From These Roots

John Finch was born on December 26, 1862, in Spartanburg Country, SC to parents William Finch and Frances Shands Finch. His parents were farmers and he was one of 6 kids. When he was only about 10 years old, one of his brothers contracted measles while away at school. While caring for his brother, his mother got the disease and died shortly after. When Francis died, her mother came to care for the sick child. Unfortunately, she also caught the disease and died. Mr. Finch’s father became a widower with 6 young kids, but with the help of his father-in-law, the two managed to raise the kids while holding onto the farm.

Mr. Finch attended Furman University where he graduated in 1888 with an A.B. degree. He then attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he graduated in 1892 with his Th.M. degree. He moved back to South Carolina after graduation where he met and married Beulah Wilson who was from Darlington, SC. The two started a family together and would go on to have four sons and one daughter.

In 1896, Mr. Finch responded to an advertisement in The Baptist Courier for a principal’s position at North Greenville High School. The trustees offered him the job and the Finch family moved to Tigerville. During his time at North Greenville, Mr. Finch started the first Bible classes and raised the funds to purchase a piano for the school. In addition to his work at North Greenville, he also pastored Tyger Baptist Church and North Fork Baptist Church at different times.

After three years at North Greenville, Mr. Finch resigned to become a Home Mission Board missionary in Osborne, Texas. The family stayed in Texas as missionaries until around 1904 when they moved back to South Carolina. For the next 40 years, Mr. Finch served as a preacher and teacher in his home state. Some of the positions he held included principal of Adams Run Grammar School, principal of Elko Grammar School, principal of Osborn School, pastor of Zion Baptist Church, president of The Ridge Baptist Association, and an executive committee member of the Colleton Baptist Association. He also helped to start Hendersonville Baptist Church in Walterboro, SC. His last pastorate position was at Elko Baptist Church where he remained a member until his death.

John S.M. Finch passed away in 1955 at the age of 92. He is buried next to his bride of over 50 years at the church where they married, High Hill Baptist Church.