The Wheel
by Jack Head

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History is more than dates and events on a timeline, more than a handful of significant people who have an impact. It is comprised of the stories of individuals who are often forgotten and full of truths too often elided—until one begins to look for them. In The Wheel, Jack Head puts faces on the heroes of the Underground Railroad, bringing history to life through the stories of everyday people who all brought something unique to the fight for freedom. These personalities include William Poor, who doesn’t yet realize how the trade skills he learns from his father and grandfather will allow him to help those seeking freedom, Mingo Quameno, an enslaved person seeking freedom, and other notable figures from the abolitionist movement. In realizing these narratives, Head refuses to turn away from the realities often ignored in this history—like the covert ways slavery continued after abolition and the slave trade in Canada. A combination of the author’s passion for genealogy with his decades-long study of the individuals who make up history, The Wheel is a historically detailed, narratively compelling account of the Underground Railroad that is both engrossing and informative.

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Jack Head lives in Port Charlotte, Florida, with his wife Nancy. Jack is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge and a Bronze Star. His inspiration to begin writing began with a simple question while staying with friends in Canada: “Tell us about your experiences in Vietnam, if you would.” This moment of unloading these memories eventually led to Jack’s first book, Selected Memories of Vietnam 1969–1970 (republished in 2019), which was followed by Margaret Cole, Second Daughter of John Nelson Cole (2015), When Thirteen Became One (2021), and now The Wheel. In addition to writing, Jack has a keen interest in history and genealogy. William Poor, a central figure in The Wheel, is one of his great-grandfathers. Jack is also National Commander of the American Division Veteran Association, the legacy coordinator for his church, and a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association and numerous historical societies. Jack can be found via email at jhead.historic.stories@gmail.com and on LinkedIn @jack.head, Instagram @jack_head_57, and on Facebook.

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Contributors

Author

Jack Head

Contribution by

Bill Johnson

Contribution by

Elaine Clements