Civil War Figure. Born a slave in 1817, he later ran away and settled in Elmira, New York around 1847. There he was instrumental in establishing the Underground Railroad. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War a large prison camp was built in Elmira. He took responsibility for burying the nearly 3000 Confederate soldiers who died in the camp. He was noted for the particular care he took in maintaining the records of each soldier that he buried, even though there were as many as 10 a day. His work was honored later when a National Cemetery was established to honor the hundreds of Confederate soldiers buried there. He died in 1900 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery His home is being restored and turned into a memorial.
Civil War Figure. Born a slave in 1817, he later ran away and settled in Elmira, New York around 1847. There he was instrumental in establishing the Underground Railroad. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War a large prison camp was built in Elmira. He took responsibility for burying the nearly 3000 Confederate soldiers who died in the camp. He was noted for the particular care he took in maintaining the records of each soldier that he buried, even though there were as many as 10 a day. His work was honored later when a National Cemetery was established to honor the hundreds of Confederate soldiers buried there. He died in 1900 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery His home is being restored and turned into a memorial.
Bio by: John Gilmore
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