Diary
1885 · [Romney, West Virginia]
by Finley, George W.
[Romney, West Virginia]: The Standard Diary Trade 1884, 1885. Published for the Trade. Diary. Good. 1884 and 1885 Manuscript Diary. Approx. 6" x 3.25". Black leather folding diary with pocket and pen holder. Leather is lightly worn on the outside. Some small tears and chips to the underside of the folding flap. Paper lined pocket is partially split and torn. George W. Finley's name boldly written on the right front flyleaf. Finley used the same journal for both 1884 and 1885 years. Entries for 1885 are most often divided by a drawn line with the number 85 written next to the entry. Diary consists of [32] printed pages in color with typical almanac information, [366] lined pages (all pages used) for each day of the year, [3] lined pages of memoranda, [39] pages of cash accounts, bills payable, and address pages. All 4 end sheets used for writing. A few of the "Bills Payable" pages are unused. Ledger pages at the end of the diary were used to record financial records for his church. Inside the pocket is a printed, numbered card from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad "Order for Clerical Ticket" with Finley's written name and address. George Williamson Finley (1838-1909) joined the Confederate Army in May of 1861. He was an officer in the 56th Virginia Infantry. He was one of the few men to breach the stone wall beside General Lewis Armistead at Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. Finley was beside Armistead when the General lost consciousness on the battlefield. He was taken prisoner, spending the next two years in Union prisons. Finley is listed as one of the "Immortal 600" Confederate prisoners from West Virginia.
From wikipedia: The Immortal Six Hundred were 600 Confederate officers who were held prisoner by the Union Army in 1864–65.[1] In the summer of 1863, the Confederacy passed a resolution stating all captured African-American soldiers and the officers of colored troops would not be returned. The resolution also allowed for any captured officer of colored troops to be executed and any captured African-American soldier be sold into slavery. The resolution caused a breakdown in the exchange of captured soldiers as the Union demanded all soldiers be treated equally. The Immortal Six Hundred were one group of officers who could not be exchanged.
Born in Yanceyville, North Carolina he moved to Clarksville, Virginia at an early age. He attended Hampden-Sydney College but graduated from Washington College (later Washington Lee) in 1856. During his time in prison he decided to become a minister and entered the Union Theological Seminary in 1866. He served as a Pastor in Romney from 1870-1892. After his time in Romney he was appointed evangelist for the Abingdon, Virginia Presbytery and then pastored at Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, Fisherville, VA from 1903 until his death.
Diary entries are usually a brief summary of the day's events. Recorded happenings include riding to a parishioner's house to baptize a baby; performing marriages; breeding a cow; fishing; planting potatoes; and much more. He references revivals and special meetings at his church in early 1884:
"All agree that this meeting must go on prayer meeting to preaching. For several nights I have invited after preaching, all who desired God's blessing in themselves or others to come into the lecture room. Almost the whole congregation comes--a Solemn service."
Finley remembers his wedding anniversary on May 4th writing "Cumberland, MD....This is the 25th Anniversary of My Marriage. How great the Lord has been to spare my dear wife so long." Finley's wife had 14 children of which 9 survived his death. He mentions part of the family in the entry for September 4th, 1884 - "John & Willie started for Mossy Creek, Jno to teach & Willie to go to school. god bless the dear boys."
George Finley also references his past while serving in the Confederate Army. The May 29, 1885 entry reads - "Moorefield before 3pm Address to Ladies Memorial Association to aid them in purchasing Headstone for the Confederate dead buried in the Cemetery at M." [AND] August 22, 1884 entry states "Reunion of Ex. Confederates at Pancakes Sulpher Spring. Large attendance --pleasant day..." [AGAIN] June 6, 1885 "Came home to attend the Exercises of Memorial Day. The largest crowd I ever saw in Romney...12 or 1500 people..."
Finley traveled much on newly built railroads. The August 20, 1884 entry states "Started with Willie for Thomas on W.VA Central & Pittsburgh R.R...." two days later he writes, "Walked with Willie over the mouth of Beaver Creek on Blackwater--the proposed site of Davis the present terminus W.Va.C. & P.R.R. Boarded at Robt. Eastham's the only home except for a few laborer's huts. Later, on August 24th, he records; "At Eastham's to preach forbidden by the Dr. because my throat. How I long to quicken those Railroad hands & preach to them. No Sabbath for these poor people on the wilderness." Later, on September 1, 1884 he writes "Cora, Jno. & Lul Eggleston left 1st train over So. Branch Railway..." That particular date the South Branch Railroad Company completed its first section from its connection with the B&O RR at Green Spring, WV to Romney WV. George Finley also took several trips to Richmond while he served on the Board of Trustees at the Hampden-Sydney College. (Inventory #: 27632)
From wikipedia: The Immortal Six Hundred were 600 Confederate officers who were held prisoner by the Union Army in 1864–65.[1] In the summer of 1863, the Confederacy passed a resolution stating all captured African-American soldiers and the officers of colored troops would not be returned. The resolution also allowed for any captured officer of colored troops to be executed and any captured African-American soldier be sold into slavery. The resolution caused a breakdown in the exchange of captured soldiers as the Union demanded all soldiers be treated equally. The Immortal Six Hundred were one group of officers who could not be exchanged.
Born in Yanceyville, North Carolina he moved to Clarksville, Virginia at an early age. He attended Hampden-Sydney College but graduated from Washington College (later Washington Lee) in 1856. During his time in prison he decided to become a minister and entered the Union Theological Seminary in 1866. He served as a Pastor in Romney from 1870-1892. After his time in Romney he was appointed evangelist for the Abingdon, Virginia Presbytery and then pastored at Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, Fisherville, VA from 1903 until his death.
Diary entries are usually a brief summary of the day's events. Recorded happenings include riding to a parishioner's house to baptize a baby; performing marriages; breeding a cow; fishing; planting potatoes; and much more. He references revivals and special meetings at his church in early 1884:
"All agree that this meeting must go on prayer meeting to preaching. For several nights I have invited after preaching, all who desired God's blessing in themselves or others to come into the lecture room. Almost the whole congregation comes--a Solemn service."
Finley remembers his wedding anniversary on May 4th writing "Cumberland, MD....This is the 25th Anniversary of My Marriage. How great the Lord has been to spare my dear wife so long." Finley's wife had 14 children of which 9 survived his death. He mentions part of the family in the entry for September 4th, 1884 - "John & Willie started for Mossy Creek, Jno to teach & Willie to go to school. god bless the dear boys."
George Finley also references his past while serving in the Confederate Army. The May 29, 1885 entry reads - "Moorefield before 3pm Address to Ladies Memorial Association to aid them in purchasing Headstone for the Confederate dead buried in the Cemetery at M." [AND] August 22, 1884 entry states "Reunion of Ex. Confederates at Pancakes Sulpher Spring. Large attendance --pleasant day..." [AGAIN] June 6, 1885 "Came home to attend the Exercises of Memorial Day. The largest crowd I ever saw in Romney...12 or 1500 people..."
Finley traveled much on newly built railroads. The August 20, 1884 entry states "Started with Willie for Thomas on W.VA Central & Pittsburgh R.R...." two days later he writes, "Walked with Willie over the mouth of Beaver Creek on Blackwater--the proposed site of Davis the present terminus W.Va.C. & P.R.R. Boarded at Robt. Eastham's the only home except for a few laborer's huts. Later, on August 24th, he records; "At Eastham's to preach forbidden by the Dr. because my throat. How I long to quicken those Railroad hands & preach to them. No Sabbath for these poor people on the wilderness." Later, on September 1, 1884 he writes "Cora, Jno. & Lul Eggleston left 1st train over So. Branch Railway..." That particular date the South Branch Railroad Company completed its first section from its connection with the B&O RR at Green Spring, WV to Romney WV. George Finley also took several trips to Richmond while he served on the Board of Trustees at the Hampden-Sydney College. (Inventory #: 27632)
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