Grand Ridge in LaSalle County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

John Huston Finley

1863-1940

— Educator • Editor • Author —

John Huston Finley Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 29, 2023

1. John Huston Finley Marker

Inscription. John Huston Finley was born on a farm east of Grand Ridge and attended Grand Ridge Elementary School. He graduated from Ottawa High School as valedictorian in 1882, and earned his undergraduate degree at Knox College in 1887. He went on to Johns Hopkins University for graduate school and, at age 29 returned to Knox College as its president, serving in that post through 1899. In 1900 he accepted the newly established Chair of Politics at Princeton University. In 1903, he became president of City College of New York, and in 1913 was appointed Commissioner of Education for New York state. While on leave from that position, he headed a Red Cross delegation to Palestine in 1918-1919. In 1921, Mr. Finley became Associate Editor of the New York Times and rose to Editor in Chief in 1937. He was an accomplished speaker and presented many addresses at colleges in America and abroad. He was widely published in journals of the day and wrote eight books, including A Pilgrimage in Palestine and The French in the Heart of America. He received 32 honorary degrees. He and his wife, Martha Boyden of Sheffield, Illinois, had

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four children. Mr. Finley is buried at Princeton Cemetery in New Jersey. His parents are buried in Grand Ridge Cemetery.

Dedicated by the citizens of Grand Ridge and the Illinois State Historical
Society, with support from the Walgreen Company, October 2004

Erected 2004 by Citizens of Grand Ridge • Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications • Education. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 41° 14.305′ N, 88° 50.146′ W. Marker is in Grand Ridge, Illinois, in LaSalle County. It can be reached from Bloomington Avenue (Illinois Route 23) north of North 21st Road/West Main Street (County Route 6), on the right when traveling north. Marker is at main entrance of Grand Ridge Grade School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 W Main St, Grand Ridge IL 61325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois

and specifically in the Illinois River

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 29, 2023

2. John Huston Finley Marker

Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Camp Hunter (approx. 5.9 miles away); In Memory of Dickey's Cavalry (approx. 5.9 miles away); Clyde William Tombaugh (approx. 6.3 miles away); Streator's Stargazer (approx. 6.3 miles away); 100th Anniversary of the First Transcontinental Flight (approx. 6.4 miles away); William D. Boyce (approx. 7 miles away); Remembering the Tornado (approx. 7 miles away); 215 E. Prospect Ave (approx. 7 miles away).

John Huston Finley (1863-1940) image. Click for full size.

Pirie MacDonald; from The World's Work (Doubleday, Page & Co.) via Internet Archive (Public Domain), circa 1903

3. John Huston Finley (1863-1940)

Pictured shortly after he became City College of New York's president.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 236 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 12, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.