Dade County, Missouri Biographies-James F. FINLEY

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889.
Published by Goodspeed.  Pgs. 808, 809
 
James F. Finley, farmer of Center Township, residing three miles northeast
of Greenfield, is a native of Hopkins County, Ky., born September 11, 1818,
and is one of the old and much respected citizens of the county.  He is the
son of William and Leah (Dobbins) Finley, and the grandson of Howard Finley,
who was a native of North Carolina, and who moved to Hopkins County, Ky., 
in 1804.  He died in 1840.  William Finley was born in North Carolina in 
1792, was of Irish descent, and followed farming all his life.  He was but
twelve years of age when he went to Kentucky, and was there married in 1817
to Miss Dobbins.  In 1841 he came to Dade County, Mo., on a prospecting 
trip, remained a few years, and then returned to Kentucky.  In 1848 he again
returned to Missouri, and made his home with his son, James F.  He died in 
1872.  His wife, Leah Dobbins, was born in Virginia, was of English descent,
and died in Lawrence County, Ark., in 1850.  After her death Mr. Finley 
returned to Hopkins County, Ky.  Three children were born to this union, 
who lived to be grown: James F., Thomas R., and John M.  James F. was but 
an infant when his parents moved to Arkansas, and was twelve years of age 
when his mother died.  He remained on the farm until eighteen years of age,
when he commenced selling goods.  In 1843 he married Miss Nancy Brooks, 
who was born in Hopkins County, Ky., in 1826, and one child was born to 
this union, William, who was drowned on a Mississippi River steamer near 
Cape Girardeau in 1865.  In May, 1846, Mrs. Finley died, and in December 
of the same year Mr. Finley came to Dade County, Mo., but later returned 
to Kentucky, where he remained until the spring of 1848, when he returned 
and located in Greenfield.  He commenced clerking in a store, and October 
15, 1849, he married Miss Mary Earll, a native of Stewart County, Tenn., 
born in 1832, and the daughter of Henry Earll.  Fourteen children were the
fruits of this union: Madora, wife of Samuel W. Dicus; Paulina, wife of 
John E. Garrett; Harry H., Albert and George (twins); Ellen, died at the 
age of sixteen years; Aurelia and Cordelia (twins), the former dying at 
the age of two months; Lolla, wife of J. W. Crank; James; Elder, died at 
the age of eighteen years; Grace, Gusta, and Howard.  Mr. Finley sold goods
in Greenfield for about four years, and in 1850 bought 166 acres of land, 
where he now resides, but did not locate on the farm until about 1851. He 
is one of Dade County's old settlers, and has been successful in his 
business pursuits.  He came to Dade County a poor man, but year by year 
he has, by his industry, economy and good management, added to his property,
and at present has about 100 acres of good land, well improved with good 
buildings, fences, etc.  In politics he is a Democrat, casting his first 
vote for Gen. Harrison in 1840, but previous to the war he was a Whig.  
He is a member of the Masonic Order, Washington Lodge, Greenfield.  He 
and wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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