8. Josaphine Finch

Josaphine Finch Headstone

Headstone of Josaphine Finch in St. John's Cemetery, Pilot Point. The Epitaph reads, "I am treading on a wine chest by myself. Be easy children" from the book of Isaiah 65:3.

FINCH, JOSAPHINE PITTS (1860-1892): Josaphine Pitts Finch, was born in Chambers County, Alabama, between 1860 and 1862.  Her parents, names unknown, were  born in Alabama as well. By 1880 she was married to Gustavus (Gus) Finch (b. 1854), who worked on the local railroad.  They had two daughters, Cathie (b. 1877) and Mattie (b. 1879). Josaphine and Gus came to Texas in 1884 and settled in the Pilot Point area. There Gus rented land for his farm and the couple had two more children, Lizzie (b. 1887) and Dasie (b. 1889).  Josaphine died of unknown causes in early 1892 and Gus remarried in October of the same year to Mariah Combs (b. 1865).  Josaphine must have been a loving and concerned mother because she took measures to ensure her children knew that she had gone to a better place.  At the bottom of her tombstone is etched a words  from the book of Isaiah 65:3, "I am treading on a wine chest by myself.  Be easy children."  She may have also had a longterm illness as the verse refers to one fighting a long battle and emerging victorious. 

Citations: "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8P-NT78 : 21 July 2017), Gus Finch, 1884; Ancestry.com. Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; Year: 1880; Census Place: Huguleys Mill, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: 5; Page: 194B; Enumeration District: 026, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=6742&h=7108624&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Ejy1289&_phstart=successSource.