Asa Finley
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Asa Finley
| caption = Asa Finley
| birth_date = 1788
| birth_place = Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
| death_date = 8 April 1853
| death_place = Nelson, Saline County, Missouri, United States
}}
Asa Finley (1788– 8 April 1853)[https://www.geni.com/people/Asa-Finley/6000000042493684161 Geni] Asa Finley.] Retrieved 17 March 2018. was a local judge and then state legislator politician in Missouri during early statehood.
Early life
Finley was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, and after marrying his first wife, Esther Gleaves in 1806, they migrated to Christian County, Kentucky and settled on land he had already surveyed for himself in 1803. Migrating to Kentucky with them were Asa Finley's brothers, Dabney Finley and John Pettus Finley.John Finley of Montgomery/Wythe County, Virginia; Additional Children Identified, Virginia Genealogist 1990–1991; Pg 206, by Dr. Carmin J. Finley, C.G., Ph.D.
Further migration
In 1817-1818 Asa Finley, Esther Gleaves Finley, and their children headed for Cooper County, Missouri and settled near the city of Arrow Rock, Missouri. The History of Saline County, Missouri, published in 1881, dates Asa Finley's arrival as early as 1819.The History of Saline County Missouri; Published in 1881; pgs. 198–199, and pg. 483 However, the deed of the sale of some of their Kentucky land lists him as Asa Finley of Saline County dated September 17, 1818. Saline County, Missouri was made out of part of Cooper County, Missouri in 1820. Migrating with them again was Asa Finley's brother Dabney Finley's family and some of the children of John Pettus Finley's family.
Political service
In 1822 and again in 1826 Asa Finley was elected as Representative of Saline County, Missouri to the Missouri Legislature.Missouri State Legislators 1800-2000 - State Website In 1824, Asa Finley was elected as the first judge in Arrow Rock.Saline County, Missouri Court Records Asa Finley and his wife, Esther Gleaves Finley, also helped found the Salt Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and took turns holding service in their home until it was built.The Churches of Cooper County, Missouri - History of Salt Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church written by Mrs. Edna McGuire in 1920
Legacy
One of Finley's grandsons, William Asa Finley, became the first president of Oregon State University. William Lovell Finley (namesake for William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge) is also a descendant of Asa Finley.
References
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Category:People from Montgomery County, Virginia
Category:American Presbyterians
Category:People from Christian County, Kentucky
Category:People from Cooper County, Missouri
Category:People from Saline County, Missouri
Category:Members of the Missouri House of Representatives
Category:19th-century members of the Missouri General Assembly