Martha Finley (1828 - 1909)

Born 26 Apr 1828 in Chillicothe, Ross, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jan 1909 at age 80 in Elkton, Cecil, Maryland, United States

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Biography

Martha Finley is Notable.

Martha Finley (pen name: Martha Farquharson; April 26, 1828 – January 30, 1909) was an American teacher and author of numerous works for children, the best known being the 28-volume Elsie Dinsmore series based in Southern Appalachia which was published over a span of 38 years.

Martha Finley was born on 26 Apr 1828 in Chillicothe, Ross, Ohio, United States, daughter of James Brown Finley a Presbyterian minister and his wife, who was also his cousin, Mary Theresa Brown.^[1]

In the 1850 census Martha (age 22) was in Portage, St Joseph, Indiana, United States.^[2]

She began her publishing career using the pen name Martha Farquharson. She wrote 28 books for the Elsie Dinsmore series. She wrote seven books for the Mildred Keith series. Both of these series were considered for young readers.

It is through her "Elsie" and "Mildred" series that she became popular as a writer for the young. Finley did not write exclusively for the young. She wrote three novels, Wanted—A Pedigree (Philadelphia, 1879), Signing the Contract (New York, 1879), and Thorn in the Nest (New York. 1886).

Her publications count over two dozen of articles and published works.

Miss Finley lived in Elkton, Cecil county, Md., in a cottage which she had built "in a pleasant section of that town."

In 1900, Martha (72), single head of household in Election District 3, Elkton Elkton town, Cecil, Maryland, United States. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10378953/martha-farquharson-finley: accessed), memorial page for Martha Farquharson Finley (26 Apr 1828–29 Jan 1909), Find a Grave Memorial ID 10378953, citing Elkton Cemetery, Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland, USA; Maintained by Laurie (contributor 2811407).
2. ↑ "1850 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Portage, St Joseph, Indiana; Roll: 171; Page: 6b; Line Number: 40
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #2317545 (accessed 1 July 2023)
   Martha Finley (22) in Portage, St Joseph, Indiana, USA. Born in Ohio. The household was enumerated as James B Finley 55, Mary Finley 44, Saml Finley 31, Martha Finley 22, Elizabeth Finley 17, Alice Finley 15, Amy Finley 9, Theresa Finley 8, Charles Finley 5, James Finley 8, Catherine O Finley 5, Cathrine Kountz 21, and Saml Fisher 14.
3. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
   citing enumeration district (ED) 17, sheet 7A, family 145, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,620.
   FamilySearch Record: M32M-54C (accessed 16 December 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-64GS-WV6
   Martha Finley (72), single head of household in Election District 3, Elkton Elkton town, Cecil, Maryland, United States. Born in Ohio.

See also:

• Martha Finley on Wikipedia
• Wikidata: Item Q6774396, en:Wikipedia
• Obituary
• Woman of the Century, Martha Finley