Jasper farmed in Township 53 North, Range 18 West, Sections 33-34, Chariton County. His modest one-story farmhouse still stands, overlooking the rich bottomland of old Chariton River to the south.

His obituary appeared in the Chariton Courier, 9 March 1917:
"One of the oldest citizens of the Hill [the hilly land southeast of Keytesville and northwest of Glasgow] died at his home Thursday night, March 1, after years of physical affliction.

Jas Finnell, by which name he was generally known, was born on the Abner Finnell homestead, now owned by William Blankenship [40 acres, Section 22, Township 53 North, Range 18 West] , November 9, 1838, and one of a family of 14 children, all of whom reached their majority except two.

Jas Finnell was first married to Annie Wheeler Oct. 10, 1861, and five children, John J. , K. J. [Kindred Jackson Finnell], Mrs. Emma Allen [Emma Wheeler Finnell], and Mrs. Wm Leonard [Leonora Finnell] surviving. He was ;eft a widower about 1874 and again married Lucinda Fewel, Feb. 4, 1875, one daughter, Mrs. Frank Spence [Annie May Finnell], blessing this union. Her mother died during the childhood of Mrs. Annie Spence and her father then married Miss Eliza Coy Dec. 3, 1879, four daughters, Mrs. Ernest Hamner [Lucinda Finnell], Mrs. Jas. Cook [Zade Finnell], Mrs. Herman Young [Missouri Ann Finnell], and Mrs. Susie Colson and two sons, Roy and Abner, coming to this union. Losing this wife shortly after the birth of Mrs. Ernest Hamner and Mrs. Herman Young [twins], Mr. Finnell again married Mrs. Mary Smith, sister of her predecessor, Nov. 21, 1888, no children coming to this union.

Uncle Jas Finnell farmed all his life and was of those bighearted, jolly, sympathetic men such as his neighborhood and family have always produced. He was a member of Warren Lodge A. F. and A. M. for years, and the lodge officiated at his burial after short services at Asbury Chapel by Rev. Rice. Uncle Jas was a Baptist by profession and one of the good old time sort whose influence in a community cannot be closely estimated.

At the funeral services Saturday, tho' a disagreeable day, there was a very large gathering of friends and neighbors of the man known to all as a plain, honest, unassuming, and kindly citizen."