Biography of William Finch
William Finch, born in 1821 in Rensselaer County, New York, became a noted horticulturist in Riverside after pioneering Minnesota’s agricultural scene. He transitioned to horticulture in Riverside in 1876, establishing a successful ten-acre orange grove alongside other crops. Finch was actively involved in local governance and was a dedicated Republican and Universalist Church member. He twice married, first to Angeline Kelsey, with whom he had seven children, and later to her sister, Phebe, with no additional children. Finch left a lasting legacy in both agriculture and community service.