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Finley Letters

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Letter from Granville Moody to James B. Finley

Granville Moody
December 15, 1848; Lancaster

Moody received Finley's letter stating that he had deposited $75 for him in City Bank and would send the certificate of deposit by mail. Moody has not received it and fears it might have been lost. If Finley has not sent the certificate Moody wishes he would do so at once. Abstract Number - 409
Letter from Benjamin F. Tefft to James B. Finley

Benjamin F. Tefft
December 17, 1848; Cincinnati

Tefft will be ready for Finley to come to Cincinnati about the 10th of January (1849). He expresses his disgust with the Ohio Legislature (Note: Benjamin Franklin Tefft -- editor, Western Book Concern). Abstract Number - 863
Letter from John McDonald to James B. Finley

John McDonald
December 18, 1848; Poplar Ridge

McDonald believes no man can control his faith. The place and circumstance under which a man is born usually determines his faith. Abstract Number - 410
Letter from Granville Moody to James B. Finley

Granville Moody
December 18, 1848; Lancaster

Since Moody wrote the last letter he finds that General McCracken is going to visit Finley's place. If Finley has not already sent the certificate he can send it with McCracken. Abstract Number - 411
Letter from J. Hunt Jr. to James B. Finley

J. Hunt Jr.
December 19, 1848; Chilo

Hunt is anxious to learn about the condition of Jeremiah S. Cowdon who was sent to the State Prison in October. Cowdon left his worldly effects in the hands of the writer. Abstract Number - 1124
Letter from Thomas M. Key to James B. Finley

Thomas M. Key
December 20, 1848; Cincinnati

The bearer of this letter is a father trying to get his son out of prison. Key tells Finley that the son's pardon has been sought from the governor. The father is an acting justice of the peace and a Methodist. Abstract Number - 1125
Letter from Granville Moody to James B. Finley

Granville Moody
December 21, 1848; Lancaster

Granville Moody received Finley's letter containing the certificate of deposit for $75 in the City Bank of Columbus. This satisfies the first installment to be paid to Moody with regard to the mistake made in land conveyance in Jasper County, IN. [author writes Ohio, but Jasper County is in Indiana] Moody sends Finley a receipt for this payment. Abstract Number - 412
Letter from J. Hunt Jr. to James B. Finley

J. Hunt Jr.
December 23, 1848; Chilo-Banks of the OH

Hunt is extremely grateful to Finley for answering his letter concerning prisoner Jeremiah S. Cowdon. He is handling business matters for Cowdon, and intends to stand by the prisoner until he is released. Abstract Number - 1126
Letter from William Goodfellow to James B. Finley

William Goodfellow
December 28, 1848; Lebanon, IL

Goodfellow (principal of the McKendree College Preparatory Department in Illinois) writes to Finley for some statistical information about the convicts at the Ohio State Penitentiary. He wants to know 1) How many of the convicts have had a college education and 2) How many of them have been "religiously educated" either by their parents or at Sabbath School? Abstract Number - 1127
Letter from Thomas Coke Wright to James B. Finley

Thomas Coke Wright
January 01, 1849; Xenia

Wright sends a copy of a letter written by A.J. Hamilton for possible inclusion in Finley's book about prisoners at the Ohio Penitentiary. Abstract Number - 528
Letter from James Gurley to James B. Finley

James Gurley
January 06, 1849; Wyandot Nation

Gurley was sorry he did not see Finley while he was in Ohio but the letter of introduction sent by Finley to the Wyandot brethren was received and has been very helpful. Gurley finds the mission divided into a southern group and a northern group. The southern group has possession of the mission property and are not willing to let the northern group use it, so meetings are being held in private homes. The appointment of a missionary by the north has resulted in the southern preachers feeling "an outrage upon their rights." Gurley believes that the southern preachers will seek to get him removed by local authorities of the Wyandot Nation. At this point, he is willing to stay or go home as asked. Power always dies hard and "there are indications of a powerful death struggle here yet." Abstract Number - 788
Letter from J. Hunt Jr. to James B. Finley

J. Hunt Jr.
January 06, 1849; Chilo

Hunt would like Finley to check with prisoner Jeremiah S. Cowdon about the possibility of a land trade. Abstract Number - 413
Letter from Joseph Lewis to James B. Finley

Joseph Lewis
January 06, 1849; Cincinnati

Supernumerary preacher, Joseph Lewis, writes to Finley concerning "a colered man in prison from this county" who may be the victim of ill treatment -- John Robinson. If Finley agrees, Lewis will proceed with a petition for pardon. He is willing to hire the man once he is released. Lewis predicts a good year for religion in Cincinnati. Abstract Number - 1128
Letter from Samuel Bradford to James B. Finley

Samuel Bradford
January 10, 1849; Celina

Bradford writes that he is sorry to hear about Finley's treatment at the penitentiary. He tells Finley "I am not sorry that I left the institution for I have such a contemptable opinion of that man Mc's principels. You do not know 1/2 what I do of him and Dewey seems to think him all perfection." ["Mc" is probably J.V. McElvain, clerk at the penitentiary from 1844-1850.] There appears to be have been a disagreement about payment of Finley's room and board. Abstract Number - 414
Letter from G.W. Johnson to James B. Finley

G.W. Johnson
January 13, 1849; New Plymouth

The New Plymouth Division, Sons of Temperance, has erected a building which they badly needed. Unfortunately, the division has not been able to fully cover the cost. As a last resort, members are soliciting aid from other divisions. They ask for Finley's help to raise the money. Abstract Number - 1199
Letter from Butler & Brothers to James B. Finley

Butler & Brothers
January 15, 1849; Cincinnati

The writer has sent the box of books for the convicts and apologizes for the delay. Included in the box are some second-hand school books. Abstract Number - 583
Letter from Gilbert McFadden to James B. Finley

Gilbert McFadden
January 17, 1849; Rushville

Gilbert McFadden, at the request of the citizens of Rushville, has sent a petition to Ohio State Senator Charles Goddard (Muskingum County), requesting that the Legislature appoint their mutual friend David Baker as Judge of Fairfield County. McFadden would like Finley to use his influence with Goddard to get Baker elected. Abstract Number - 415
Letter from Charles W. Hamisfar Jr. to James B. Finley

Charles W. Hamisfar Jr.
January 21, 1849; Somerset

Charles W. Hamisfar Jr. (1829-1905) writes that his parents (Charles W. Hamisfar and Katherine) saw Finley at Conference. They understood that Finley would be coming to visit the Hamisfars on his way back to Columbus from Conference. Charles is worried because Finley never showed up. He hopes that Finley is not upset with him for some reason. Abstract Number - 194
Letter from J. Mathiott to James B. Finley

J. Mathiott
January 22, 1849; Newark

Mathiott is disappointed that courtroom duties will interfere with his attendance at the quarterly meeting of the Grand Division (Sons of Temperance) in Springfield. He wants Finley to take charge of the meeting for him. Mathiott discusses many organizational aspects of the Sons of Temperance -- passwords, duties of G.M.A., record books, etc. Abstract Number - 416
Letter from James Roseman to James B. Finley

James Roseman
January 24, 1849; Fairview

Roseman has heard that Finley has been inquiring about him. He sends a very newsy letter, talking about the potential joy of eternal life, the coming death of his 22 year old son, concern about the European revolutions, and the prosperous state of the Barnesville Circuit. The bulk of the letter deals with Roseman's dissatisfaction with the Ohio legislature. A bill was submitted two years ago to the General Assembly asking for the erection of a new county, to be known as Cumberland. It did not pass. It is now being submitted again and Roseman would like Finley to use his influence among legislators to get this bill passed. [Note: Cumberland County was never formed.] An 1848 bill submitted to the General Assembly requesting financial relief for Devine, Snyder, and Sharp was laid over and will be discussed again this year. Roseman believes that the three men (convicted of forgery in Tuscarawas County, 1847) have sustained much more injury than the relief this bill will provide. [Note: John Devine, James M. Snyder, and William Sharp did receive financial relief from the General Assembly in February of 1849]. Abstract Number - 417
Letter from Peter Simpkins to James B. Finley

Peter Simpkins
January 25, 1849; Chillicothe

Simpkins sends a very long letter to Finley dealing with the effects of studying classical Homeric literature in schools. Recently, several newspapers have run the story of an interview between 16 year old Benjamin Franklin and New York Colony Governor William Burnett (served 1720-1728). Franklin tells Burnett that he opposes the study of the "dead languages" and suggests that Christians should not study the works of Homer. Simpkins agrees that Homer's Iliad is an elegant piece of epic poetry, but its bloodshed, carnage, and glorification of war is not suitable reading for Christians who claim their religion to be one of peace and goodwill to men and the banishment of evil wars. Abstract Number - 418
Letter from Joshua Robinson to James B. Finley

Joshua Robinson
January 27, 1849; Pittsburgh

Robinson responds to Finley concerning a disconcerting letter he received from George W. Jackson. Robinson is shocked by Finley's report of the content, saying "I have no language to express my contempt for such conduct." Robinson asks Finley to send the actual letter to him, so that he may confront the ungrateful Jackson with it. Abstract Number - 1129
Letter from Henry Howe to James B. Finley

Henry Howe
January 29, 1849; Hillsborough

A letter from Henry Howe, author of Historical Collections of Ohio. Howe would like to publish Finley's book about the state prison. He says he would use six engravings of the prison to illustrate the book. He feels he can do a better job of selling the book than others can. Abstract Number - 1130
Letter from J. Mathiott to James B. Finley

J. Mathiott
January 29, 1849; Newark

Mathiott acknowledges the receipt of Finley's last letter. It would afford him great pleasure to host Finley at his home. Mathiott's courtroom will not interfere with either the April, July or October sessions of the Grand Division (Sons of Temperance). Abstract Number - 419
Letter from Thomas Bruton & N. Fisher to James B. Finley

Thomas Bruton and N. Fisher
January 30, 1849; Allegheny, PA

Upon his arrival home, Bruton was greeted kindly and treated well by his friends. However, he has just learned that a fake letter was sent to Finley, purportedly from Bruton, asking for payment for services rendered in Columbus. Bruton is mortified that Finley received this letter, written by a "cowardly villain." Bruton wants Finley to know in no uncertain terms that he was not the author of the letter. Abstract Number - 420