The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-06-27
An ARDENT PATRIOT
Such Was the Late Col. John
F. Finerty.
a Popular Lecturer, He Had
Few Equals as an Orator.

The following is brief synopsis of
the biographical sketch of the late
!. Col. John F. Finerty, which appeared
in the Chicago Citizen of June 49, the
& paper which he founded and so ably
edited for upwards of a quarter of a
4 century:
John F. Finerty was born in Gal
way, Ireland, in 1916, but was brought
up by his uncle. the patriotic Father
Kenyon, in the North Riding of Tip
perary. Father Kenyon was a man
politically far in advance of his time.
q young Irelander. and a warm friend
Of John Mitchell. He was also finely
/. educated man, and notable classical
I scholar. From his uncle, John +. Fin
erty received al splendid classical
he also imbbed from him a patriotic
Il devotion to ireland, colored with the
D ideas of John Mitchell. John F. Fin
erty, like a great many Of the youths
of his day, was an active enemy Of
England before the dawn Of an in
cipient beard had proclaimed his man
i hood. Like to others. the land of his
birth became an uncongenial abiding
u place, and he sailed away to the re-
4 public of the west. He landed in
Z America early in 1864, and enlisted in
a New York volunteer regiment. in
Z which he served until mustered out.
7 Following the bent Of his inclination.
he became temporarily connected with
the Chicago press in 1866. He par
Fl Fenians to invade Canada, and after
the collapse of these movements, he
4 secured a permanent engagement on
I the Chicago Republican. He then be-
came attached to the Post, and soon
Y afterwards took position on the Tri-
4 bune, and finally, in 1875. he became
connected with the Chicago Times. In
IS May. 1876, he was detailed to accom-
pany General Crooks column, then in
4 active service against the Sioux and
Cheyennes. He participated
in the famous Sibley Scout one Of the
most daring episodes of the campaign,
and was specially mentioned by Cen
eral Crook in orders for his gallantry
4 on that occasion. In 1877 he was sent
4 iting both the Texan and Mexican
banks of the river, he wrote up the
| frontier troubles. which then assumed
a threatening aspect. In 1852 he
Travelled through Mexico. visiting all
most every section of the republic on
horseback or by blackboard, and his
letters descriptive of that country are
highly interesting. In the spring Of
1879 he wrote for the Times a lively
account of the boomer troubles on
the Canadian river in Indian Terri
tory. In July of that year he was sent
as representative of the Chicago Times
with the expedition Of General Miles
against the Sioux in northern Mon
tana. AT the close Of Miles
ritt's column operating against the
Utes. who had committed many depre-
dations in Colorado. In 1880 lie made
tour of the Southern states, and in
the following year wrote up the coun-
try then being opened up by the Ca
Il madam and Northern Pacific railroads.
In 1881 he crossed the continent on
horseback and by stage. and in the fall
! Joined Gen. Carr then campaigning
T. against the Apaches in Arizona.
II In 1882 John F. Finerty closed his
/ long and adventurous gagement with
/ 1.-The Times. and from patriotic motives
\ devoted himself to Irish American
L journalism, his first venture being the
t Chicago Citizen. which he continued
|; In the fall of 1882 he was elected to
/ Congress and served until 1884. He was
striking figure in the House. and his
! broad, enlightened views on all public
E questions. expressed in language of
classic eloquence, won for him the re-
4 spect and esteem of his colleagues as
well as of the public.
"As a lecturer, John F. Finerty was
very popular, and his subjects were
# made the more interesting by his easy
Isl delivery and natural flow of eloquence
81 AS an orator he had few equals. and
was in much demand at public gather
ings.
TN Irish American politics and In
Il his conduct of the Citizen, John F
y Ffnerty was always independent but
consistent. Imbued with the ideas OF
John Mitchell. he favored for many
years the policy of armed revolution
Y as the only means of winning Irish in
i. dependence. but he was not blind tc
the tremendous changes wrought by