Cyrus Finley McNutt was born on July 29, 1837 in Johnson County, Indiana. He attended local schools and in 1854, he enrolled at Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana. After three terms, he had to return home to run the family farm after the death of his father. Eventually he was able to read for the law and attend law school in Indianapolis, and it 1860 he was admitted to the bar. He began his law practice in Franklin, and in 1862 he open a law office in Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana. In 1875, he joined the law faculty at Indiana University, Bloomington. Unfortunately, the law department closed in 1877 due to a cut in funding by the General Assembly. That fall, McNutt moved to Terre Haute to resume his law practice. In 1890, he was ele...