Sidney M. Finger

Sidney M. Finger
Sidney M. Finger
	Finger c. 1892
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
	In office; January 1, 1885 – December 31, 1892
North Carolina House of Representatives
	In office; 1874–1875
North Carolina Senate
	In office; 1876–1877
	In office; 1881–1882
Personal details
Born	May 24, 1837; Lincoln County, North Carolina
Died	December 26, 1896 (aged 59); Newton, North Carolina
Political party	Democratic

Sidney Michael Finger (May 24, 1837 – December 26, 1896) was an American businessman, teacher, and politician. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives, the North Carolina Senate and as North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1885 to 1893.

Early life

Sidney Michael Finger was born May 24, 1837, in Lincoln County, North Carolina^[1] to Daniel and Sallie Finger.^[2] He worked on a farm with his father as a child.^[1] Being initially educated at a local school, Finger enrolled at Catawba College in 1855. He studied there for four years, spending his time in between semesters working as a tutor and teacher. In 1859 he entered Bowdoin College in Maine as a junior and graduated in May 1861 with a bachelor's degree.^[2]

Finger briefly worked as a schoolteacher in Bishopville, South Carolina, before enlisting in the Confederate States Army in Lincoln County on March 22, 1862, to fight in the American Civil War. He was eventually placed in Company I, Eleventh Regiment, North Carolina Troops. During the war he rose from the rank of first corporal to major. Paroled in Charlotte on May 3, 1865, he moved to Newton to teach at and help lead the Catawba English and Classical High School. On December 22, 1866, Finger married Sarah Hoyle Rhyne, with whom he had no children. In 1871, he earned a master's degree from Bowdoin College. He retired from teaching at the Catawba school in 1874 due to poor health.^[2]

Political career

Major Finger was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives to serve from 1874 until 1875 when he served on the education committee and was the chairman of the joint committee on enrolled bills.^[2] He was then elected to the North Carolina Senate to serve in the 1876-1877 session representing the 37th District and he was the chairman of the committee on education.^[3]^[2] He was again elected to the Senate in 1881 serving until 1882.^[4] During this session he helped re-write the school law to what became the foundation for the current school system.^[2]

He authored Civil Government in North Carolina and the United States: A School Manual and History.^[5] He supported industrial education.^[6]

In 1884, Finger, running as a Democrat was elected North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. He served two terms in the office from January 1, 1885, to December 31, 1892.^[2]

Later life

Finger died December 26, 1896, unexpectedly while at home in Newton, North Carolina.^[7]^[1] He was honored in June 1897 at the commencement of the State Normal and Industrial College, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with speeches from several including ex-Senator W. P. Shaw.^[8] Finger had been involved with the college from its inception until his death.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Late Maj. S. M. Finger". Mecklenburg Times. 31 December 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Moore, Marie D. (1986). "Finger, Sidney Michael". NCPedia. North Carolina Government & Heritage Library. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
^ "General Assembly of North Carolina". The Newbernian. 23 December 1876. p. 4. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
^ "North Carolina State Senate - 1881-1882". www.carolana.com. Retrieved 14 January 2023.^{[better source needed]}
^ Finger, Sidney. "Civil government in North Carolina and the United States : a school manual and history". digital.ncdcr.gov. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
^ "Major Sidney Finger praises laziness (1885)". November 13, 1885. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Major Sidney M. Finger". The Newton Enterprise. 1 January 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Sidney M. Finger - His Life and Character..." The Patron and Gleaner. 3 June 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 14 January 2023.