Simpson County Obituaries

F

Mr. ELIJAH FARMER, one of Simpson County's best known farmers, died at the home of his nephew, ELIJAH FARMER, In the county, early yesterday morning of heart failure. Mr. Farmer was 82 years of age and had been a prominent citizen for many years. He was unmarried and several years ago, when his health began to fail, he sold all of his property and divided the estate among his nephews and nieces.

Franklin Favorite 3 Nov 1903; submitted by Michael Gann

Capt. Richard P. Finn died at his home in this place at eight o'clock last Tuesday evening. His death came after a lingering illness of paralysis and was not unexpected. Capt. Finn was 64 years old and was one of the best-known men in Simpson county. He had been prominent in affairs in this county since his early manhood and in every respect measured fully up to the requirements of the true man, The latter years of his life were given wholly over to educational work, a work for which his splendid mind and learning so eminently fitted him. At the time he was paralyzed he was at the head of a prosperous school at Clare, Allen County. He was a gallant soldier of the Southern Confederacy and no man, living or dead ever held the cause more sacred. The following brief biography of Capt. Finn is taken from the history of Kentucky and will be of interest to his many friends throughout this section: Capt. Richard P. Finn was born in Franklin, Simpson county, Ky., November 9, 1840, and is the youngest of nine children born to John and Frances W. (Bigger) Finn. He received a thorough English and classical education in early life, graduated with high honors from St. Joseph's College, of Bardstown, Ky., in 1861. He then commenced the study of law with Smith & Finn, of Franklin, Ky., but remained only a few months. In September, 1861, he enrolled as a private in Company I, Sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Confederate), at the organization of the company he was commissioned first lieutenant, and after the battle of Shiloh, at the reorganization of the company and regiment, at Corinth, he was promoted to captain, holding that rank until the close of the war, but for the last seven months of his service, viz.: after the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., he commanded the regiment. He participated In the battles of Jackson, Miss., Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta and many others. After his return from the army, he was employed as- a salesman in a grocery store at Franklin, and after a few months he bought an Interest In the store and continued the business for two years. He then engaged In the manufacture of brick at the same place, which he continued for another two years. The captain was superintendent of schools for two years, 1881 and 1882, and represented Simpson county in the lower house of the State Legislature from 1873 to 1875. He was first married, May 28, 1866, Bettie Evans, a native of what is now Simpson, formerly a part of Logan county, Ky., born May 3, 1846. She was a daughter of WALTER W. and SUSAN C. (HARRIS) EVANS. To this union was born one son, Walter W. Mrs. Bettie Finn departed this life May 1, 1869. Capt. Finn next married, September 5, 1874, SALLIE EVANS, a sister of his first wife, also a native of Simpson county, born March 24, 1854. One daughter blessed their union, BETTIE E. The Captain was a member of the Catholic Church. Capt. Finn leaves a wife and two children, Miss Bettie Finn, of this place, and Mr. WALTER W. FINN, of Seymour, Texas. The funeral will take place at the residence at ten o'clock this morning. The old soldiers will meet at the court-house at eight o'clock and go in a body to the home of their deceased comrade and friend, and will hold their usual touching ceremony over the remains. The interment will be in Green Lawn.

Franklin Favorite 16 March 1905; submitted by Michael Gann

submitted by Lisa Forshee Dowell