Gladys Ann Finley was married three times. She had three children with her first husband Edward Weisinger: Lucille A., Dolores, and Edward J.. Her final marriage to Elmer Moebius (Uncle Elmer) lasted over twenty-five years. Grandma Moebius predeceased Elmer. When we were kids every summer without fail, they made the 3+ hour trip upstate in the late 50s and 60s until Uncle Elmer's eye-sight got too bad for the drive.

James Brown is the father of Louise Brown; often referred to as Lucy Brown Finley in family records and pictures. James Brown was born in May of 1840 in Ireland. In 1845 he immigrated to the US with his Irish-born parents when he was five years old.

In 1900 he was living at 87 Madison Street, Brooklyn, New York, in a house he owned, free of any mortgage. At home, along with his wife Isabel, were five children: Isabel - Ella , Louise - Lucy , James Jr., Mabel, and Nellie and son-in-law Frank Finley. Frank and Lucy, married in 1897, had a son born later in that year, Frank Jr.. Frank Sr. was a compositor (typesetter). His parents were born in England. He was born in New York. Gladys Ann Finley was born in 1903 and another brother Fred, was born in 1904. All the Finley children were born in their grandfather's house. The elder Isabel, John Brown's wife and grandmother to Gladys, was born in Connecticut in 1849.

Grandfather James, a carpenter by trade, was 60 years old and Isabel was 51 in 1900. By the turn of the century Isabel had given birth to eleven children; five were still living.

She gave birth to daughter Isabel in October of 1870. Now, at 29, she was living at home but earned a living as a hatter (someone who makes and sells hats). She never married.

Son James was born in July of 1880. At 19 and living at home, he was employed as a butcher in a Brooklyn meat shop.

Daughters Mabel 15, (b: Aug 1884) and Nellie 13, (b: Dec 1886) attended school in 1900.

Gladys Ann Finley was the third-born child of Frank Finley and Louise Lucy Brown Finley born November 23, 1903 at 87 Madison Street, where they lived with Lucy's parents, James and Isabel Brown. Dr. E.M. Wadsworth of 60 Brooklyn Avenue assisted in the delivery. Lucy Brown Finley (b: 1875 in Brooklyn) was 28 years old when Gladys was born. Frank (b:1874 in Brooklyn) was 29.

Above left: Gladys, Uncle Frank, wife Aunt Rose, Grandma, Leonard, and my mother. Picture was taken Sept 6, 1949 in Bethpage.
Above center: My mother with her mother in Bethpage, September 1949. This is rare photo of the two women together.
Above right: My grandmother standing over stroller with grandson Leonard sitting up.

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(left to right:) Lucy Brown Finley with toddler Gladys Ann; Gladys Ann Finley with friend celebrating her First Holy Communion; Gladys' second husband George Peck ("...a very nice man," my mother said); and Elmer R. Moebius, relaxing in front of their home in Oceanside, New York.

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The elder Frank Finley, wife Lucy Brown Finley and sons Frank and Fred Finley.

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