Shared by S. Martin-Quiatte [email protected] August 31, 2000 J. Henri Burch, 1883 obituary, Louisiana The Monroe [Louisiana] Bulletin Wednesday, August 8, 1883 Page 2, Column 4 Death of J. Henri Burch (New Orleans Picayune [newspaper]) The record of deaths in this city on Sunday, July 29th, embraced several personages. One of them was J. Henri Burch, a colored politician of considerable prominence. A native of Hartford, Conn., and well educated, he adopted the calling of a school teacher, and in 1868 he came to Louisiana where he pursued for a time his profession, under the auspices of the Freedmen's Bureau. He settled at Baton Rouge and conducted a weekly paper, the "Grand Era," and took an active part in politics. In 1870 he was a Republican member of the lower House of the State Legislature from West Baton Rouge parish, serving until 1874, when he became State Senator and served a term. In 1876 he was a Presidential Elector for the State, and took part in the canvass that placed Mr. Hayes in the White House. He subsequently was appointed Keeper of the United States Record at the Custom House, and held that place at the time of his death. The subject of this sketch gained quite a reputation for oratory, and his natural gifts in that direction were of no common order. He occupied a number of important positions in the masonic Order, and at the time of his death was Grand Commander of the Knights Templar. He leaves a wife, who was the widow of the late Lieut. Gov. Oscar J. Dunn. ________ Marian Douglas researching Burches from JELLICO, Tennessee (KY border): Violet, Elmer, and their brother. Violet Burch Johnson, Battle Creek Michigan; and Elmer Vance Burch, Indianapolis, IN.