William Finch (politician)

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William S. Finch (October 1, 1832 - January 10, 1911) was an African-American tailor, minister, and politician who served as one of the first Black members of the Atlanta City Council. He was born enslaved in Georgia, but would go on to undertake multiple professions following emancipation. He is known for his political career, representing Atlanta’s fourth ward from 1870-1871, where he championed expanded rights particularly in education and infrastructure for Black students, teachers, and workers. [1]

Contents

Early life

Judge Garnett Andrews - Finch's owner from 1844 to 1865 Judge Garnett Andrews 1827.jpg
Judge Garnett Andrews - Finch's owner from 1844 to 1865

William S. Finch was born on October 1, 1832 in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia. Due to lack of records, not much is known about his early life and childhood, nor who his parents were. Once he turned 12 however, he was taken into the home (though not sold) of Judge Garnett Andrews, father of the later Gilded Age writer Eliza Andrews. Here, Finch was apprenticed as a tailor and was also taught how to read and write, something very uncommon for enslaved persons in the Antebellum period. [2] [3]

After living with Judge Andrews for four years, Finch was purchased by then Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Joseph H. Lumpkin. [2] Lumpkin had more moderate views on slavery, allowing Finch to continue learning to read and write while enslaved. During this time Finch also worked as a tailor, which he had become skilled at. Despite his enslavement, Finch would partially attribute his success later in life to Lumpkin. [2]

In 1854, during his time living with Lumpkin, Finch would meet and marry his first wife, Laura Wright. [1] By the time the Civil War broke out in 1861, they had moved back to Judge Andrew’s home, where they would have six children by the war’s end. Finch was often forced to help Confederate soldiers during the war, as well as protect Andrew’s property. Despite receiving better treatment when compared to other enslaved persons, Finch was still vehemently opposed to slavery as an institution. Following the end of the war and Finch’s emancipation, he showed his gratitude to the soldiers of the 144th New York Regiment by presenting them with an American flag he made. [4]

Post-enslavement

In 1866, Finch and his family moved to Augusta, Georgia. While living here, Finch opened a school for Black children as well as his own tailor shop. He also notably took part in the 1866 Freedmen’s Convention in Georgia, a meeting of former enslaved persons and free Blacks that discussed post-emancipation issues such as Black Codes and voting rights, as well as other general civil rights. However, due to insufficient income, he and his family would move to Atlanta, Georgia in 1868. [1]

In Atlanta, Finch would have his first significant achievement through opening a new tailor shop on Whitehall Street, a busy road in the city. He earned $6,000 from the shop, something very impressive and uncommon amongst formerly-enslaved persons in the south. Finch was able to obtain a more lavish lifestyle from this venture, buying a horse, buggy, and an expensive home with the income. [5]

Finch had been heavily involved in religion around this time, having originally become an active church member while still enslaved. He became an ordained minister for the African Methodist Episcopal Church by 1876 and would eventually reach the title of “elder.” However, due to being charged with having led a "vicious life” (due to conflicts with other ministers of the church), he was removed from the Church sometime during the 1880s. [4]

Political career

After experiencing success in his tailoring business, Finch ran for the Atlanta City Council in 1870. [1] Along with George Graham, the two became the first Black people to be elected to the Atlanta City Council, and would be the last until 1953. [3] Finch represented the Fourth Ward of Atlanta, a predominantly Black neighborhood.

While on the Atlanta City Council, Finch focused primarily on fighting for equality within the education system. [3] He sought to tackle barriers that hindered minorities from receiving a proper education by vouching for the employment of Black teachers and the establishment of desegregated public schooling. He also found success in lobbying for street improvements in poor neighborhoods around the city, including both Black and white ones.

After serving on the city council for one term, Finch lost his reelection bid in 1871 and would lose two more times after running in 1872 and 1879. [6] He later attempted to run for the state legislature in 1884, but lost. Following this defeat, Finch ended his political career after losing momentum amongst voters and not being able to make it on the ballot.

Later life and death

Despite his unsuccessful bids for city and state legislature, Finch would continue to advocate for better educational opportunities in the city of Atlanta. He went back to working as a tailor some time in the mid-1880’s. On Tuesday, January 10, 1911, William Finch died in Atlanta, Georgia. [7] He left behind an estate valued at upwards of $15,000, most of which came from property investments in and around the city of Atlanta. [8] [9]

Legacy

William S. Finch's legacy is highlighted by his status as one of the first African Americans elected to the Atlanta City Council during the Reconstruction era, where he notably advocated for educational equity and civil rights at a time when that was significantly overlooked by state and local governments. [3] Being educated as a child himself, he understood the importance of educating children of all races. Embracing inclusivity within education, Finch lobbied for the hiring of more Black teachers in Atlanta’s public education system and legally challenged the barriers against equal education. [10]

While Finch’s political career was cut short when he failed to win reelection, he continued to fight for greater civil rights later on in his life, ultimately helping to lay the groundwork for future civil rights movements. His journey from an enslaved person to a successful tailor to a city councilman highlights his accomplishments as a leader during a very turbulent time in American history. [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bacote, Clarence A. (1955). "William Finch, Negro Councilman and Political Activities in Atlanta During Early Reconstruction" . The Journal of Negro History. 40 (4): 341–364. doi:10.2307/2715658. ISSN   0022-2992. JSTOR   2715658. S2CID   149823766 . Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3
  3. 1 2 3 4
  4. 1 2 "Negro Pioneer Goes to his Final Rest". Athens Banner,Athens, Georgia. Jan 12, 1911. p. 19. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Negro Tailor Leaves $15000 in Property". Athans Weekly Banner,Athens, Georgia. Jan 20, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  6. ↑
  7. 1 2
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑

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  1. ↑ Bacote, C. A. 1955. “William Finch, Negro Councilman and Political Activities in Atlanta During Early Reconstruction.” The Journal of Negro History 40 (4). https://www.jstor.org/stable/2715658
  2. ↑ “Colored Conventions: [Document].” n.d. PDF. https://www.omeka.coloredconventions.org/files/original/75cc9efba86a2ae725b9eba305586742.pdf
  3. ↑ "Creating a Community: Learning about Atlanta's African American History at Historic Oakland Cemetery" (PDF). Oakland Historic Foundation. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. ↑ “dlg_zlgb_gb0378.” Georgia Historical Society (Digital Library of Georgia). PDF. https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/data/dlg/zlgb/pdfs/dlg_zlgb_gb0378.pdf
  5. ↑ Floyd, Ife Finch. 2025. “The Legacy of William Finch: The Fight for Public Education in the 19th Century and Today.” Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, February 27, 2025. https://gbpi.org/the-legacy-of-william-finch-the-fight-for-public-education-in-the-19th-century-and-today/?utm
  6. ↑ Meier, Howard N. Southern Black Leaders of the Reconstruction Era. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1982. p. 309.
  7. ↑ Mitchell, Erika Y. 2025. “Rev. William Finch Was a Pioneer for Equity in Atlanta Schools.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Opinion), February 11, 2025. https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-rev-william-finch-was-a-pioneer-for-equity-in-atlanta-schools/SNAIGKIBI5F2XFV6XE6Z4ZP2PI/
  8. ↑ "Negro Pioneer Goes to his Final Rest". Athens Banner,Athens, Georgia. Jan 12, 1911. p. 19. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Negro Tailor Leaves $15000 in Property". Athens Weekly Banner,Athens, Georgia. Jan 20, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
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