Ohio Governor Gravesites: #27 Charles Anderson

Charles Anderson

Born: June 1, 1814

Died: September 2, 1895

Political Party: Whig / Republican

Term of Office: August 29, 1865 - January 8, 1866

Buried: Kuttawa Cemetery Kuttawa, Kentucky

No. 24 of 56

Charles Anderson was born near Louisville, Kentucky in 1814 into a prominent family. His father had served as an aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette during the American Revolution. He attended Miami University where he graduated in 1833. After graduation he moved back to Louisville to study law. Then in 1835, he moved to Dayton, Ohio and got admitted to the Ohio bar. He set up his own law practice, while also running his family farm. As he gained a name for himself in the Dayton area as a successful lawyer, he was elected to be Montgomery Counties prosecuting attorney.

In 1844, he was elected to a seat in the Ohio Senate. As a member of the Whig party, he strongly opposed Ohio's black laws, which limited rights to African Americans. After being involved in the construction of the new statehouse he returned to his law practice and farm in Dayton after just one term in state government. In 1848, Anderson moved to Cincinnati to start a new law practice partnership. Business was going well, but due to health problems he moved back to Dayton around 1855. In 1859, Anderson moved to a farm he bought near San Antonio, Texas, hoping that the new climate would improve his health.

When the Civil War broke out, Anderson's pro union position was very unpopular with his southern neighbors. Fearing for his families safety, he fled for Mexico. He was arrested en route to Mexico and thrown in a San Antonio jail for awhile. But he eventually made his escape to Mexico was then allowed to return to Dayton, Ohio.

President Lincoln sent him on a Pro Union speaking tour of Europe. After that he served as a Colonel in the Union Army until he was badly injured. He resigned from the military and returned home to Dayton, fully expecting to die from his injuries. But after a slow recovery, he decided to enter politics again. In 1863 he ran for Lt. Governor of Ohio on a pro Union ticket with John Brough. The Union party ticket won the election.

On August 29, 1865 he assumed the Governorship upon the death of Governor John Brough. Since the Civil War was over, Anderson's few months as a place holding Governor were uneventful. Anderson chose not to seek a term of his own. After his brief time as Governor he returned to Kentucky, where he was born, to practice law. He died in Kentucky in 1895

I visited the gravesite of Governor Anderson in March 2012. It worked out well that I was traveling through the area on my way from Nashville to St. Louis. Anderson is one of 7 Governors of Ohio that are not buried in the state. Anderson was the first of 2 out of state Governor gravesites that I got to see on this trip.