The Union Foundation

Many former slaves, anti-slavery advocates, and  members of the Underground Railroad are interred here at Union Baptist Cemetery.  Established in 1864, the Union Baptist Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Hamilton County Ohio at its original location purchased, maintained, and still used by a black congregation. The Union Baptist Church was organized in 1831 as the Colored Branch of Enon Baptist Church when fourteen black members of predominantly white Enon Baptist congregation withdrew and formed their own congregation. After four years, Reverend David Leroy Nickens was hired as the first minister, and the name changed to African Union Baptist Church, and in 1845, the Union Baptist Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. Prominent African Americans, including Reverend Nickens, Honorable George W. Hays, Jr., and Jennie D. Porter, founder, and principal of the Harriet Beecher Stowe School, are buried in the cemetery.

It is our goal to bring the cemetery building and the surrounding grounds back to excellent condition.  In order to maintain the 16 acres this cemetery sits on and to continue the tradition of being interred in a sacred and historical cemetery, we are requesting an amount of $150,000.00

This amount will help to: 

Purchase much needed soil to level the grounds and fill in where the grounds have eroded

Help identify and or make current gravesites visible
Restore appearance to honor the graves of hundreds of
African American Soldiers including many who were Civil War Veterans   

Restore the appearance of over 25,000 grave sites of many African American Ancestors

Overall beautification of the Cemetery