Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 733-735 [McCracken]

     JAMES M. FINLEY, one of the most highly esteemed citizens of
McCracken county, a man noted for his kind neighborliness, his
integrity of character and his exemplary life, was born November 26,
1828, in Fleming county, Kentucky.  He is a son of Samuel B. and
Mary (Purdham) Finley.
     Samuel B. Finley was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was
a son of Major John Finley, a resident of that state, although of
Scotch-Irish descent.  Major Finley was a Revolutionary patriot and
an officer in the patriot army, and was afterward made the officer
who made the first land survey that was recorded in the state of
Kentucky.  The mother of James M. Finley was born in Mason county,
Kentucky, and was a daughter of Jonas Purdham, of German descent. 
Samuel B. Finley was one of the old pioneers of the state of
Kentucky, having settled in Fleming county at an early date, where
his life was spent in agricultural pursuits.  In politics he was a
Whig.  He was an active member in the Presbyterian church until his
death in 1842, aged forty-two years.  His widow survived him
nineteen years, dying in 1861, aged fifty-nine years.  Their
children were: John S.; David T.; Elizabeth, deceased; Martha J.,
deceased; Margaret, deceased; and James M.
     James M. Finley was born and reared in Fleming county on the
first government survey that was made and recorded in Kentucky, near
what is known as Upper Blue Licks land office.  He received the best
education afforded by the schools of that time and locality, and
grew to manhood sturdy and strong from the healthful outdoor life
and exercise he found on the farm.  For a short time he engaged in
merchandising at Sherburne, in Fleming county, Kentucky, but he then
settled down to farming.  This has been his main occupation in
connection with stock dealing, although for four years, from 1856 to
1860, he was engaged in freight across the plains, for Water,
Russell & Co., who were government contractors.  His route extended
from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Denver and Fort Laramie.  Some of his
recollections of those days are intensely interesting and give the
listener a better idea of the courage and bravery of that land of
freighters than could be obtained from many books.  Mr. Finley now
resides on a well situated farm of eight acres, on the Benton road,
a few miles from Paducah, McCracken county.  It is well cultivated
and improved and shows that its owner is a capable and practical
farmer.
     Until within eight years, Mr. Finley was identified with the
Democratic party, but he now supports the Populist party, believing
the principles advocated by it superior to all others.  He is a
member of the Presbyterian church, and is liberal in his
contributions to its support.  Mr. Finley is the only one living of
the three charter members of the Fleming county lodge of Royal Arch
Masons.
    In 1848 Mr. Finley was married to Miss Miranda Ricketts, who was
born in Fleming county in 1832.  She passed out of life in 1880,
aged forty-eight years.  The children born to them were: Thomas C.,
who was sheriff of McCracken county at the time of his death in
1882; John S.; George C.; Marshall T.; Elizabeth P.; Mittie,
deceased; and James E., deceased.

Finley Purdham Water Russell Ricketts
=
PA Mason-KY Fleming-KY

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