Charles Sumner Finch, newspaper publisher and editor and present postmaster at Lawrence, was born in Girard, Ill., July 24, 1856. He is a son of James G. and Mary (Purdum) Finch. His father was born in Genesee county, New York, Oct. 14, 1809, and died at Lawrence, Kan., April 14, 1904. Mr. Finch's mother was born at Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, June 17, 1819, and died at Louisburg, Kan., in 1887. John Finch, who emigrated from England, was the progenitor of the Finch family in America. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Finch was Solomon Finch, a survivor of the Wyoming Indian massacre. He was then but a mere child. He grew to manhood and went to Ohio, and later to Noblesville, Ind., where the father of Mr. Finch was reared. James G. Finch became a farmer and merchant in Clay county, Illinois. In 1869 he came to Kansas and settled in Miami county. The following were the children of his family: Francis, Walton (deceased), Cynthia, John, George (deceased), Henry (deceased), Charles S., and Florence. The two eldest sons were soldiers in the Civil war. Francis died in that horrible Confederate prison—Andersonville.

On a farm in Miami county Charles S. Finch was reared and attended country and town schools, taught school for two years and then spent one year in the University of Kansas and, in 1880, graduated in the law department of the University of Michigan. He began the practice of law in Harper county, Kan., where he practiced eight years, during which time he became a newspaper man. He was part owner of the "Harper County Times," later "Harper County Graphic," a daily paper. He came to Lawrence, in 1888, and here first edited the "Tribune," which was afterward consolidated with the "Journal," of which he was editor up to 1903, when he bought the "Lawrence Gazette," which he edited up to the time he entered upon his duties as postmaster, Sept. 1, 1911, still retaining his interest in the Gazette. In politics Mr. Finch has always supported the men and measures of the Republican party. He never held office before becoming postmaster of Lawrence, and was never a candidate for office. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Fraternal Aid Association, and has been for eight years editor and publisher of the official paper of that fraternity. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity.

In 1890 Mr. Finch married Miss Esther Pierce of Baldwin, Kan., and at the time of her marriage was a student at Baker University. They have three children: Floyd, Gula and Mateel.