The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-21
Portage Lake News.
Passing Away Of an
Old Lake Superior
Settler.
Gone to Receive His Reward.
without a strnggie The soul OF Mich
ael Finnegsn Quits Its Earthly
bitatiOn

With the closing OF the year ended
life of uut elishness and usefulness whe
the angel OF death claimed one OF on
oldest and most respected pioneers in tn
person OF Michael Finnegan, who depart
ed this life at o'clock Sunday evening
at his home at Hurontown, surrounded
by members OF his family. The news o
his death was not surp Use, as the de
ceased had been confined to his bed fol
two weeks past with an attack OF pneu
monia and at his advanced age the an
nouncement oil his death was expected
at any moment.
Mr.. Finnegan was born in the parish
OF Killarney, county Kerry, Ireland, on
September 20, 1919, and at the time OF his
death was few months over TS years oil
OF age. His early manhood was spent in
his native land, but at the aga OF ~
years he came to thus country, coming to
Lake Superior via Quebec and landing at
Copper Harbor early in the season OF
1916, the trip from the 500 up being
made on the old steamer Independence"
well known by our Oldest settlers. Mr.
Finnegan at once engaged in mining,
first at copper Harbor, then at Ontona-
gon and finally at the old Cliff mine in
Keweenaw county, until the summer OF
1851 when he engaged in business for
himself in the mercantile business at
Eagle Harbor. In 1856 he moved to
Houghton where he has since resided.
Shortly after his arrival at Houghton
he was elected to the Office Of sheriff OF
Houghton county aud he served in that
capacity from 1856 TO 1890, at which
time he engaged ia the wood and farming
business. He built the Ontonagon road
in a contract with Houehton county
during the summers OF 1861. Eyer
since Mr.. Finnegan held the office OF sher-
if he has filed the Office of justice of the
peace and was one at the time OF his
death. Daring his career Mr.. Finnegan
was very unfortunate with fire, having
been burned out no less than three times.
At Eagle Harbor he lost everything he
had 10 store stock and household effects
being burned up. This was before the
days the insurance companies did bust
ness here. Again at Houghton he was
burned ont, losing everything but the
land aud the horses that happened 60 be
at large. His last experience with fire
was when bis beautiful home at Huron
town was destroyed in 1891. Fortune
favored him little that time for he car
ried some insurance on the house. which
was the only insurance carried by him
during his life.
la the early days Mr.. Finnegan was an
intimate friend OF Bishop Baraga and
Father Jacker and was one OF the origi-
nal promoters OF st. Patrick's society OF
Hancock. He built the st. Ignatius
church at Houghton in 1859 under the
direction OF Bishop Baraga. He also sell
ected the site OF the present Forest Hill
cemetery when member OF the township
board OF old Webster township. He was
always prominently identified with public
works and institutions and was always
ready to lend a willing hand to any
worthy enterprise.
Besides his vile Margaret, ~ years OF
age, he leaves family of grown-up chill
dren to mourn his taking away. They
are Mrs. Albert Brunette, OF Houghton;
Attorney jeremiah T. Finnegan, OF Han
cock; Mrs. Ferdinand McD.vitt, OF Iowa;
Mrs. DR.. j. f. Scallon, OF Hancock: Mag
gle. Nellie, Mrs Edwin F. Bishop, who're
husband is United States Consul at
Canada, and Michael ]. Finne-
gan OF Bessemer, Michigan. Besides
these Mr.. tinnegan leaves one sister Mrs.
Captain j. +. Foley of Negaunee. Mr..
Finnegan had two brothers. John, who
was killed in the union army at the bat
tie OF Petersburg. and jeremiah. who
came to this country with him and who
died some years ago.
Ia the death of NJ. Finnegan his vile
mourns the loss OF devoted husband,
his children that OF an indulgent fath.r,
and the community an p'ight and hon
est citizen.
The funeral will be held tomorrow
{ W sdnesday) morning from st. lgnatius
church, Hougbton, with interment at
Forest Hill cemetery, the R'v. Father
Rezeck officiating