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James John Finlayson

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James John Finlayson

Birth
Scotland
Death
12 Aug 1890 (aged 69–70)
Philomath, Benton County, Oregon, USA
Burial
Albany, Linn County, Oregon, USA GPS-Latitude: 44.6319313, Longitude: -123.1183205
Memorial ID
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James J Finlayson emigrated to the US in 1841 with wife Ann and sons James and Colin. After time in Ohio, he and his family joined the Crawford Party in Indiana and headed west on the Oregon Trail. Through a Donation Land Claim, they settled in Clackamas County.

Later the Finlayson family moved to Linn County, where James farmed for many years. His farm was such a showplace it was featured in the book FARM AND RESIDENCES OF LINN COUNTY OREGON (1878). He and wife Ann had at least nine children. Several are buried at Riverside. After Ann's death, James married Jeannette (or Janet) Dalgleish.

Sadly, Dalgliesh was murdered by James's orphaned 15 year old grandson Charles Benson Finlayson, who lived with them. The event was covered nationally as "The Boy Murderer of Oregon."

Sometime after the conviction and jail cell suicide of his grandson, James sold his farm in Linn County and sent for an old friend in Scotland, Elizabeth Speedie. She came to Oregon with her brother, and she and James married. They lived first in Forest Grove, then settled in Philomath where James lived out his life.

According to his will, James and Elizabeth had a happy marriage. James's will also indicates that he was buried in Albany, based on receipts from undertaker, gravedigger, and hearse, but does not name the cemetery. So it is only conjecture that he is buried in the Finlayson family plot with wives Ann and Jeannette and his children by Ann in Riverside. A family letter written by daughter Kate Powell two years after his death, mentions with concern that James' widow Elizabeth has remarried without having seen to a grave marker for James. So it seems likely he was buried at Riverside with family and no marker was erected, but this is unproved.

James John Finlayson was a proud Oregon pioneer, who farmed until he died, but his life was marred by tragedy. At least three of his children were college educated, but only two children survived him. One son, James, vanished from the family. Another, Christopher, moved to Colorado. Only daughter Kate Powell and her son James Finlayson Powell remained in Oregon.

James J Finlayson emigrated to the US in 1841 with wife Ann and sons James and Colin. After time in Ohio, he and his family joined the Crawford Party in Indiana and headed west on the Oregon Trail. Through a Donation Land Claim, they settled in Clackamas County.

Later the Finlayson family moved to Linn County, where James farmed for many years. His farm was such a showplace it was featured in the book FARM AND RESIDENCES OF LINN COUNTY OREGON (1878). He and wife Ann had at least nine children. Several are buried at Riverside. After Ann's death, James married Jeannette (or Janet) Dalgleish.

Sadly, Dalgliesh was murdered by James's orphaned 15 year old grandson Charles Benson Finlayson, who lived with them. The event was covered nationally as "The Boy Murderer of Oregon."

Sometime after the conviction and jail cell suicide of his grandson, James sold his farm in Linn County and sent for an old friend in Scotland, Elizabeth Speedie. She came to Oregon with her brother, and she and James married. They lived first in Forest Grove, then settled in Philomath where James lived out his life.

According to his will, James and Elizabeth had a happy marriage. James's will also indicates that he was buried in Albany, based on receipts from undertaker, gravedigger, and hearse, but does not name the cemetery. So it is only conjecture that he is buried in the Finlayson family plot with wives Ann and Jeannette and his children by Ann in Riverside. A family letter written by daughter Kate Powell two years after his death, mentions with concern that James' widow Elizabeth has remarried without having seen to a grave marker for James. So it seems likely he was buried at Riverside with family and no marker was erected, but this is unproved.

James John Finlayson was a proud Oregon pioneer, who farmed until he died, but his life was marred by tragedy. At least three of his children were college educated, but only two children survived him. One son, James, vanished from the family. Another, Christopher, moved to Colorado. Only daughter Kate Powell and her son James Finlayson Powell remained in Oregon.



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