Pony Express Co-Founder, Civil War Confederate Army Officer. Born at “Prospect Hill.” Graduated Virginia Military Institute. Served as assistant principal of Warrenton Male Academy in North Carolina until 1850 when he went west for gold. He took up engineering and surveyed for the railroad in Vera Cruz, Mexico. In 1858 he returned to the United States and with Major B.F. Ficklin developed what became the Pony Express. It lasted only sixteen months and Finney got little credit for opening the west to communications before the telegraph. During the Civil War he served under Stonewall Jackson at Harper’s Ferry. He then was assigned to the 59th Virginia Infantry, and was stricken with Typhoid fever for six months. He fought gallantly at the Battle of Lewisburg and was taken prisoner. He was exchanged three months later and returned to Richmond without a command because he was reported as dead. (bio by: George Seitz)