I'm posting information I have gathered on Finley M. ONG and his wife Eliza Jane CHRISTY for anyone interested. Any additional information or corrections would be appreciated. Eliza Jane CHRISTY was the sister of my gg-grandmother, Emily Francis (CHRISTY) MINCHER.

Finley M. Ong was born 3 August 1832 at Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio, the son of Jacob Finley ONG and Mary IRVINE. He married Eliza Jane CHRISTY, born 15 September 1837 in Warren Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, the daughter of Henry CHRISTY and Sarah Ann TONNER. Their marriage may have taken place in Iowa about 1855. The CHRISTY family moved to Louisa County, Iowa in 1843, apparently members of a large group migration from Jefferson County, Ohio. I believe the ONG/CHRISTY family relationship extended several generations back in PA/OH, so I'm not surprised at their marriage, although it is curious. Other families that may have been a part of that migration include LATTA, and KINSEY.

In the 1850 census, Finley M. ONG is shown in the household of Absolem and Mary KINSEY (Smithfield Township, Jefferson County, OH), who may have been of some relation. Absolem is listed as a tailor, a career that Finley pursued for some time, perhaps having been apprenticed to Absolem. By 1870, Finley was listed as a druggist, continuing until the 1910 census.

Finley M. ONG served as a musician during the Civil War, with Company K, Iowa 8th Infantry.

Finley and Eliza had three children -

Edwin F. ONG, b. 18 May 1857 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, never married, d. 30 May 1912 (just three months after his father), and buried at Wapello Cemetery.

Lillie May ONG, b. 16 June 1859 in Ohio, never married, d. 21 May 1932, and buried at Wapello Cemetery. Even though Lillie was born in Ohio, the family was residing in Wapello, IA during the 1860 census.

George Finley ONG, b. 22 July 1871 in Wapello, Iowa. George married Bertha (Krandrud/Kendid?, born Wisconsin abt. 1880), and was a bedspring salesman in Indianapolis, Marion County, IN during the 1910 and 1920 census. They had two children listed in the census; George Finley Jr., born about 1908 in Indianapolis, and H. Kendid(?), born about 1911. George Finley ONG died 22 October 1928 (where?), and is buried with his parents and siblings at Wapello Cemetery. A lot was listed for his wife, Bertha, but there is no record that she was buried there.

Photos of the markers for Finley M., wife Eliza Jane, and their three children are posted at http://iowagravestones.org/index.php/cid_58/ . Finley M. ONG died 17 February 1912, and his wife Eliza died 12 September 1924.

Below is census information that I have extracted:

1850 US Census - Smithfield Township, Jefferson County, Ohio
NA Series: M432 Roll: 699 Page: 163
Absolem Kinsey, 29 M Tailor Ohio
Mary Kinsey, 24 F Ohio
Finley Ong, 17 M Ohio

1850 US Census - Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: M432 Roll: 187 Page: 121
Henry Christy, 37 M Cabinet Maker Ohio
Sarah A. Christy, 28 F Virginia
Eliza J. Christy, 11 F Ohio
Mary C. Christy, 10 F Ohio
Hugh Christy, 8 M Ohio
George M. Christy, 6 M Iowa
Henry Christy, 4 M Iowa

1860 US Census - Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: M653 Roll: 331 Page: 943
Finley M Ong, 28 M Tailor Ohio
Eliza Ong, 23 F Ohio
Edwin F. Ong, 4 M Iowa
Lilly M. Ong, 2 F Iowa (Other records indicate born OHIO)

1870 US Census - Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: M593 Roll: 406 Page: 699 Sheet: 3 Date: 20 July 1870 D/F: 20/19
Finley M. Ong, 37 M W Druggist $1000 $500 Ohio
Eliza J. Ong, 32 F W Keeping House Ohio
Edwin F. Ong, 13 M W Going to School Iowa
Lillie M. Ong, 11 F W Going to School Ohio

1880 US Census - Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: T9 Roll: 350 Page: 463C
M. Finley ONG, Self M W 47 Married Druggist OH OH IRE
J. Eliza ONG, Wife F W 42 Married Keeping House OH OH VA
F. Edwin ONG, Son M W 22 Single Tel. Operator IA OH OH
M. Lilly ONG, Daughter F W 21 Single Musician OH OH OH
F. George ONG, Son M W 8 Single IA OH OH

1900 US Census - Wapello 2nd Ward, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: T623 Roll: 445 Page: 127 Sheet: 8A ED: 9 Date: 6 June 1900 D/F: 160/164 (158/162 crossed out)
F. M. Ong, Head W M Aug 1832 67 Married 44 Yrs. OH OH IRE Druggist Owned Free Home
Eliza J. Ong, Wife F W Sept 1837 62 Married 44 Yrs. 3 Children, 3 Living OH OH VA
Edwin F. Ong, Son M W May 1857 43 Single IA OH OH
Lilly M. Ong, Daughter F W July 1859 41 Single OH OH OH Music Teacher
George F. Ong, Son M W July 1871 28 Single IA OH OH Traveling Salesman

1910 US Census - Wapello, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: T624 Roll: 411 Page: 156
Finley M. Ong, Head, M W 77 M1-56 Years OH OH IRE Own Income
Louisa J. Ong, Wife, F W 72 M1-56 Years OH OH VA None
Edwin F. Ong, Son, M W 53 Single IA OH OH None
Lilly M. Ong, Daughter, F W 51 Single IA OH OH None

1920 US Census - 406 Van Buren Avenue, Wapello 2nd Ward, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: T625 Roll: 495 Page: 281 Sheet: 9B ED: 106 Date: 19 January 1920 D/F: 217/223
Eliza J. Ong, Head Owned Free F W 80 Widowed OH OH VA None
Lillie M. Ong, Daughter F W 50 Single OH OH OH Music Teacher at Home

1930 US Census - 418 Isett Avenue, Wapello, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa
NA Series: T626 Roll: 666 Page: 12A ED: 20
Lillie M. Ong, Head, F W 62 Single OH OH OH None

1910 US Census - 808 East 15th Street, Indianapolis, Centre Township, Marion County, Indiana
NA Series: T624 Roll: 366 Page: 145
Finley Ong, Head, M W 38 M1-6 Years IA OH OH Traveling Salesman
Bertha F. Ong, Wife, F W M1-6 Years, 1 child, living, Wisconsin (Seandi) Norway (Seandi) Norway
George Finley Ong Jr., Son, M W 2 Single, Indiana Iowa Wisconsin

1920 US Census - 2402 Park Avenue Apt. 2, Indianapolis 2nd Ward, Centre Township, Marion County, Indiana
NA Series: T625 Roll: 450 Page: 127 Sheet: 13A ED: 50 Date: 12 & 13 January 1920 D/F: 287/327
George F. Ong, Head Rents M W 46 Married IA US US Salesman Bed Springs
Bertha K. Ong, Wife F W 38 Married WI US US None
George F. Ong Jr., Son M W 11 Single IN IA WI None
H. Kendid(?) Ong, Son M W 9 Single IN IA WI None

1930 US Census - Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
NA Series: T626 Roll: 607 Page: 3B ED: 27
Bertha K. Ong, Head, F W 44 Widowed WI
(NOTE - This information came from a census index, but I have not been able to locate the image from the information given - any help with this would be appreciated. I do not know if George Jr. and his brother were still at home, or on their own at this point.)

I hope to make a trip to Wapello again in the near future. If I can find obituaries for the family members, I will post them back here.