Thomas County GaArchives Biographies.....Finch, Asbury B. 1836 - living in 1913
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 20, 2004, 12:06 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 846

   ASBURY B. FINCH. Now a retired resident of Thomas county, Mr. A. B. Finch has
had a long and active career and has well earned his material prosperity and the
esteem of his family and fellow citizens.

   He was born in Nash county, North Carolina, on the 2d of July, 1836. His
family had been identified with North Carolina from colonial times. His
grandfather, Allen Finch, was born in Nash county and so far as known both he
and his wife spent all their lives in that vicinity. He owned and operated a
farm located about forty miles from Raleigh, which was his nearest market and
depot for supplies. In those days farmers bought but little at the stores, since
all the household dressed in homespun, and most of the provisions were confined
to what could be produced in the home locality. Berry Finch, the father of A. B.
Finch, was also a native of Nash county and throughout most of his active career
was employed as an overseer on large plantations. He died in Nash county at the
age of seventy-five years. He married Nancy Carpenter, who died at the age of
about seventy and they reared three sons and five daughters.

   When A. B. Finch was eighteen years old lie began learning the trade of
cooper and this skill in handicraft gave him a steady vocation for many years of
his active life. The war interrupted his work at this trade and he enlisted in
Company D of the Fifth North Carolina Infantry. With this regiment he saw much
arduous service in Virginia, serving under Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson.
At the battle of Williams-burg he was wounded in the left arm by a minie ball,
and was in the hospital sixty days. He then continued with his regiment through
its campaigns and marches until September, 1864, when he was captured and was
kept a prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland, until the close of the war.
Returning home he resumed his trade, and with the exception of two years in
South Carolina lived in Nash county until 1882. That was the date of his
settlement in Thomas county, Georgia, which has been his home for the past
thirty years. Here he bought a tract of timbered land in the Boston district and
pursued his regular trade while superintending the clearing away of the forest.
He is now owner of one of the most eligible farmsteads in this district,
consisting of 264 acres, with 140 in cultivation, and with several sets of farm
buildings. His homestead is located three and a half miles from the town of
Boston, and there he and his wife live like the patriarchs of old, surrounded by
their children and enjoying the fruits of a well spent life.

   Mr. Finch was married at the age of twenty-five to Miss Rhoda Williams. They
have nine children, whose names are Polly Ann, William H., Archie, John A.,
James, Rosetta, Nancy Jane, Joseph H. and Stella. All but the last named were
born in North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Finch are earnest members of the Methodist
church.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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