Martha Finley (1828–1909) was a notable 19th-century American author, best remembered for her Elsie Dinsmore series, which was a mainstay in children's literature for over half a century. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio, Finley was primarily educated at home and would go on to pen nearly 100 books. Her writing, deeply rooted in Presbyterian beliefs, often depicted the Christian moral ethos of her time, ...