Career
Born in Missouri in 1839, Finley moved to California in 1852. He went to California Wesleyan College in Santa Clara for three years and Pacific Methodist College for one year, where he received the degree of Artium Magister. Thereafter, he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1871.
Finley"s contribution to Oregon State University was significant in that during his presidency, Corvallis College reached the status of an independent institution of higher education rather than that of a high school for pioneers.
