George W. Finnup

GEORGE W. FINNUP who is one of the most successful business men of the state was born in Vevay, Indiana, on December 2, 1866, and was educated in the schools there and in the early day subscription schools of Garden City. Later, in 1883, he completed a business course in Washburn College at Topeka.

From the age of seventeen, he was actively and continuously associated with his father in all his extensive and various enterprises. He also developed business interests of his own, especially in land, and became one of the largest land-owners in Western Kansas, and to-day is the largest individual land owner in Finney County. During his business career he has owned approximately 500 quarters of land in Finney County, and about 200 quarters in Kearny and Hamilton counties, and considerable land in other localities. He has handled over 100,000 acres of land in his own name, a record probably never equalled by any other man in Kansas.

Mr. Finnup has been an officer and stockholder in several banks and every enterprise that has made for the development of Western Kansas has enlisted his active support. Having made his money here, he has always felt that he owed a debt to the community and to show his appreciation of that fact by his deeds he has presented the city with a hundred acre park (to be known as "The Frederick Finnup Park," in honor of his father). To each of six of the largest churches he gave an endowment in bonds for the upkeep of their property. Another way, in which he has been able to do much good was in developing public libraries of which he has established more than one hundred in Western Kansas counties. He has always indicated a strong and helpful interest in educational matters and at present is a member of the board of Education of Garden City, and is one of the trustees of Washbarn College at Topeka.

Mr. Finnup has also made it a practice for several years of providing a feast at Thanksgiving for all children of the city who could not have such things at home, and hundreds of little boys and girls have been made happy on these occasions. He has never sought or held a political office.

In Garden City, June 26, 1902, he married Miss Alta M. Smith, daughter of Elijah F. and Sarah (Boyd) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Finnup have two children, Frederick S., born December 7, 1903, and Isabel May, born May 1, 1907.

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