The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-11-29
He Sleeps !!

morning, NOV. 20, 1910.
His death was no surprise to the
people of this community, and
he showed great fortitude. He
grew worse Thursday afternoon,
and sank rapidly and was un-
conscious from that time until
the end came.
The county and community has
lost a valuable citizen. Had he
lived until January 9th, 1911, he
would have been Probate Judge
of Custer county for six success
sive terms or twelve years. The
people kept him in that Office
because they trusted his honesty
and integrity.
Judge Finnell told US not long |
ago that he was SO years of age
some people think he was old
er than that. He was never mar
ried. He came to Challis in 1880
and has resided here ever since.
The Judge has beer an Odd
Fellow in good standing for a
great many years, first becoming
member of Rocky Mountain
Lodge No. at Salmon City. He
was also an Encampment and
Rebekah member. The fuueral
was largely attended, and was
held from the Hall on Sunday
afternoon, Nov. q, at 2 o'clock,
and was conducted by Custer
Lodge No. 81, l. 0. 0. F.
We know of no better life his
tory of Judge Finnell than the
one written for the MESSENGER
"On the Trail of the Idaho Pion-
eers," June 11th, 1907, by Hon.
C. C. Clawson of Bonanza
, "There are few people better
known in the counties of Custer
and Lemhi than Jesse Green
Finnell. He was born in Boone
county, Missouri, a county that
has produced many pioneers o1
the West. His father dying left
a widow and two boys, Jesse be-
ing the elder. When train fol
California was being made up II
their neighborhood, and many
Q of them old acquaintances, the
mother deciddd to go with then
and give her boys an Opportun
ity to grow up with nev
country. This was in the spring
of 1852, when Jesse was II year
of age and his brother 9. Th'
train outftted at Independence
d and comprised about 100 person
-33 wagons drawn by oxen
They went by way of Salt LAX
and were six months making tn
Journey. Mrs. Finnell bough
:. land and got home and the
~ followed farming and stock rails
ing for some years. In 1867 an
1863 Mr.. Finnell engaged
trading and freighting fror
Sacramento to the Nevad
Of towns.
I'm 1864 we find our pionee
on Moore's creek, in Boise Bash
placer mining; from there,
1865, he went to Portland, Ore
and was with the Water and Ga
his Co. In the early spring OF 1ot
he went to Bear Gulch, Mont
. from there went on an explorin
expedition to the Saskatchewa
and from there returned to ldat
in the Fall of 1866 on the Lee
,ht burg stampede; mined there tv
om wears; thence to Salmon Gil
and engaged in the blacksmit
ing business, ian art that he n;
acquired during his nomad
ca, life) and spent much of his ear
ings out6tting prospectors. F
a change, he accepted office, al
served one term as County Tres
MP urer and three terms as Sher
of Lemhi county when Gust
OF county was within the bounds
les of Lemhi, and the officers
those days took a pack hor
along to carry the provisio
and blankets.
In 1880 our pioneer came
" Challis and again engaged in t
business of smithing. When
former sheriff of Custer count
E. K. Davis, abscOnded Mr.. +
h nell was appointed to fill the VI
ancy. In 1898 he was elected
Probate Judge of Custer coun
which Office he has held e'
since.
old, "The Judges brother. W
went to California with him