Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 139. ANDERSON FINLEY commissioner No. 2, in charge of streets, sewers, lights and highways, of Baker, Oregon, residing at No. 2968 Campbell street, has made his home in this city since 1895. He was born in Santa Clara, California, on the 13th of April, 1859, his parents being William M. and Mary Ellen (Morgan) Finley. The family comes of a race of pioneers and John Finley, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was the bosom friend of Daniel Boone, the Kentucky pioneer. The grandfather was born in the Blue Grass state and married Miss Nancy Evans in Mercer county, Illinois, in 1832. She was born in Ohio in 1811 and died at Finley Lake, California, in August, 1884. William M. Finley, the father of Anderson Finley, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, January 10, 1833, and with his mother and two brothers, J. M. and Samuel, crossed the plains from Mercer county, Illinois, with ox teams, to California in 1852, locating in the San Jose valley. On the 4th of April, 1858, in San Jose, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Morgan, who was born at Laporte, Indiana, July 14, 1842. Her mother who in her maidenhood was a Miss Dusenberry died during the early childhood of Mrs. Finley and later her father went to Texas in the early '40's, from which place he went to Contra Costa, California, in 1855, where his death occurred in 1876. He was again married after his arrival in that state and almost all of the children and grandchildren of the second union now reside at Berkeley, Alameda and Martinex, California. In the early ' 60's William M. Finley and his family were residing in San Luis Obispo county, California, and then located on a ranch a mile and a half south of Antioch in 1869. In 1873 they removed to Tehama county, California, and settled at what is now called Finley Lake, twenty-five miles east of Red Bluff. There they remained until 1884, when they removed to Camas Prairie, Umatilla county, Oregon, and in Pendleton, on the 18th of September, 1885, the father passed away, his remains being interred in a cemetery at that place. The mother's death occurred three years later on the 26th of July, 1888, at Camas Prairie, and there she was buried. Beside Anderson Finley, of this review, there are two sons and two daughters of this marriage who yet survive, namely: Eliza J., the wife of J. A. McClure; Everett, who is married and resides at Red Bluff, California; Vina A., who is the wife of Leo L. Joiner, of Ukiah, California; and William, single, residing in Red Bluff, that state. The deceased members of the family consist of a son and daughter who passed away at Red Bluff when quite young. The youth of Anderson Finley was spent in California and he secured a common-school education in Tehama county, that state. While still quite young he learned telegraphy and soon secured a position as operator and switchman in connection with the flume of the Sierra Lumber Company in Tehama county, California, a position which he held for nine years. After coming to Oregon in 1886 he took up the business of stock-raising and ranching in Umatilla county, which he followed for six years. In 1892 he went into the mining districts of Grant and Baker counties and with varying fortunes followed the career of a miner until 1902. In that year he made a trip to Alaska and on returning entered the employ of the city of Baker, occupying various positions. Mr. Finley was married at Red Bluff, California, on the 25th of July, 1889, to Miss Rosa A., the only daughter of J. P. and J. E. Sherman, who were both natives of Sag Harbor, New York. The mother was a daughter of J. K. Field, a descendant of a family which numbered several Arctic whalers among its members. Mr. Sherman, the father, was the eldest son of Luther Sherman, a contractor and builder of Sag Harbor, New York, and it was in that city that he was married and the daughter, Rosa A. Sherman, was born, her natal day being August 22, 1869. They removed to Red Bluff, California, in 1882, and in July, 1895, came to Baker, Oregon, where the father died on the 20th of June, 1910. His wife and two sons, Clarence and G. H., as well as the daughter, Mrs. Finley, are all residents of this city. Unto the marriage of Anderson Finley and Rosa A. Sherman have been born two sons, Horace Ray and Alfred Leo. The elder was born in Camas Prairie, Umatilla county, on the 9th of June, 1890, and was graduated from the Baker high school with the class of 1911. The younger, who was born at Granite, Grant county, on the 28th of November, 1893, is a senior in high school. Mr. Finley is a member of no church although he is a frequent attendant at services and a firm believer in the work which is being done by the various denominations. His club connection is with the Commercial Club while fraternally he is identified with Camp No. 5326, M. W. A., of this city. He also belongs to Baker Lodge, No. 25, I.O.O.F., was noble grand of this lodge in 1905 and is a member of the grand lodge of Oregon, having twice represented his local lodge in that body, and also served as district deputy grand master in this district for the year 1910. He has never been deeply interested in politics but in the main votes the republican ticket. He has frequently been called to public office, however, and when only twenty-one years of age was elected constable of Finley precinct, Tehama county, California, and held that office one year. In January, 1907, he was appointed street superintendent of Baker, by Mayor C. A. Johns, and served in that capacity for two years. When the system of government of Baker was changed from aldermanic to commission plan Mr. Finley was chosen as one of its commissioners in November, 1910, and since that time has served in connection with the conduct of affairs of department No. 2, his present position being that of street commissioner. Mr. Finley who is still in the prime of life and who has for so long a time been connected with business affairs on the Pacific coast and more recently with the municipal affairs of Baker, is a man universally respected in the community of which he is a prominent member. Although not an ardent politician still he has oft-times been the incumbent of places of public honor and trust -- such a position, in fact, he is now filling. He has a wide acquaintance in Baker and in all circles is recognized as one of the most representative citizens of the community. He has exhibited to a marked degree those traits so essential to the public official -- honesty, fidelity, general ability and good fellowship. Transcriber's additional notes: Census 1860, July 14; Santa Clara Co, CA; Alviso Twp, Milpitas PO, p 400 Wm. Findley, 25, IL, farmer Ellen, 16, IN Anderson, 1, CA 1870, July 18; Contra Costa Co, CA; Twp 3, Martinez PO, p 413 William Finley, 38, OH, farmer Ellen, 28, IN Anderson, 11, CA, att. school Eliza, 9, CA, att. school Eva, 4, CA Florence, 3, CA 1880, June 16; Tehama Co, CA; Sierra, p 540 William Finley, 47, IL, IL, OH, cattle raiser Ellen, wife, 37, IN, NC, WI, keeping house Anderson, son, 21, single, CA, IL, IN, telegraph operator Eliza J, dau, 19, CA, IL, IN, att. school Everett, son, 14, CA, IL, IN, att. school William, son, 7, CA, IL, IN Vina, dau, 2, CA, IL, IN Mary C. Burress, boarder, 24, MO, TN, IL, single, teaching school Haze A. Bryant, boarder, 50, VA, VA, VA, single, farm laborer 1900, June 21; Baker Co, OR; Baker city Wd 4, p 23 Anderson Finley, 41, Apr 1859, CA, CA, CA, mar 11 yrs, placer miner, owns home free Rose, wife, 30, Aug 1869, NY, NY, NY, mar 11 yrs, 2 children-2 living Horace R, son, 9, June 1890, OR, CA, NY, att. school Alfred L, son, 6, Oct 1893, OR, CA, NY, att. school William, brother, 26, Oct 1873, CA, CA, CA, placer miner 1910, April 23; Baker Co, OR; Baker city Wd 4, p 69 Anderson Finley, 51, CA, MO, CA, mar 20 yrs, engineer Rosa A, wife, 40, NY, NY, NY, mar 20 yrs, carpet weaver Horrace R, son, 19, OR, CA, NY, att. school Alfred L, son, 16, OR, CA, NY, att. school ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.