Warren W. Finney, of Emporia, Kan., president and manager of the Emporia Telephone Company is one of the younger, native-born Kansans who have stepped to the fore in the public and business life of their state and are ably carrying forward the work of this great commonwealth though experiencing vastly different conditions than those under which their fathers, the early pioneers of the state, began the work.

Mr. Finney was born in Woodson county, Kansas, April 3, 1873, his parents being David and Helen (McConnell) Finney, the former born in Parke county, Indiana. When the great National conflict began, in 1861, David W. Finney joined the Union forces by enlistment in the Eighty-fifth Indiana infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was captured and confined in Libby prison for a time. In 1866 he came to Kansas, where he was engaged in hardware merchandising and in railroad work, and where he took a prominent part in public affairs during the early days of its statehood, continuing to be identified actively and prominently with its public life until his retirement. He served three terms as lieutenant-governor of the state, has served in the state senate and house of representatives, and also as state railroad commissioner. He owns valuable farm lands in Woodson county, Kansas, where he lives retired. Joseph Finney, father of David W. Finney, spent his entire life in Indiana.

Warren W. Finney was educated at Washburn College, Topeka, Kan., graduating in that institution in 1894. He engaged in the milling business at Neosho Falls, Kan., until about 1904, when he became identified with the Emporia Telephone Company, of which he owns a majority of the stock and is president and manager. He is the largest independent telephone owner and operator in Kansas, being interested not only in the Emporia Telephone Company, but controls the Neosho Falls Exchange, the Neosho Rapids, Reading, Plymouth, and other exchanges. In politics Mr. Finney is a Republican and ably represented Woodson county in the state legislature from 1896 until 1900. He also served as mayor of Neosho Falls while a resident of that city.

He was married, in 1897, to Miss Mabel Tucker, daughter of Edwin Tucker, a prominent and wealthy banker of Eureka, Greenwood county, Kansas, who served in both branches of the state legislature. His death occurred in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Finney have one child, Ronald T., who is now in school. Mr. Finney is a member of the Masonic order, and both he and his wife are members of the First Congregational Church of Emporia.