"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 796.

ELMER W. FINZER, D. D. S.

     A lucrative practice is always the aim of the professional man, and the
subject of this review has attained a position in Woodburn, Ore., of which many
men of maturer years and time of service might well be proud. A member of an old
and much respected family, the ancestral history is covered in the review of a
brother, Capt. W. E. Finzer. The dame of Finzer retains in a marked degree the
business and moral worth so characteristic of the children of Switzerland.
     Dr. Finzer is the third of nine children born to Benjamin and Elizabeth
(Hostettler) Finzer, and was born near Shanesville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio,
June 22, 1871. While his father was engaged in working at his trade of
carpenter, Elmer Finzer was attending the public schools of that place,
preparing himself for the future. In 1888 he accompanied the family to Oregon.
They settled in Woodburn, and here he completed his education, and was employed
as a clerk in a general merchandise store where he gained a practical business
education. He was one of those enterprising lads who -have the ability to
succeed in the face of many obstacles, and after due consideration of the
lucrative professions, the possibilities of dentistry appealed to him. In 1894
he began as assistant to Dr. George L. Fox of Woodburn, remaining for two years,
then with Dr. G. H. Marker of this city, where he remained three years, and in
June, 1899, successfully passed the examination before the State Board of Dental
Examiners. Upon receiving his certificate he- at once opened an office in
Woodburn, where he has built up a practice in a short time far beyond his
expectations. To keep in touch with the advanced methods he took a post-graduate
course during May and June, 1902, at the Northwestern University of Dental
Surgery at Chicago, Ill.
     Dr. Finzer was married in Woodburn May 5, 1898, to Miss Minnie Tasker, an
estimable young lady, who was born in Mitchell, Canada, October 10, 1875, a
daughter of William Tastier, a native of Yorkshire, England. He emigrated to
Ohio at an early day, and located in Akron, where he was engaged as machinist.
Some time later he removed to Canada, and while there his daughter was born.
Returning to Akron, she was reared and educated in the public schools. Mrs.
Finzer completed her education in Salem, and at the age of seventeen began
teaching school, and continued until her marriage. In 1886 Mr. Tasker, and his
family removed to Oregon, and conducted a general merchandise store in Salem for
a time. For a long time Mr. Tasker had been deeply interested in Socialism. In
order to study social conditions under a regime of this character, he went to
New Zealand in January, 1900, and, with his wife is now making that their home.
His son, Charles, is living in Peoria, Ill.; Walter in Denver, Col..
One child has been born to Dr. Finzer and his wife, Beatrice Irene, born March
9, 1899. In his fraternal relations Dr. Finzer is a member of Woodburn Lodge No.
102, I. O. O. F., and, with his wife, is a member of Daughters of Rebekah,
Woodburn Camp, No. 47, W. O. W., and Woodburn Lodge No. 106, A. F. & A. M. He is
a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Democrat. He is very
conscientious in his work, and has set a high standard of professional ethics
for his own guidance.


     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.