Burch Foraker, the son of Thomas S. and Margaret (Reece) FORAKER, was born 02 April 1841 in Hillsboro, Highland, Ohio.
After the Confederate forces fired on the Union Army garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Burch was among Highland County's first citizens to enlist for three years in the Union Cause. He joined Company I, 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, on 14 June 1861 and became a sergeant. His letters about his war service were highly prized by the Foraker family and friends.
Higher ranking officers discovered that Foraker had more than ordinary capability. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant from first sergeant on 8 February 1862 and was promoted to first lieutenant on 15 August 1862. Burch was transferred to fill a vacancy in Company B on 11 July 1863. Lieutenant Foraker was noticed by higher command for his administrative ability, and he served on the staff of corps commander Major General Thomas L. Crittenden through the Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863). On April 21, 1864, Foraker was promoted to captain and was again transferred, this time to serve as commander of Company K. Foraker was again detached from his company for special duty with the Signal Corps and mustered out of service 16 November 1864, more than five months after the expiration of his 24th O.V.I. comrades' enlistment term in June, 1864.
Following his war service, Foraker returned to Hillsboro and became a banker. He married Emily Rockhold on 14 April 1869. At least one child was born of this marriage, Burch Foraker, Jr., on 17 February 1872 in Highland County.
Burch Foraker died in December 1885.
Burch's younger brother, Joseph Benson Foraker, born 5 July 1846 in Rainsboro, Highland County, Ohio, followed his brother, Burch, into the Civil War. Joseph became a lieutenant in the 89th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In the post-war, Joseph became the better known of the two brothers. From 1886-1890, Joseph B. Foraker was Governor of Ohio, and he served as U. S. Senator from 1896-1908.
Sources: "Ohio Roster of Soldiers, 1861-5," 24th O.V.I. Pension Index" and "Joseph B. Foraker, Notes of a busy life."
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