Elsie Wild

Martha Finley, who also wrote under the pen name Martha Farquharson, was an American educator and prolific writer for children. Born in Ohio in 1828, she came from a family with a notable lineage, including a Presbyterian minister father and ancestors with Scotch-Irish heritage. Finley's literary career began in the 1850s, initially with anonymous contributions to Sunday school publications. Her success led to the adoption of her pen name due to family objections to her publishing under her own name.

Finley is most celebrated for her extensive "Elsie Dinsmore" series, which spanned 28 volumes published over nearly four decades. Her writing is characterized by its sentimental tone and a strong emphasis on religious faith. Beyond the "Elsie" books, she also authored the "Mildred Keith" series and several standalone novels and juvenile works. Finley resided in Elkton, Maryland, where she was notably a member of the local fire company, a unique distinction for a woman at the time. She passed away in 1909.

Martha Finley was born on April 26, 1828, in Chillicothe, Ohio. Her father, Dr. James B. Finley, was the son of General Samuel Finley, a Revolutionary War officer, and Mary Brown. The Finley and Brown families were of Scotch-Irish descent, with the Finley clan name originating from Farquharson. Finley's maternal lineage traced back to Thomas Butler, a descendant of the Duke of Ormond. The family had a history of military service, with several great-uncles named Butler serving in the Revolutionary War, and one, Dr. Samuel Finley, having been an early president of Princeton College. Both of Finley's grandfathers were reportedly wealthy, with her paternal grandfather having received land grants for his service and laying out the town of Newville, Pennsylvania, before relocating to Ohio.

Finley commenced her writing career in 1853, beginning with a newspaper story and a small book published by the Baptist Board of Publication. She frequently contributed short stories to the children's sections of Sunday-school papers. Initially publishing anonymously, her growing popularity prompted her publishers to request her name be attached to her works. As her family had reservations about her publishing under her own name, she adopted the pen name "Martha Farquharson." Her most significant contribution to literature is the "Elsie Dinsmore" series, comprising 28 volumes that explored the life of its titular character over many years, emphasizing religious devotion and moral lessons. She also wrote the "Mildred Keith" series and several novels for adults, though her fame primarily rests on her juvenile fiction.

Martha Finley lived in Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland, in a cottage she had constructed. In a notable instance of civic engagement, she became a member of the Singerly Fire Company on March 3, 1892, receiving stock certificate 33 which granted her full membership privileges. This made her the sole woman listed on the Elkton fire department's rolls until the mid-1970s. While her direct participation in firefighting activities is not detailed, it is suggested that she likely contributed financially to the organization, reflecting her civic-minded nature. Finley passed away in 1909 in Elkton, Maryland.