James C. FINDLEY was the grandfather of Reba (RESSLER) GARNER. He has somewhat difficult to track due to the last name being spelled as FINDLEY and FINLEY. The constant spelling issues became a frustration, and I would put his file back in the file cabinet for "another day".
I wish that I had questioned Grandma more about her grandparents, but I failed to do so. Plus, James would have been dead several years when she was born. Whatever she may have known about him would have been told to her by other, older relatives.
I suspect his parents are Samuel and Sarah FINDLEY, but so far have nothing to confirm this for sure. I have found family trees on Ancestry that state Samuel and Sarah (GOOD) FINDLEY/FINLEY are his parents, but none of them have documentation. Um...it does make me wonder if I am on the right track though.
I have not found a Samuel FINDLEY on Find a Grave that is the right age or with the correct spouse in Pennsylvania. This despite trying various years and places within Pennsylvania. However, on Find a Grave, there is a Sarah (GOOD) FINDLEY buried in Glen Run Cemetery of Chester County, PA. She is listed as 77 years old. No spouse is connected to her memorial (#21720749). She might be a possibility to return to later.
So, what do I know about James?
Per the 1850 census, he was 14 and lived in the household of Samuel and Sarah FINLEY. He had siblings: Enos (16), Samuel (13), Mary (11), Lewis (9), and John (7). His father is listed as a farmer, so James would have grown up working hard helping with this. The census says they were in Sadsbury, Lancaster County, PA, which is in far southern Lancaster County.
He must have gotten married in 1859 or 1860, since Andrew Edwin FINDLEY was born in 1860. Per the 1860 census of Colerain Township, James FINDLEY is listed as a farmhand and age 25. Martha is 24.
In 1863, James was drafted into the 9th Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary.
Per Wikipedia, the campaigns for this regiment included: Battle of Richmond, Battle of Perryville, Chickamauga, Sherman's March to the Sea, and various campaigns in the Carolinas.
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| Source: Ancestry (James is the first line) |
I found this photo on Wikipedia of a reunion for this regiment in 1893 at the same link as above. I have no idea what James FINDLEY looked like so cannot possibly identify him in the photo, if he is there.
The 1870 census lists James FINDLEY as age 40 with Martha his wife as 37. They have children: Edwin (Andrew) age 10, Mary age 8, Sarah age 6, Wilkes age 4, and Ann age 1. The family lives in Strasburg Township. James is a farmer with $1300 value in real estate, and $400 in household goods.
In 1880, James FINDLEY and family are living in Eden, Lancaster County, Penn. The household consists of: James (head), Martha (wife), Andrew (20), Mary (18), Sarah (16), James (14), Martha (12), Clarressa (10), Margaret (8), Susan (6), and Emma (3).
Notice there is no "Wilkes" but there is a James the right age. I think Ann in 1870 and Martha in 1880 are the same child.
The 1890 census does not exist for this area that I am aware of.
His life tragically ended on 02 August1899 in an accident. According to the obit, he was hauling wood in a wagon down a steep hill, fell out of the wagon, and the wagon ran over his head killing him instantly. It lists the children noting that there were still three at home. It also lists his siblings: Samuel FINDLEY of Parkesburg, Martin FINDLEY of Mechanicsburg, John FINDLEY of Christiana, and Enos FINDLEY of Quarryville.
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| Source: Intelligencer Journal Newspaper, Lancaster, PA (Page 1) 3 August 1899 |
Find a Grave has this photo of his tombstone in Greenwood Cemetery. His memorial is #104526541.
