City of St. Joseph and Washington Township -
JAMES FAHEY, one of our pioneer contractors, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1829; was raised to manhood and educated in his native country, and in 1853 came to America.  For two years he resided in New York; then went to Chicago, remaining a few years, and in 1858 came to St. Joseph.  He engaged in working at his trade, that of a mason, on the Patee House, and has since been identified with the building interests of the city.  His specialty has been basement work, and in this branch he has built the foundations of a large number of fine structures; was also foreman on the construction of the Cathedral.  For a time Mr. F. was in partnership with Judge Patton, and at an early day was associated with C. Arnhold.  He has been interested to a considerable extent, in railroad contracting during his sojourn in St. Joseph.  Mr. Fahey has a well stored mind, and when once made up it takes pointed and reasonable arguments to change it.  In 1861, Miss Jane Burns, a native of Indiana, became his wife.  They have seven children, Bernard, James, Mary, Annistasia, Susan, Belle and Jane.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 742

Rush Twp. -
ALFRED FENTON, grain and stock dealer, is a representative citizen of Buchanan County.  He was born in Mason County, Kentucky, May 28, 1829.  His father, John Fenton, a native of Loudoun County, Virginia, moved to Kentucky in the early settling of that state.  In 1808 he moved to Adams County, Ohio, where his son, the subject of this sketch, lived on a farm till he was twenty-one years of age, and where he received a common school education.  In 1850 he moved to Missouri, and, three years after, located permanently at Rushville, where, in partnership with his brother, he sold goods till 1869.  He also dealt largely in live-stock, hemp, and other commodities doing a general trading business.  In the meantime in 1859, Mr. Fenton visited Colorado and embarked in the wholesale grocery trade and stock business in which he continued three years, when he freighted for government till 1867, at which time he returned to Buchanan County, and has continued to make Rushville his home.  During all this period Mr. Fenton, in his mercantile business, was associated with his brother, E. M. Fenton.  He is recognized as the leading business man of that section of the county.  Mr. A. Fenton's landed estate includes 1,800 acres in Missouri, and about 400 acres in Kansas.  In October, 1865, he married Miss Alice Long, of Buchanan County, by whom he has had six children, five of whom are living: Beaumie, Wm. R., Frederick, Clarence and Lucy.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 1012

Tremont Twp. -
MARMADUKE D. FINCH, section 32, postoffice Gower, was born in Franklin County, North Carolina, Apr. 28, 1813, and his ancestors were originally from Virginia.  Received his education in the schools of his vicinity, and was bred a farmer.  On the 4th of May, 1834, he married Elizabeth Jordan, a native of North Carolina, born in 1810.  She died in Missouri, in 1870, leaving three children, two of whom now survive - Thomas N. and Evalina, (now Mrs. L. Heffner.)  In 1842, he moved to Missouri, and on the 20th of May, reached the Rock House Prairie, in Buchanan County, where he has since continued to reside, and where he owns a fine farm.  Originally a member of the old Whig party, his first vote for President was cast for Harrison, in the exciting campaign of 1840.  On the dissolution of the Whig party, he joined the Democracy.  Mr. Finch has held several important public positions in the county.  In 1854, he was elected Justice of the Peace in Tremont Township, a position which he filled eight years.  In 1858, he was made collector of the county, and served two years in that capacity, under Sheriff Morgan.  In 1874, he was county assessor, under John Tutt.  In all these several positions he proved himself a worthy and capable officer.  June 22, 1874, Mr. Finch again married.  His second wife was Mrs. Julia Bretz, widow of Judge John Bretz, of Buchanan County.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 966