E. A. FINCH, clerk at Insane Hospital, Anna, was born April 27, 1841, in Orleans County, N. Y., and is a son of Mr. E. H. Finch, the President of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Illinois Insane Asylum. He was educated principally at Adrian, Mich., and in May, 1855, came to Anna, Ill., where his parents were living. In 1861, on the 4th of May, he enlisted in Company I, of the Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After six months' service, he was transferred to Company M, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, commanded by Col. Grierson, afterward Major General. Subject served in the army about twenty-three months, mostly on detached duty. It was his regiment that made the famous raid from Memphis to Baton Rouge. He was a private while in the infantry service, but was Second Lieutenant in the Cavalry. After his discharge from the army, he returned to this county, where lie was appointed Provost Marshal for Union and Pulaski Counties. After this he was appointed agent of the Adams Express Company at Anna, and held the position almost five years. In 1869, he entered the Anna City Mills as a partner, in which he remained until 1872, when he sold out and went to Kansas. After remaining there engaged in farming for a year and a half, he returned to Anna in the fall of 1873, and took charge of the express office until 1877, when he farmed for one year, and was then appointed by Superintendent Wardner to the clerkship of the insane hospital, which position he still holds. He was married, March 29, 1863, in Anna, to Miss Rebecca Dresser, born November 21, 1842, near Springfield, Ill. She is the mother of seven children — Leod G. Nathan D., Eleazer C, Kate, Charles E., Rebecca and Ford S. Mr. Finch is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Honor, Knights and Ladies of Honor, and is a Republican in politics.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 66.
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