William Finch

William S. Finch (October 1, 1832 - January 10, 1911) was a minister, tailor, and politician.

Biography

Finch was born October 1, 1832, enslaved in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia. When he was twelve he was taken into the home of Judge Garnett Andrews, the father of Eliza Frances Andrews where he was educated to read and write. He failed to get re-elected in 1871, 1872, and 1879 meaning that they were the last black people to be elected to any office in the city until 1953, over eighty three years later. He successfully lobbied for street improvements in both black and poor white neighborhoods. He died leaving an estate worth between $12,000 and $15,000 mostly from property with most of that being a plot of land on Edgewood avenue which he had purchased for less than $300.