Eldorado 
County, daughter of Patrick McCarthy, a native of Ireland.  By this union there 
were eight children:  Henry, deceased; Walter H., whose sketch may be found in 
this work; Vera, deceased; Aileen; Harold; Madeline; David, Jr.; and Lucile, 
deceased.  Mr. Finch located in Sutter County in 1909 and purchased 300 acres on 
the Feather River in Reclamation District No. 1001, one and a half miles above 
Vernon, on which he raises beans and alfalfa and conducts a dairy.  In politics 
Mr. Finch is a Republican.  Fraternally, he is a Past Grand of Folsom Lodge, 
I.O.O.F., and with his wife is a member of the Rebekah Lodge; he also belongs to 
the Knights of Pythias at Folsom.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1178