Kentucky. Adjutant-General's Office

General John W. Finnell was born in Winchester, Kentucky, on December 24, 1821. He graduated from Transylvania University at the age of seventeen and studied the art of printing with his father. He later studied law with Richard H. Menefee and graduated from Transylvania law school in 1841. Finnell was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1843 and served as secretary of state under Gov. John J. Crittenden in 1848. Among other offices, Finnell held the position of Kentucky's adjutant general from 1861-1863. He later became editor of Louisville's Daily Commercial newspaper. Finnell died in 1888.

Adjutant Generals during this period include Percival Pierce Butler (1793-1817), Oliver Garnett Waggener (1817-1828), Preston S. Loughborough (1828-1829), and Peter Dudley (1829-1851).

Historical note: The following men served as adjutant general of Kentucky from 1863 through 1886: John William Finnell (1861-1863), John Boyle (1863-1864), D. W. Lindsey (1864-1867), Frank Lane Wolford (1867-1870), J. Stoddard Johnston (1870-1871), James A. Dawson (1873-1875), J. M. Wright (1875-1879), Joseph Preyer Nuckols (1879-1883), and John Breckinridge Castleman (1883-1887). During this period the adjutant general commanded the Kentucky State Guard.