Greeting All,

CORDIAL GREETINGS TO ALL,

Thanks to my friend Bennie for creating and managing this forum. I predict that this forum will become a great educational tool for all levels of Underground Railroad research!

I hope I can both learn and contribute to the Understanding of the Undergroud Railroad Movement in the United States.

I write a weekly column (African American History Subjects) for the Community Leader Newspaper, Marietta, Ohio. www.mariettaleader.com/henryburke

Large African Art and Artifact (150 items) housed at the Ely Chapman Education Center in Mareitta, Ohio. Art items were collected from 1964 through 1977 in Tema, Ghana and from the Region of Elmina Castle (Established in 1484 by the Portugese). Elmina Castle was the largest slave trading post in the African Slave Trade. Many African American's have some percentage of genealogy from cultures in this Region.

Member of: the Gen. Benjamin D. Fearing Sons of Union Civil War Veterans, Ohio Camp #2.
Member of: The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Underground Railroad and Civil War Advisory Council.
Member of: 14th Armored Cavalary Regiment Association

Authored 5 books: JOURNEYS ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, ESCAPE OF JANE, MASON-DIXON LINE, RIVER JORDAN, THE BEGINNING OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN OHIO. (currently editing my book on the Muskingum River Underground Railroad line from the Ohio River to Lake Erie.

With a $40,000 grant from the Federal Government, I have created an Underground Railroad Exhibit at the Belpre Historical Society located in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio

I have traced my Burke genealogy from 1640 at Corotoman Plantation, located in Lancaster County, Virginia, established by John Carter (1613-1969). My Burke and Gaskins ancestors were slaves on Carter Plantations of Tide Water Virginia until emancipated by Robert Carter III in 1791. Carter freed 500 slaves in the largest slave emancipation by a private owner in United States History.

My direct ancestor Nimrod Burke (1836-1914) was born in Prince William County, Virginia and came to Washington County, Ohio in 1854. At the beginning of the American Civil War, he became a civilian employee of the Ohio 36 Voluntary Infantry Regiment. In March of 1864 he joined the 23 US Colored Infantry Regiment. October 1864 promoted to 1st Sergeant. Fought in Virginia at Seige at Petersburg and the Battle of Appomatox. (Buried in 4th Soldier's Row, in Greenlawn Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.)

My direct ancestory John Curtis (1830-1914)was a fugitive slave who escaped on the Underground Railroad and came to Washington County, Ohio in 1846. John Curtis then became a Conducter on the Underground Railroad at Stafford, Monroe County, Ohio. Served in the Civi War with the 3rd US Colored Infantry Regiment.(Buried at Stafford Cemetery, Stafford, Monroe County, Ohio.)