Fannin County Texas - Obituary of Rev. W.T. Finley By Patsy Finley Vinson *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: by Patsy Finley Vinson - Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** This article submitted by Patsy Finley Vinson, W.T. was her great-great uncle. W.T. Finley was the son of Norris and Margaret A. Peggy Hall Finley. His siblings were: Melinda A. Finley Jernigan Graybill, George Washington Finley, Sr., Mary E. and Manda E.______________________________ The Bonham Favorite, March 1939 Passing of Rev. W.T. Finley is Mourned by Many "Was one of Fannin County's Best Loved Pioneers" Fannin County has lost one of its oldest pioneer citzens in the passing of Rev. W.T. Finley, known to many of this friends as Uncle Tom. Mr. Finley lived to the ripe old age of eighty- nine,and few are left among us who have done as many good deeds for this fellow man as he. His many acts of kindness and his associations with others ahve been an inspiration to many to make this world of ours a better and more beautiful place in which to live. The hardships this good citizen has undergone during the earlier days of his long and useful life make us appreciate more fully the conveniences of our modern living. Immediately after the passing of his good wife, Mrs. Margaret Finley in May, 1917, this Christian gentleman was inspired to put in writing a brief sketch of his life. In memory of him, the highlights of this sketch are here related, we hope, as he would have wished if he were here to relate the past as he liked so much to do during his last days. I, W.T. FINLEY, was born in Izard County, Arkansas, in the year of 1850. I came to Fannin County in 1858,coming through in a two horse wagon with my parents, Norris and Margaret P. Finley. We settled near Telephone which was then known as the Medlin Tan Yard Community. My mother died about one year after moving to Texas, and about two years after the death of my Sainted Mother, my Godly Father breathed his last and went to God, leaving five children, two boys and three girls; so you see, I was left an orphan at the age of 11 years. Everything was dark to me, but as it happened I fell into good hands, those of Pharoah and Eliza Medlin, two Christian people who have long since gone home to God. I stayed in that community until the close of the Civil War; then I moved with those good people three or four miles south of where the town of Savoy now stands. There I lived with them until I was twenty years of age. At that I hired to work for a Mr. W.T. Sears who paid me at the rate of $15.00 per month for my labor. W.T. Sears lived just south of where Whitewright now stands. Let me tell you something. I have plowed in the main streets of that beautiful little city. This W.T. Sears and his good wife, Matt, have crossed over the River and gone home to God. At the age of 21, I was married to Miss Margaret Ballew, who was a Kentuckian by birth but was reared in Texas, as she came with her parents to Collin County, Texas when she was two years of age. To us were born fifteen children. Of that number five have gone home to glory (two others have since passed on). Let me say that those children had one of the best mothers that ever lived. Why do I say that? Because of the fact that she was my bosom companion for forty-eight years, was a true Christian lady, a fond mother, and a true wife. She loved her home, her flowers, and her chickens. She was a very industrious woman, always bust at her work; but on the 7th day of last May (1917) God saw fit to take from our home this good wife and mother. All her children, except one boy in France were present when she breathed her last. Ready for the call, she bade us goodbye,saying, "Meet me in Heaven". Since she is gone but not forgotten, we will endeavor to meet her where parting will be no more. My Conversion I shall now relate my conversion, which was in 1870 in a meeting being held by Rev. J.M. Binkley near where the town of Savoy now stands. I united with the M.E. Church, South at Cannan (?) Church, which is located midway between Bells and Whitewright. I was licensed to become an Exhorter on November 9, 1889, at Whitewright, TX, by W.D. Montcastle,Presiding Elder; and on June 30th 1896 I was licensed to preach by Rev. J.R. Wages, Presiding Elder, at Trenton, Texas. On November 25, 1900, I was ordained a Deacon at Denton, Texas by Bishop Warren A.Canler. For over thirty years I have been exhorting, preaching, singing, praying and shouting. I have held numerous revival meetings, witnessed a number of conversions, married over a hundred couples [many since the writing of this article], and have conducted many funerals. I have assisted my Pastors and other preachers in many revival meetings. I feel that the good Lord has blessed my efforts to do service for Him. I am now seventy years of age and still up and going, feeling about as well as I ever did; furthermore, it seems to me that I can preach about as well as I ever did. Other fellows may not think so, however. My First Revival In the year of 1890, I held my first revival meeting in a county school building located two miles west of Orangeville, Fannin County, Texas. Richland was the name of the school district at that time. I was living near the school building where prayer meeting was held regularly. Since I was an Exhorter, the brethren put me in the lead. With the help of the Lord, we were successful in holding a revival, in so much as there were twenty-two conversions; so ever since, I have gone by the name of Parson Finley and have been holding meetings, assisting pastors in meetings, holding monthly appointments, and organizing churches and Sunday schools. I remember once while Rev. B.A. Thomason was on the Randolph Circuit, he had me go to the Porter's school to fill his appointment at 11:00 o'clock Sunday morning. When I arrived at the place, I found a house full of people. I took the pulpit behind which was a black- board. In front of this blackboard was a table on which lay an old smutty rag which had been used for cleaning the lamps and the blackboard. After I had begun to preach,through mistake I picked up the cloth instead of my handkerchief and began to dry the sweat from my face. Immediately I saw the congregation all in a giggle. I must have been a sight to behold; I probably looked worse than an Africian Negro. Now laugh! On discovering my mistake, I pronounced the benediction and went home. Well, I must be about my Master's business; my few remaining days must be spent in the service of my Lord. When I have fought my last battle for him and have to stack arms, as a brave soldier, "I want to fold my full length at my Redeemer's feet and go shouting home to Glory, so mote it be". Well said, Rev. Finley; for all of us who knew you during your remaining days know that they were well spent in attending to the Master's business, seeing that others should be prepared to meet the Master as we know that you were prepared to meet Him. This righteous man passed to the Great Beyond on March 26, 1939, leaving behind him, Mrs. Lou Finley whom he married in 1924 and who has ministered to his every need since that time as only a good Christian woman could. There also survive eight children, four boys, Tilbert of Bonham, George and O.T. of Ravenna, and M.W. of Phoenix, AZ; four girls, Mrs. J.R. Renfro of Dodd City, Mrs. L.E. Duckworth of Loving, NM; Mrs. G.F. Christian of Moore, Okla., and Mrs. J.R. Horn of Bonham; one brother, George of Ravenna, and three stepchildren; Andrew Esary of Morton, Texas, Alvin Essary and Mrs. Ruth Brown of Norman, Okla. A great number of Grand- children and great grandchildren also survive him.