#41 George K. Nash

George K. Nash

Born: August 14, 1842
Died: October 28, 1904
Political Party: Republican
Term of Office: January 8, 1900 - January 11, 1904
Buried: Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio
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   George K. Nash was born in Medina County, Ohio to a farming family in 1842. He attended Oberlin College, but dropped out before graduation to join the Union Army. After the war, he practiced law and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He served as prosecuting attorney in Franklin County and worked his way up to becoming Ohio's Attorney General in 1879 during the 4 year administration of Governor Charles Foster.

   After a falling out between Governor Joseph Foraker and Cleveland political boss Mark Hanna, the Ohio Republican party was split into 2 factions. George Nash was on the side of Mark Hanna, who's side also included future President William McKinley and Senator John Sherman (brother of General William Tecumseh Sherman). Through this connection, Nash served as chairman of Ohio Republican Party's executive committee in 1897. He then became the Republican parties candidate for Governor in 1899.

    Nash served 2, 2 year terms as Ohio's Governor. As Governor he increased the Governor's ability in the law making process and was forced to fight a constitutional amendment that limited the Governor's veto power. By the time Nash became Governor, he was widowed, and his only child, a daughter, had also died. Before each of his inaugurations he visited their graves and laid flowers at them. Nash passed away only about 9 months after leaving office and was buried with his family.


 George K. Nash was the 5th and final Governor Gravesite that I visited at Greenlawn Cemetery in March 2010. I enjoyed it so much that I went home and started looking into where the other Governors final resting places where. I then revisited in April 2017 since I didn't originally get a picture with the gravesite.

Governor George K. Nash gravesite Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio in 2010

Governor Nash gravesite in 2017

The individual grave markers for Nash and his family behind the family stone. As mentioned above, Nash's wife and daughter both died before he became Governor. Before both of his Inaugurations he visited here to lay flowers at their graves.

Individual marker for Governor George K. Nash

Governor Nash and I in 2017

#54 John W. Bricker

John W. Bricker



Born: September 6, 1893
Died; March 22, 1986
Political Party: Republican
Term of Office: January 9, 1939 - January 8, 1945
Buried: Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio
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  John W. Bricker was born in Mt. Sterling, Ohio in 1893. He attended the Ohio State University graduating in 1916, and later from their law school in 1920. After graduation from law school he jumped right into politics, serving as City Solicitor in Grandview Heights, Ohio from 1920-1928. In 1932, Bricker became Attorney General of Ohio.

    In 1939, Bricker won election to become Governor of Ohio. Bricker was the first Ohio Governor to serve 3 consecutive, 2 year terms. His administration covered the majority of our involvement in World War 2. Under his direction, Ohio was able to ease into wartime more easily.With the National Guard away at war, Bricker increased the number of the State Highway Patrol, and started the state guard to fill the void.

   He would go on to be the Republicans Vice Presidential candidate in 1944 along with Presidential candidate Thomas Dewey. The ticket failed as Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a 4th term.

   In 1946, Bricker would go on to be elected to the U. S. Senate. Bricker was reelected to the Senate in 1952.  In the Senate he proposed the Bricker Amendment to the Constitution. Which would of limited the Presidents authority to deal with foreign leaders. It failed by one vote. After loosing reelection to the Senate in 1958, he retired from politics. He died in 1986.



                              

John W. Bricker headstone in Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio in 2010

Bricker gravesite in 2010

Governor Bricker gravesite in 2017

My kids and Governor Bricker in 2017

My youngest, Grant with me at Governor Bricker's gravesite. My older 2 ran off to check out a cooler looking stone nearby.

#24 William Dennison

William Dennison

Born: November 23, 1815
Died: June 15, 1882
Political Party: Whig, Republican
Term of Office: January 9, 1860 - January 13, 1862
Buried: Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio
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   William Dennison was born in Cincinnati to a successful businessman father. He attended Miami University. After college he studied law and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1840. He married the daughter of William Neil, a prominent Columbus businessman, who's farm sat on what is now Ohio State University.

   In 1848, Dennison was elected to a seat in the Ohio Senate as a member of the Whig Party. As a strong anti slavery advocate, he helped remove Ohio's "Black Laws". In 1850, he did not seek reelection. Through the 1850's Dennison served as president of the Exchange Bank in Columbus and later as president of the Columbus and Xenia railroad.

   As the Whig party died out, Dennison was an early member of the newly formed, anti slavery, Republican party. He was an Ohio delegate to the first Republican National Convention in 1856. He won election as Governor of Ohio in 1859. As Ohio's first Civil War Governor, he proved to be a capable leader, facing challenges that no previous Governor of Ohio ever had to face. He secured the railroads and telegraph lines for military use. He sent Ohio troops under the command of General George McCellan to fight Confederate forces in western Virginia. This eventually led to West Virginia entering the union as a free state. Despite Dennison's successful leadership at the onset of the Civil War, he lost reelection in 1861 to a Union party ticket led by David Tod. After his defeat, Dennison still served the state in an unofficial advisory capacity.

    Dennison remained active in Republican Party politics and served as chairman of the 1864 Republican National Convention. After Lincoln's reelection he appointed Dennison to the office of Postmaster General. He resigned as Postmaster General in 1866 after disagreements with President Andrew Johnson. Dennison later sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1880, but lost to James A. Garfield.

   Dennison remained active in politics, railroads and banking. He died in 1882 after a long illness.

Marker at the Dennison gravesite

Governor William Dennison gravesite. Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio in 2010

Revisit to Governor Dennison's gravesite in 2017

My kids are starting to grow an interest in history and exploring old cemeteries. But there not always happy when I ask them to stand still for a picture. As a side note, the obelisk on the upper left corner of the picture is the gravesite of Reverend Thomas Woodrow, Grandfather and namesake of President Thomas Woodrow Wilson.

My kids and I at Governor Dennison's gravesite in 2017

#61 and #63 James A. Rhodes

James A. Rhodes

Born: September 13, 1909
Died: March 4, 2001
Political Party: Republican
Term of Office: January 14, 1963 - January 11, 1971
                        January 13, 1975 - January 10, 1983
Buried: Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio
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 James A. Rhodes was born in Coalton, Ohio in 1909. His father was a coal miner who was killed in a mining accident when James was a child. He attended Ohio State University, but couldn't finish since his family needed him to return home to lend financial support. He entered politics in the Columbus area serving in positions from school board member all the way to being elected Mayor of Columbus in 1943. After 8 years as Mayor he was elected Ohio's Auditor's seat. He held that job for the next 10 years. Along the way he ran for Governor in 1954 and lost.

  He ran for Governor again in 1962 and won. He overturned many of the policies of his predecessor Michael DiSalle. He cut taxes while increasing the funding to schools and for infrastructure. He won re election in 1966.

  In May 1970, Governor Rhodes sent National Guard troops onto the campus of Kent State after a few days of looting, rioting and protesting the Vietnam War. As the National Guard tried to break up a protest of about 2000 people, many of the guardsmen opened fire, killing 4, and wounding another 9. 2 of those killed were not involved in the protest, but were just walking from one class to another. 2 days after the shooting Rhodes lost the Republican nomination for a term in the U.S. Senate.

  The Ohio Constitution does not allow a Governor to serve more then 2 consecutive terms in office. But it doesn't specify that you can't be Governor after a 4 year break. And so Rhodes ran for Governor again in 1974 and won. In 1978 he would win re election. In his 2nd 8 years he wasn't as successful as his first 8 years since the Democrats had a stronger influence in the State Legislature by that point. He did however send out many officials to other states, dubbed the "Rhodes Raiders", they went to other states to encourage businesses there to move to Ohio. He couldn't run for Governor again in 1982, but did run unsuccessfully for Governor in 1986. He then retired from politics and passed away in 2001.

   Rhodes is easily the longest serving Governor of Ohio. But he is currently the 4th longest serving Governor of any state in the United States.

Rhodes gravesite was one of 5 Governor gravesites that I saw in March 2010 at Greenlawn Cemetery. A little more on this trip under the James Campbell blogpost.


Rhodes is buried in a masoleum in Greenlawn Cemetery. I thought it was cool that there was a picture of a baby left there. Possibly by one of his grandkids of a great grandchild. I am just guessing.

Governor Rhodes with future President Reagan

Governor Rhodes with President Nixon

A picture of Governor Rhodes 2001 funeral

Governor James A. Rhodes final resting place in 2010

   

A picture from my return trip, Memorial Day weekend 2017

I have now visited Governor Rhodes final resting place 2 times, 7 years apart. And I couldn't help but notice that the same picture of a baby was there both times.

Khloe and I return 7 years later with her brothers.

Khloe and I pay our respects to Governor Rhodes in 2010

#38 James E. Campbell

James E. Campbell

Born: July 7, 1843
Died: December 18, 1924
Political Party: Democrat
Term of Office: January 13, 1890 - January 11, 1892
Buried: Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio
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   James E. Campbell was born in Middletown, Ohio in 1843, the son of a Doctor. As a young man he taught school and studied law, eventually getting his law degree. He joined the Navy during the Civil War, serving on boats along the Mississippi River until an injury sent him home. He had been a Lincoln and Grant supporting Republican, but switched parties and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat and served 3 terms there.

   Campbell ran a tough campaign against Governor Joseph Foraker in 1889. He won the election but would only serve one, 2 year term. He lost re election to future President William McKinley in 1891. When he became Governor he had the authority to appoint various positions in the cities of the state. As Governor he gave the cities back there right to fill these positions on their own. He also gathered the General Assembly to remove the corrupt Government of the city of Cincinnati. These things up set many in his own party and contributed to his lost for re election.

   After being Governor he stayed busy. He was a delegate to the Democrat National Conventions in 1892, 1920, and 1924. He also served as a trustee for both the Ohio State University and the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society. He also ran for Governor again in 1895 but lost to Republican Asa Bushnell. He died in 1924.

     I visited the gravesite of Governor James E. Campbell around March of 2010. We went down to Columbus to go maternity clothes shopping because we just found out that my wife was pregnant. She said to look for any historical sites that I would want to see while we were down there. I looked into it. I saw that the largest cemetery in Columbus (Greenlawn) was the final resting place of 5 Governors of Ohio. I had been kicking around the idea of visiting Governor gravesites, but hadn't looked into where very many of them were buried yet. I thought that it would be a good start if I wanted to pursue it in the future.

     I really enjoyed the gravehunting trying to find where they were all buried. We found all 5 of them. James E. Campbell, James Rhodes, William Dennison, John W. Bricker, and George K. Nash. I went home and found out the final resting places of the rest of them. 

    After a few years on the back burner, In late 2016, early 2017, I have been getting back at this hobby of visiting Ohio Governor Gravesites. As I made new posts I realized that many of my old post were incomplete. In my earlier posts I usually gave a small paragraph of info on the Governor and then a couple of links for further information. I recently realized that those links no longer went anywhere. And also in many of my early trips I failed to get a picture of myself at the Governor's gravesite. This has caused me to want to go back and update these pages with proper information, as well as revisit any of the graves that I failed to get a picture with in the past.

   And so in April 2017 I went to down to Columbus and revisit Greenlawn Cemetery. Of the 5 Governors buried there, I failed to get pictures with 3 of them. The mausoleum where James Rhodes is buried was closed, but I was able to revisit the other 4 Governors.

The gravesite of Governor James Campbell in April 2017

Headstone of Governor James E. Campbell in Greenlawn Cemetery Columbus, Ohio. In 2010

Campbell family gravesite with my daughter Khloe and I hiding behind in 2010

Our revisit to Governor Campbell's gravesite in 2017, now with all 3 kids. Khloe has grown quite a bit since our last stop.

#39 William McKinley



William McKinley

Born: January 29, 1843

Died: September 14, 1901

Political Party: Republican

Term of Office: January 11 1892 - January 13, 1896

Buried: William McKinley Memorial Canton, Ohio

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William McKinley is the 2nd of 2 Governors of Ohio to become President. Hayes being the first. He knew Hayes from the Civil War, and McKinley would become Hayes political protege. Hayes would live to see McKinley become Governor and was very proud of that fact. McKinley was the last Civil War veteran to be President. He survived the horrorible bloodshed of Antietam to be shot and killed as President.

If you want to see more historical sites of McKinley here is a link to my McKinley page on my Presidents blog. -  potushistoricalsites.blogspot.com/2011/08/william-mckinley.html .

Governor McKinley became a supporter of bimetallism, in regards to the national currency. He would intervene on several labor disputes, even calling in the National Guard at one point. After leaving office he would be elected President in 1896. As President he led us through the Spanish American War. He was a very popular President, but is usually overshadowed by his Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, who assumed the Presidency after his assassination in 1901.

As is usually the case when a President dies in office, they are given a very large memorial in their honor. As you can see, McKinley is no exception.

McKinley Monument Canton, Ohio

McKinley statue on the steps of his memorial

My kids and I inside the McKinley Monument.



#29 and #32 Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes

Born: October 4, 1822
Died: January 17, 1893
Political Party: Republican
Term as Governor: January 13, 1868 - January 8, 1872 and
                             January 10, 1876 - March 2, 1877
Buried: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Fremont, Ohio
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     Rutherford B. Hayes is one of 2 Governors of Ohio who went on to serve as President of the United States. If you would like to see more Historical sites connected with President Hayes, here is a link to my blogpost on Hayes on my Presidential sites blog -  potushistoricalsites.blogspot.com/2011/08/rutherford-b-hayes.html . 

     Before the Civil War, Hayes was a lawyer. Afterwords he was a real Civil War hero. He survived 5 gunshot wounds throughout the course of the war. He served as a U.S. Congressman from Ohio before being elected Governor. Ohio Governors were elected every 2 years back then. His first 2 year term as Governor was more difficult because the Republican Hayes had a Democratic legislature to work with. But his 2nd term was more successful when Republicans took over the states legislature. He retired after his 2nd term. But when the Republicans nominated him for Governor in 1875, he accepted. He won the election and started his 3rd term as Governor in early 1876. Later that year he would win the Republican nomination for President. After a highly disputed election he became our 19th President on March 4, 1877.

   As President he would end reconstruction of the post Civil War south. He promised to serve only one term, and he was good to his word, not running for re election in 1880. He lived out an enjoyable retirement period where he gave alot back much like Jimmy Carter in our own day.

    I have visited Hayes' gravesite many times over the years, so it is without a doubt the my first Governor of Ohio gravesite visit.

Hayes gravesite at his Speigel Grove home in Fremont, Ohio. My daughter Khloe was just learning to walk when he made this particular visit.

Lawyer, General, Congressman, Governor, and President Hayes and wife Lucy Hayes gravesite.