John Finley

My great grandmother Grace stated that her great grandfather on her mother's side was John Finley, the friend of Daniel Boone's that introduced him to the "Great Warrior's Path" along the Ohio river (the original trail through the Cumberland gap and Boonesborough, KY). John Findley is mentioned in all Daniel Boone stories. On May 1, 1769, Boone, Finley, and four other men, started out. They passed Cumberland Gap and on the 7th of June, they set up camp at Station Camp creek. John's friendship with Daniel can be traced back to 1755. John served with Boone as a teamster under General Edward Braddock in 1775, fighting for the British against the Shawnee and French. Grandmother Grace also stated that the Findleys were one of the five families that moved to Missouri and settled there with the Boone's in 1799. Rebecca Findley married Luke Martin and lived on the family homestead purchased from the army in 1800. Rebecca (Finley) Martin died giving birth to Alma and had a sister who raised the children. Sister (Finley) Wilkerson and her family lived on the homestead with the Martins.