Finch, Madison
Birth
Madison Finch was born in Knox in 1835, a son of John Finch and Nancy Wood.
In the early 1850’s Madison’s parents and eight siblings moved from Knox, N.Y., to a farm in Maple Valley, Prince William County, VA. [1]
Military Service
| Residence: | Maple Valley, Prince William County, VA |
| **Enlistment Date: | July 26, 1861 |
| Enlistment Place: | Bacon Race, Woodbridge, Virginia |
| Enlistment Rank: | Private |
| State Served: | Confederacy |
| Regiment: | 4th Cavalry, VA |
| Company: | Company A |
| Ill and Hospitalized Date: | October 31, 1862 |
| Returned to Duty: | November 15, 1862 |
| Captured by Union Army: | October 9, 1863 |
| Imprisoned at: | Washington, DC |
| Released on: | December 17, 1863 |
| Condition of release: | Oath of Allegiance and return to the North |
| Additional Remarks: Enlisted at the age of 24 to serve 1 year. |
| Sources Used: Fold3.com military databases, Diary of Thirza Finch, his sister. |
- despite his Unionist sympathies, was drafted into the 4th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Madison served very unwillingly under several Lees until his capture in Maryland in November, 1863. After five weeks spent at Old Capitol Prison in Washington, he was paroled and allowed to join his family in Knox, where he remained for the balance of the war. [1]
Marriage & Children
Madison married in Knox in 1873, Emily B. Gage who was born on March 28, 1842 a daughter of Hiram Gage and Roba Hoag. [2] Their only child:
- Burton Edwin Finch born January 15, 1876[3], married on February 16, 1898, Mary Etwell who lived in Philadelphia, PA. He was a merchant who set up residence in several different states including MA and NJ.
His Life
Madison returned to Knox before the end of the Civil War by order of the Union Army. Before his marriage, he worked on the farm of his in-laws. After his marriage he became a butcher, working for others at first, then opening his own stores. At one point, he had one at Quaker Street. He eventually moved to Altamont and apparently boarded with the Ogsbury family.
He was well known and respected and went several times to the Gettysburg battleground to celebrate the anniversary of that battle with many Union veterans.
After the death of his wife, he gave his son all the attention that he had available. They had a close and loving relationship even after his son and his family moved out of state to MA. He also kept tabs on his sister, Mary, who was the only other surviving sibling of his family in the early 1900’s. Mary survived him.
Death
Emily died on March 20, 1885 on her 43rd birthday. She was buried with her parents at Lees Church Cemetery in Knox. Madison died on April 17, 1917 at Altamont, NY. His burial took place at Knox, presumably with his wife.
Obituary
Schenectady Gazette, Friday Morning, April 20, 1917
OBITUARY
Madison Finch.
The funeral of Madison Finch, who died at the home of John D. Ogsbury in Altamont was held from
that residence yesterday, interment being at Knox. Mr. Finch had lived in Altamont for many years and was well known
in Schenectady.
Altamont Enterprise
(Mar 28, 1885)
Mrs. Madison Finch died last Friday, March 20th. She was 43 years old,
death occurring on her birthday.
Additional Research Notes
Marriage announcement, Altamont Enterprise
1873 — In Knox on the 26th inst., at the residence of the bride by Rev. James B.. Wood, assisted by Rev. C.
E. Peake, Mr. Madison Finch of the above place, to Miss Emily B. Gage.
Additional Media
Confederate records of Madison’s term 
Payroll and disposition record for Madison 
Madison’s return to duty record 
Union record of capture and determination 
Record of release from Union prison
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thirza Finch Diary and Copybook, 1858-1870, Manuscripts Division William L. Clements Library University of Michigan, James S. Schoff Civil War Collection
- ↑ Bernehistory.org
- ↑ "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZNB-CL8
