The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-01-30
COL. LUKE w. FINLAY
Died as he had Lived, Ready to
Answer Call of Master.

home early Sunday the soul of
Col. Luke w. Finlay, 76 years
old, one of the best known and
highly esteemed residents of
Memphis. In his death the sur
viving son, and other relatives,
the members of the Memphis
bar, and the hundreds who had
known the kindly impulses of his
honest heart, have suffered such
a loss as only arises with the
passing of one who has lived the
life that entities him to the de-
signation of a man" in the
highest sense of the word.
The end came at the home of
his son, Percy Finlay, 715 ST.
Paul Avenue, after an illness of
some weeks, from a complication
of diseases, originating from a
cold. He died as he had lived,
ready to bow to the will of his
Maker. Il am ready to go. |
have done what | thought was
right the best | COULD" was the
fitting farewell with which he
said gyodbye to the friends he
had loved, and to the world
which has been the better that
he has lived. He crossed to the
other side with a smile on his lips
that comes with the knowledge
one has fought a good fight, and
goes to his reward.
Col. Luke Finlay was born near
Brandon, Miss, Oct. s, 1881.
From the public schools Of that
place he went to Brandon college,
where he graduated in 1849, the
valedictorian of his class. His
education was completed at Yale
college, where he graduated with
honor in 1856. AS at Brandon
college, he was one of the most
popular members of his class.
Among his classmates were
Senator Depew and Justices
Brown and Brewer.
Col. Finlay came to Memphis
in 1857 and was admitted to the
bar in 1853. When the war broke
out he enlisted as a private in
Company A. Fourth Tennessee
infantry, known as the "Shelby
Grays,' and served throughout
the war. At it's close he had the
rank of lieutenant-colonel, earned
under fire. He was in such en-
gagements as Shiloh, Perryville,
Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and
Missionary Ridge. He was
wounded three times.
| When the war closed Col. Fin
lay resumed his law practice at
Memphis, and since 1894 has
been associated with his son,
Percy F'inlay. He was a mem
Der of the state legislature in
1874.
In April, 1863, he was marie d
to Miss Celia Carroll, a daughter
of former Mayor T. B. Carroll.
Mrs. Finlay has been dead sever
al years. Percy Finlay is the
only surviving son, and with him
Col Finlay has lived since his
wife's death.
| Col. Finlay was always an
active member of the Tennessee
Bar association. He was presi-
dent of the ACTORS Church al
lance in Memphis, having been
active in its formation. He was
always a loyal Yale man, and
made yearly pilgrimages to his
alma matter to renew &C
quaintances with old scenes.
Fitting resolutions will be
passed by the various organiza-
tons with which Col. Finlay was
id e n t fl I'd. Memphis N w S
Scimitar of Jan. II, 1903.
Col. Finlay was born on
what is now known as the Lew
Rhodes place 2 miles out and was
we'll known to our older citizens.
He was a splendid man and one
whose life was such that Rankin
county has always been glad to
claim him as one of the best
sons she had sent forth to make
some other country better for
having lived in it.
African Cotton Competition.