James Edward Finley was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, on August 6, 1850. After living in Watauga County for a time, Finley moved to North Wilkesboro when the town was chartered in 1891. That same year Finley founded the Bank of North Wilkesboro. He served as the bank’s president for thirty-one years, during which time he was instrumental in North Wilkesboro’s early growth and development. He died in Statesville (Iredell County) on October 31, 1923.