Big Bend Genealogical Society

Dennis Finn was born in 1840 in Ireland and died December 21, 1920 in El Paso, Texas. At the time of his death, his obituary stated that he had no immediate family in the United States. He was buried in the United Daughters of the Confederacy plot at Evergreen Cemetery. There is no record of his wife or any children. Finn arrived in Texas in 1858. He was known to be living in Presidio County from 1883 to 1886. He sold his property in the County in 1886, and those documents stated that he was a single man.

Aged Pioneer Passes Away At His son's Ranch in Jeff Davis County

As we were going to press the news came to Marfa that D. T. Finley this morning atl o'clock died out at his son's home on the Otie Finley Ranch, about twenty miles from Marfa. Two weeks ago Dr. Finley came in from Roswell, N.M., where he was living with one of his sons, coming to be present at the annual Skillman Grove meeting, where many old-timers were in the habit of renewing acquaintances.

In 1886 Dr. Finley moved from Eastern Texas to Jeff Davis Count6y and a few years ago went to Roswell. He was a member of the Ft Davis Blue Lodge and also of the Marfa Chapter. A wide circle of relatives and friends will be grieved when they learn of this good man's departure. Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. he will be buried in the Marfa Cemetery with Masonic honors.

Mrs. Mary Jane Jones Finley, 92, pioneer resident of the Big Bend, and well known and beloved among residents of this section of the country, died in Pecos, Texas December 27. Funeral services were held at the First Christian Church in Pecos Monday morning December 28 at nine o'clock, conducted by Rev. J. R. Wright of the First Christian Church of Marfa, assisted by Rev. Byrd of the Presbyterian Church of Pecos.

Interment was in the Marfa Cemetery in this city, where she was laid to rest beside her husband who preceded her in death, the committal service being read by Dr. R. L. Irving of Fort Davis.

Mary Janes Jones was b orn in Kentucky January 13, 1844. She was married to Dr. D. T. Finley on August 10, 1865, and to this union six children were born. The Finleys moved to Texas in 1870 , later moving to the H-O Canyon in the Davis Mountains in 1885, where they settled. Mrs. Finley was a charter member of the Bloys Camp Meeting and since it's inception, took an active interest in the affair, being a faithful supporter and attendant at the annual meetings. She took an active part in the social and religious development of this section of the country, and was ever at the call of any worth-while project. Her husband Dr. Finley, died in 1911, and was buried at Marfa.

Mrs. Finley is survived by six children: C. O. Finley of Pecos; M. U. Finley of Carrioza, N.M.; J. B. Finley of San Juan; O. Z. Finley of Del Rio; Don Finley, of Kermit; and Mrs. Scott Beal of Santa Fe, N. M. There are eighteen grandchildrenl living, one of whom, Merritt Finley of Marfa, she reared from the age of five at which time his mother died. 21 great grandchildren, and one gre-great grandchild.

Born in Marshall, Texas in 1884, came to Alpine in 1905 to manage the 02 Ranch south of Alpine. In 1913 he married Miss Lois Fisher and two children were born to this union. In the mid-1920's Mr. Fletcher moved to Alpine to be employed by the State National Bank. In 1931, he became Vice-President of that institution.

Mr. Fletcher was a charter member of the Alpine Rotary Club and one of the founders of the West Texas Historical and Scientific Society and contributed articles for the Society's bulletins. He was also active in the Chamber of Commerce and in several fraternal organizations. Mr. Fletcher died in 1955.

Born in 1883 at Carthage, Texas came to Brewster County in 1905 and was employed in the mercury mines near Terlingua. Later he moved to Alpine as an employee of the Mitchell-Gillett store. In 1928 he became County and District Clerk of Brewster County.

Mr. Frazer was active in civic, religious, political, and fraternal organizations, including the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the First Methodist Church, and the Brewster County Democratic Committee. He also was an officer in the Alpine Masonic Lodge. He died in 1962.

The death last Friday afternoon of E. T. Fuller at his home on South Fifth street marked the passing of one of Alpine's pioneer and respected citizens. Mr. Fuller, who was 86 years of age, had been very feeble for the past few years and had been confined to his bed for some time prior to his death. Heart failure was given as the cause of his death by the family physician.

Mr. Fuller was born in Atasosa County, this state in 1843, living there until he reached manhood. In 1863 he married Miss Sophia B. Smith Beeville and lived there until 1884 when the family moved to Uvalde, coming to Alpine in 1897. There were eleven children in the family, seven of whom are still living as follows: Mrs. W. S. Blevins, Mrs. Mary Garnett, Mrs. Pearl Pulham, Bud Fuller, Verge Fuller and Mrs. W. N. Gourley all of Alpine and Tryon Fuller of Uvalde. Mr Fuller's wife died in 1911.

Mr. Fuller was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in Company K, Carter's Regiment, March 15, 1862, and remained in the Confederate Army until the close of the War. His death marks the passing in this immediate section within the last two weeks of three veterans of the Civil War, all of whom fought for the Confederacy, the other two being V. M. Ward and Ethan Allen both of Ft Davis.