OBITUARY OF ANDREW FINLEY (1833-1925)
Uncited original clippings from the family archives of Frances Mitchell Houston, Troy, MO, 2012
Transcribed and Submitted by Pauline Houston Steeves

Andrew Finley, last surviving member of the pioneer family whose name he bore, died Saturday evening at his home in Silex, at the age of 92 years and four days. He was bedfast two weeks prior to his death and lost consciousness about forty hours before the end came. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. I. L. Ellis and Miss Nellie Finley. Interment was made Monday in the Reid cemetery near Okete.

Andrew Finley was the third child and the eldest son of Cyrus and Jane Shannon Finley and was born January 20, 1833, on the farm home established by his parents when they came to Lincoln county from Kentucky in 1829, the year following their marriage. His father was born in Staunton, Va., and his mother was a native of Kentucky. He was one of ten children born to this couple. Two died in infancy and all the others lived and died within a few miles of the old homestead. In 1859 he and his brother, William Finley, bought 220 acres of land about two miles north of Auburn and he eventually bought his brother’s interest in this farm, retaining same until his death. He was married on January 28, 1869, to Miss Jennie Finley of Shelby county, Ky., and they resided on the farm until 1898 when their farm home burned down. They moved to Troy in 1910, residing there for ten years, after which time the family home was in Silex, where their married daughter resided. Mrs. Finley died August 12, 1911 after 5 years of invalidism. Mr. Finley was a remarkably well preserved man and until last August was unusually active for one of his age.

Mr. Finley was reared in a Christian home and never departed from his early training, His parents were members of Mt. Zion A. R. P. church and he was a loyal adherent of that organization, but did not make public profession of his faith until he was nearly seventy years of age, becoming at that time a member of Troy Presbyterian church, where his membership remained until death severed the tie. Mr. Finley loved children and they loved him. He was concerned in the spiritual welfare of the youth of today and deplored the neglect of religious training in the home. He had been taught to keep holy the Sabbath day and faithfully followed that precept, reading only the Bible and the church paper on that day and refraining from all secular occupations except those of necessity. He was a fine type of old school gentleman, firm and of strong character, but unaggressive and reasonable in his dealings with mankind, courteous and kind to all.

[Submitter's note: From the Troy Free Press, Troy, MO, date unknown.]

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Pauline Houston Steeves, 12 February, 2012.

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