The Fincher family lived in Front Hollow on Bays Mountain. The patriarch of the family was John D. Fincher. Their 1800s house foundation was rediscovered by park historians in 2024.

John was very tall, even as a young boy. In 1862, Confederate recruiters came through the area looking for fresh soldiers. They took John to Chattanooga to sign him up. But when he got there a Colonel pulled him aside and asked his age. After John told him he was 14 years old, the Colonel asked if John could find his way back home because Chattanooga was going to be in a battle soon.

Apparently that 14 year old John Fincher made it all the way back home to Bays Mountain, where he eventually started a pivotal family in the area.

John’s first wife was Miriam Arnold. He later married Maggie Perry.

John and Miriam had several children including Samuel, Noah, Lilly Mae, and Josephine.

Noah Fincher married Mary Harbour (sister of Odell Harbour Depew). They lived in Front Hollow, one house west of the Ledbetter home. Years later John Quillen described the house that Noah built, which John later bought and lived in with his wife Ollie:

Noah’s “big basement” was found in 2023 by park historians.

Sam Fincher married Martha Gilbert and they also lived in Front Hollow, just 2 houses west of Noah. The story goes that Martha lived her entire life (69 years) without ever coming down from Bays Mountain. They had 3 daughters (Pearlie, Hattie, Grace) and a son Herman.

Lilly Mae Fincher married William E. Ledbetter. They lived near the east end of Front Hollow, which is now called Ledbetter Gap.

Josephine Fincher married Hugh Hamblen/Hamblin on Dec. 16, 1900 on a large rock in the Fincher’s yard. Josephine was a preacher and Hugh was a blacksmith, farmer, and more. Their grandson Doug Hamblen told us that Josephine couldn’t read or write when they married… but Hugh decided to teach her. Then she took the callin’ to be a preacher and things took off from there. “Sister Josie” became a big hit and would sometimes be gone for a few days on a revival. That made things difficult for Hugh, watching over their several children while he worked and managed their farm. Doug said that the neighbors could tell whenever Josie was going on a revival, because their kids could be seen walking down the road with knapsacks, headed out to stay with their neighbors!