Alva Finkbone (Finkbohn) was born on January 19, 1850 to John and Rachel Mendenhall Finkbone. He was born in Darke County, Ohio. Alva is the 2nd great uncle of Walt. His sister Lydia was Walt’s great grandmother.

Alva was the third child and first son born to John and Rachel. The family had a farm in Darke County, Ohio, not far from Greenville. Greenville is about 40 miles north west of Dayton.

In 1880, we find Alva living with his sister Lydia and her husband John Swisher Hole (Hoel) and their family on a farm in Patterson Township in Darke County. The spellings are interesting, with Lydia spelled Lydda and Alva spelled Alvy. Alva is listed as the brother-in-law of the head of house. I talk about John and Lydia in this post.

In 1905, Alva married Lear (sometimes listed as Leah) Bone (Boen) Copsey. Lear had been married to Cornelius Copsey and had one child. Albert, their son, died in 1895. Cornelius died in 1899. Alva and Lear were married on April 23, 1905 in Mercer County, Ohio. It was difficult to decipher the record, but it had some helpful information. Alva is listed as a barber.

Alva and Lear were living in Montezuma Village in Mercer County in the 1910 census. He is listed as doing odd jobs.

There were several Finkbone families in the area and the area and at least one other Alva (sometimes spelled Alvah). I have been unable to determine when Alva died. There was more than one Alva who died in 1917. Georgie’s notes have him passing in 1941. Hopefully I will be able to learn more about the Finkbone family.