The Finch family was founded in the town of Broadalbin, Fulton county, by Rev. Jonathan Finch, a native of Saratoga county, a minister of the Baptist church. During the war of 1812 he accompanied the American army as chaplain and received a wound which crippled one of his hands. He came to Broadalbin in December, 1793, and there founded the first Baptist church in the town. He married, and among the children was a son.
(II) Joshua, son of Rev. Jonathan Finch, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in the town of Providence. He was a farmer and contractor, prominent in town affairs and a member of the Baptist church. He married Sarah Clement and had children. Samuel Rogers, of whom further; Lansing; Judson; Judson; Emily; Thomas; Charles.
(III) Samuel Rogers, son of Joshua and Sarah (Clement) Finch, was born in Providence, Saratoga county, New York, August 18, 1815, died in Broadalbin, Fulton county, May 13, 1895. He was a prosperous farmer, and after his active days were over, retired to Broadalbin, where his sons were living. He was a member of the Baptist church, and a Republican in politics. He married, February 15, 1842, Pamelia Shew, born May 11, 1821, died April, 1901. Children:
- Elizabeth A., born December 28, 1843; married, September 4, 1865, John W. Gardiner; children:
- Irwin;
- Roger, married Harriet Smith, and has a son, Allen;
- John, married Catherine Miller, and has a son, Wesley;
- Bessie, married Howard Coombs, and has Elizabeth, Howard and Roger;
- Miriam.
- William W., of whom further.
- Susan E., born September 26, 1848; married, December 23, 1874, Addison A. Gardiner, see forward; children:
- Fannie, born September 12, 1875, married, September 21, 1898, Daniel D. Nelson; children: Evelyn, Ruth and Donald;
- Harry, born January 25, 1877;
- John, born October 8, 1878, married, October 20, 1900, Miriam Burr;
- Nellie, born April 28, 1883;
- Paul, born August 14, 1887.
- Henry Clement, of whom further.
- Alice C., born April 26, 1862, in Northampton, Fulton county, New York; educated at Broadalbin high school and Cortland State Normal, since graduation has been engaged in teaching.
Addison A. Gardiner, who married Susan E. Finch, was son of Sylvester and Mary Ann (Perry) Gardiner. He was born October 10, 1844, in Athens, Greene county, New York, died May 7, 1909. He was educated in the public school, and worked with his father at brickmaking until he was seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in Company I, Ninety-third Regiment, New York Volunteers, and served for three years. He then re-enlisted. At the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, he was wounded in the left leg in such a manner that amputation was necessary. He returned to Athens where he was appointed postmaster and served for several years. Later he removed to Broadalbin where he opened a real estate and insurance office. He was also pension agent, justice of the peace and justice of sessions. He was editor of the Broadalbin Herald, and for ten years served as postmaster. He was a Republican in politics and represented his town in the Fulton county board of supervisors. He was a member of the board of education, and was connected with the different social and fraternal orders of the town, including the Grand Army of the Republic Post, which he helped to organize, and the local lodge of Red Men. He was an active and earnest member of the Baptist Church, which he served as deacon and trustee.
(IV) William W., eldest son of Samuel Rogers and Pamelia (Shew) Finch, was born in Old Saratoga, New York, April 2, 1846. He was educated in the public schools at Perth and Fish House. When but a lad of fifteen years he enlisted November 3, 1861, in Company D, Seventy-seventh Regiment, New York State Volunteers, Bemis Heights' Battalion, and served with that regiment for three years. He was honorably discharged and returned home and spent that winter in school. In April, 1865, he re-enlisted in the Eighth Regiment Veteran Volunteers, known as Hancock's Corps, from which he was honorably discharged in 1866. During his first enlistment his regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac and for three years his fortunes were those of that hard-fought, often-whipped, but finally victorious army. He participated in forty-three battles. On his sixteenth birthday he was under fire at Yorktown, Virginia. A few days after passing his seventeenth birthday he was wounded during the second battle of Fredericksburg, after he fell, severely injured, the Union forces retreated, pursued by the Confederates, both armies passing over him. The Union troops rallied, repulsed the rebels, drove them back and when his own regiment again reached him they discovered the lad bruised and wounded. He was taken from the field, sent to the hospital, and, recovering from his injuries, returned to his regiment. At the battle of the Wilderness he received his second wound; his third was received in conflict near Washington. During his second term of enlistment he was on garrison duty while the Union army was being mustered out and disbanded. During his first term of service he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and was discharged the second time, ranking as corporal.
After the war he came to Broadalbin, where he joined his father and remained at home five years engaged in farming. He next engaged in mercantile life, first as clerk, later as a member of the firm of W. W. Finch & Company, general merchants, continuing until 1883. In that year he took advantage of the homestead laws and, going west, took up a soldier's claim and returned to farming, continuing four years, after which he was engaged in mercantile business until 1895, when he sold out, and returned to his eastern home. He established in Broadalbin a coal and wood yard, where he also operates a steam mill, grinding flour, feed, etc. He has had an adventurous, prosperous life and still continues the active, energetic man of business. He is a member of Colonel McKean Post, No. 289, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is past commander. He is a deacon of the Baptist church of Broadalbin, and a member of the Masonic order. He is Republican in politics and served for two years as town clerk.
He married, November 4, 1871, Caroline E. Lee, born January 1, 1846, daughter of Thomas and Adeline (Guinad) Lee (see Lee I). Children:
- Nelson L., born January 12, 1873;
- Ada, January 22, 1876, died May 3, 1888;
- W. Wallace, December 4, 1877;
- Lewis, January 19, 1878, married, August 15, 1907, Elsie Kerser; children: Sayna and Gladys, born June 17, 1908;
- Bessie M., July 8, 1880;
- T. Rogers, February 10, 1888, died June 3, 1910.
(IV) Dr. Henry Clement, fourth child and second son of Samuel Rogers and Pamelia (Shew) Finch, was born in Broadalbin, Fulton county, New York, April 27, 1858. He was educated in the common and high schools of his town. Deciding upon the profession of medicine he began his studies with Dr. Barker, of Broadalbin, after which he entered Albany Medical College, where he was graduated M.D., class of 1882. He at once entered on the practice of his profession at Broadalbin, where his medical and surgical skill, combined with rare personal qualities, have endeared him to the people and gained him a most satisfactory practice. Dr. Finch has not only achieved professional success and reputation, but is one of Broadalbin's mast capable, successful business men. In 1884 he established a drug business in the town. In 1886 Richard Lee was admitted a partner under the firm name of Finch & Lee, and so continued until January 1, 1909, when they consolidated with Bradford & Dickinson as the Broadalbin Drug Company, with Mr. Bradford as president, Dr. Finch as vice-president, Mr. Lee, treasurer. He was one of the organizers of the Broadalbin Knitting Company, of which he is president and treasurer. He is secretary and treasurer of the Broadalbin Electric Light & Power Company, president of the Kurje-Nuck Hall Association, and is a member of the firm of W. W. Finch & Company. He is a Republican in politics, and served a term as coroner of Fulton county, New York. He is an ex-president of the Fulton County Medical Society, and is a member of the State Medical Society. He is a member and trustee of the Baptist church of Broadalbin. He married, September 1, 1881, Lottie A., born February 27, 1862, daughter of Dr. Barker, of Broadalbin. Children:
- Burton Roland, born September 20, 1882, died December 23, 1900.
- Grace May, August 19, 1884, a graduate of Gloversville high school and Vassar College, class of 1908, now a teacher in Broadalbin high school.
- Percy Henry, January 21, 1890, a graduate of the Broadalbin and Gloversville high schools, now a student of Union University (Albany Medical School), class of 1911.
- Cecil Clement, August 8, 1893, educated in Broadalbin high school, attended Colgate Academy two years, now a student in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, class of 1914.
- Millicent Marian, April 25, 1898.