Charles A. Finley
Charles Alexander Martin Finley (April 22, 1849 – May 22, 1934) was an American emeritus secretary of the Florida Senate[1] and state representative as well as a newspaper publisher,[2] printer for the state of Florida,[2] an academic administrator,[3] and the secretary to Florida’s 15th governor Francis P. Fleming.[2]
Finley served as the secretary of the Florida Senate for two terms; from 1887 to 1895, and 1905 to 1929.[1] He also was an academic administrator at Florida Agricultural College (a predecessor of the University of Florida).
Early life and family[edit]
Charles Alexander Martin Finley was born on April 22, 1849, in Marianna, Florida, the son of General Jesse Johnson Finley.[2] He had one sister.[2]
Finley was married to Arabel (née Moncrief) in 1872; and together they had seven children, two sons and five daughters.[2]
Career[edit]
Finley served as the publisher of the Lake City Reporter daily newspaper, from 1875 until 1889.[2]
He served as an administrator at Florida Agricultural College around 1901 and 1902.[3] In 1901, he swore to an affidavit against Johnson Kirby, a college employee accused of murder.[4]
In 1879 he served in the Florida House of Representatives representing Columbia County as a Democrat.[5][6]
He was elected as Secretary to the Florida Senate in 1887 a position he held until 1895, when he was succeeded by T. J. Appleyard.[1] Finley regained the position as secretary to the Florida Senate in 1905 and held until 1929.[1][7][8]
He was photographed with the members of the Florida legislature in 1889,[9] and with the Florida Senate in 1915.[10] He was a witness for Democrats regarding election issues in Lake City, Florida.[11]
Finley died on May 22, 1934, at his daughters home in Graceville, Florida, after a long illness, within a few hours of the death of his friend and fellow state senate employee, bill clerk Ben Hill Simmons.[1] Finely was buried at Marvin Chapel Cemetery in Graceville, Florida.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "Obituary for Findley Simmons (Aged 77)". The Palm Beach Post. 23 May 1934. p. 1. ISSN 1528-5758. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rerick, Rowland H. (May 28, 1902). "Memoirs of Florida: Embracing a General History of the Province, Territory and State; and Special Chapters Devoted to Finances and Banking, the Bench and Bar, Medical Profession, Railways and Navigation, and Industrial Interests". Southern Historical Association. pp. 529–530 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Bulletin, Issues 120-123". United States Office of Experiment Stations. 1902.
- ^ "The Southern Reporter". West Publishing Company. May 28, 1903 – via Google Books.
- ^ "A History Of Florida'S Senate Secretaries" (PDF). The Florida Senate. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "The People of Lawmaking in Florida - 1822-2019" (PDF). Florida Memory. p. 62. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "A History of Florida's Senate Secretaries, 1839–present" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of the Senate, Florida. 2012.
- ^ Senate, Florida Legislature (May 28, 1909). "Journal of the State Senate of Florida of the Session of ..." The State – via Google Books.
- ^ "Members of the Florida Legislature gathered on the capitol steps for a group portrait - Tallahassee, Florida". Florida Memory, Florida Department of State.
- ^ "Members of the 1915 Florida Senate - Tallahassee, Florida". Florida Memory, Florida Department of State.
- ^ "United States Congressional Serial Set". U.S. Government Printing Office. May 28, 1877 – via Google Books.
