#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