Woolsey Finnell Response to the Reminiscences of John Little

Woolsey Finnell, son of Adoniram Judson and Narcissa Durrett Finnell, was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on October 24, 1866. He received his engineering degree from the University of Alabama in 1887. He married Margaret Hadler on October 21, 1890; the couple had at least seven children: (1) Edward; (2) Julia; (3) Newburn; (4) Susie; (5) Woolsey Jr.; (6) Mary; and (7) Harriet. He worked for the Kansas City Railroad before opening a construction engineering office in Tuscaloosa in 1894. He was a probate judge for Tuscaloosa County, the director of the Alabama State Highway Department (1927), and served with the U. S. Bureau of Prisons.

During World War I, Finnell served with the 501st Engineers in France, and was cited for meritorious service by General John Pershing. He was a charter member of the American Society of Military Engineers. He died on January 29, 1955.