Crenshaw County AlArchives Biographies.....Finlay, David H. 1819 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 18, 2004, 10:51 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    DAVID H. FINLAY, farmer of Beat No. 10, was born in Chesterfield. district,
S. C., in 1819. He is a son of Archibald and Eleanor (Campbell) Finlay, both of
whom were natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1778, the latter in
1780. They were married in Chesterfield district, S. C. Mr. Finlay was a well
educated man, was a practical surveyor, but followed farming for a livelihood.
In 1819 he left South Carolina with his family, and landed at Montgomery, Ala.,
in January, 1820, when there were but a few log stores there. In 1835 he removed
to Pike county, now Crenshaw county, settling in the woods on Curtis creek,
where he improved a farm and spent the rest of his life, dying in December,
1854. Mrs. Finlay having died in 1850. Mr. Finlay was an enterprising citizen,
and served for a time as surveyor of Montgomery county. Afterward he served as
deputy surveyor of Pike county under Col. Snyder. He was one of the pioneers of
Montgomery county, shared in the hardships and privations of early days, and was
always an active public-spirited man. His father was born near Glasgow,
Scotland, but came when a young man to America and married in North Carolina,
was a cooper by trade, and died in North Carolina. Grandfather Campbell also
came from Scotland, reared a large family, and probably died in South Carolina.
David H. Finlay was the eleventh in a family of eight sons and six daughters. Of
this large family but himself and one sister are now living. He was reared on
the farm in the early days of Montgomery and Pike counties, attended school
about three months in the year during his minority, and remained at home until
he was thirty years of age. He was married in 1849 to Rebecca, daughter of
Bartholomew and Margaret Staggers, natives of Williamsburg district, S. C., but
who at a very early lay came to Butler county, that is about seventy years ago.
They both died in this county, now Crenshaw, he about 1866, and she in 1887.
Mrs. Finlay was born in what is now Crenshaw county, and is the mother of twelve
children, as follows: William A., Escambia county; the second died very young;
Mary S., deceased; Sarah, wife of C. F. Saulter; Robert S., deceased; Elizabeth
F., wife of F. B. Lassater, of Milton, Fla.; Margaret E.; David, deceased;
Charles E.; James D.; John Smith; Dudley B. Mr. Finlay has lived for over fifty
years near where he now lives, and since 1856, on his present farm near Luverne.
His farm contains 350 acres of land, and he is one of the best farmers and one
of the best known men in the county. He has followed farming all his life. In
1856 he was tax assessor of Pike county. He served a short time in the Indian
war of 1836, and about sixteen months in the late Civil war. He enlisted in
March, 1862, in Hilliard's legion, and served the last year as ordnance
sergeant, but was discharged just before the battle of Chickamauga on account of
his poor health and advanced age. He was not in any engagements, but was within
hearing distance of the battle of Perryville. He takes no active part in
politics, but bears his share of the burden of party support. He is a great
reader, has a retentive memory, and is thus exceedingly well informed. His wife
is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Finlay is one of the
substantial and reliable citizens of Crenshaw county, and one whom everybody
respects.




Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 778-779
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI



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