Frank Finkel facts for kids

Frank Finkel was an American man born in 1854. He became well-known later in his life because he claimed to be the only soldier who survived a famous battle. This battle was called the Battle of the Little Bighorn, fought on June 25, 1876. It was led by a general named George Armstrong Custer.

Many historians don't agree on whether Frank Finkel's story is true. He shared some details that only someone at the battle would know. But there are also parts of his story that don't quite match up.

Frank was born in Ohio. He said he joined the United States Army in the 1870s. He claimed he fought under General Custer during the Great Sioux War of 1876. During the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Finkel said he was shot early on. His horse then ran away from the fight with him still riding it.

After getting better, he moved to St. Louis, then settled in Dayton, Washington. He became a successful farmer there. Around 1920, he started telling people he had survived the famous battle.

Some historians who believe Finkel say he knew things about the battle that only someone who was there would know. Other historians disagree. They say that official records from that time don't mention a Frank Finkel. They also say the Army knows what happened to all the soldiers who were thought to be missing.

Frank Finkel's Early Life

Frank Finkel was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1854. His parents were Peter and Magdalena Finkel. His father was an immigrant from Germany. The family owned a farm and had six sons and one daughter.

At home, the Finkel family spoke German. Frank went to public schools. He grew up speaking both German and English. He also learned to read and write well. His father, Peter Finkel, passed away in 1868.

Claims About the Battle of the Little Bighorn

Frank Finkel's stories about joining the United States Army are different depending on who tells them. John Koster, who wrote a book called Custer Survivor, supports Finkel's claim. Koster believes Finkel joined the Army in January 1872 in Chicago. He thinks Finkel used the name "August Finckle."

Koster suggests that Finkel used "Berlin, Prussia" as his birthplace. This might have been because the Prussian military was popular in the U.S. at that time. Finkel's widow also thought he joined in September 1874 in Iowa. She believed he used the name "Frank Hall."

Finkel claimed he was a second sergeant in C Company. This was part of the 7th Cavalry. His commander was Tom Custer, General Custer's brother.

Finkel said that early in the battle, both he and his horse were shot. His horse then ran away from the battle area with him still on it. After riding for several days, Finkel left his horse, which was dying. He then continued his journey on foot.

He found a white man cutting wood outside his cabin. At first, the man pointed a gun at Finkel. But when Finkel fainted, the man took him into his cabin. This man, known only as "Bill," helped treat Finkel's wounds. Finkel stayed with him for several months.

Later, Finkel left for Fort Benton. There, he learned that Custer and all his men had died. He said he tried to get a military discharge from an Army officer. But he gave up when the officer asked for two witnesses to prove his identity.

Later Life and Claims

Frank Finkel with his wife, Delia.

After leaving Fort Benton, Finkel traveled to St. Louis, Missouri. He worked in the dairy business there. In 1878, he moved back west. He settled in Dayton, Washington.

In 1886, he married his first wife, Delia Rainwater. Soon after they married, Finkel started buying farmland. By 1911, he owned a lot of land in Dayton. Frank and Delia had three children who grew up. One of their sons, Ben, served in the Idaho Legislature. A newspaper article from 1906 said Frank Finkel was a person who "enjoys the respect and confidence of all the good people in the community."

For about 40 years, Finkel didn't say anything about the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He is believed to have first shared his story in 1920. This happened after he heard his friends talking about the battle. He thought they were sharing wrong information.

Over the next few years, he told his story at local events. In 1921, he gave an interview to a reporter. This was for the Walla Walla Bulletin, the biggest newspaper in the area.

Delia Finkel passed away in August 1921. This was shortly after the newspaper article came out. In 1926, Frank married his second wife, Hermie. Frank Finkel died on August 28, 1930, when he was 76 years old.

In 2013, a photograph was published. It was described as "August Finckle." This photo was first in a magazine for Custer fans. Then it was in Wild West, a general history magazine. The picture showed "Sergeant August Finckle" in an Army uniform from 1874. Many people said it was a photo of Frank Finkel from Ohio. They believed it was taken 10 years before a well-known portrait of him from around 1886.

Experts compared the photos. They noted that the hair color and hairline were different because of age. But they said many facial features were the same. Even small things, like his shirt collar flipped up on one side, matched. The person who owned the photograph was a friend of Frank Finckle. This friend also mentioned burying Frank Finckle in the same article.

However, four men claimed they found Finckle and his horse dead on Finley Finckle Ridge. But battlefields are not named after missing soldiers.

On the other hand, Charles Windolph, Finckle's best friend, looked for Finckle's body. He wanted to give him a proper burial. But he could not find the body. Windolph was a Medal of Honor winner. He was also the last living soldier from the battle. He said in his book, I Fought With Custer, that he "could not identify him." Windolph's daughter also said her father "looked everywhere for him as he was like a brother to him -- but was unable to find him."

Images for kids

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  Frank Finkel