#11 Duncan McArthur

Duncan McArthur

Born: June 14, 1772

Died: April 29, 1839

Political Party: Federalist / National Republican

Term of Office: December 18, 1830 - December 7, 1832

Buried: Grandview Cemetery Chillicothe, Ohio

No. 27 of 56 

    Duncan McArthur was born in New York State in 1772 to a poor farming family. His family moved to western Pennsylvania when he was still very young. He was the oldest of 11 children. Life on the frontier was tough and while growing up, McArthur never had a formal education, since he was needed to work most of the time. 

   In 1790, McArthur joined the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Before long he was in the Northwest Territories fighting Native Americans. In the military he earned recognition for bravery and good leadership. 

    In 1793, he joined a surveying expedition of the Northwest Territories led by Nathaniel Massie. Three years later, he joined Massie again on another surveying job. This time laying out the new town of Chillicothe, Ohio. McArthur likes the area so much that he acquired some land in the area. He found a way to make a lot of money on land speculation in the Northwest Territory. So he built a really nice house on the land that he had gotten in Chillicothe and called it "Fruit Hill". McArthur earned a reputation for his hospitality at Fruit Hill. Chillicothe became the first Capital of Ohio when it obtained statehood in 1803. 

    McArthur first entered politics in 1805 when he was elected to the Ohio State Senate. Then in 1809, he became Speaker of the State Senate. In this position he supported moving the State Capital in Columbus. 

    When the War of 1812 broke out, McArthur had joined the state militia and was quickly promoted to Major General. McArthur served as second in command to General William Hull in the state militia at Fort Detriot. He was captured by the British near Detroit when Hull surrendered to British forces. After being paroled he joined the U.S. Army and became a Brigadier General under the command of future President and General William Henry Harrison. Shortly after the fall of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh in 1814, Harrison resigned, leaving McArthur in command of the army in the Northwest. 

   After the war, McArthur was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives 1815, where he managed a few treaties with American Indian tribes. He lost reelection to a 3rd term in the Ohio House in 1819. However, throughout the 1820's he would serve in a number of elected offices. From 1821-1823 he served in the State Senate again. Then from 1823-1825 he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. After losing reelection in 1825, he served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1826-1827 and again from 1829-1830. 

   McArthur ran for Governor in 1830, beating future Governor Robert Lucas. As Governor, the Ohio and Erie Canal was completed. Also the National road made it as far a Zanesville. Other then that he served one uneventful term as Ohio's Governor and did not seek re election.

He retired to his Fruit Hill home in Chillicothe, Ohio. After he died in 1839, his son in law, Future Governor William Allen inherited his home.

McArthurs Fruit Hill home. Since I couldn't find any recent pictures I am guessing the house no longer exist.

McArthurs gravesite

McArthur Allen Gravesite

My little Nicky explores the McArthur gravesite

Governor McArthur and I



#31 William Allen

William Allen

Born: December 1803
Died: July 11, 1879
Political Party: Democrat
Term of Office: January 12, 1874 - January 10, 1876
Buried: Grandview Cemetery Chillicothe, Ohio
No. 26 of 56


    William Allen was born in North Carolina in 1803. He was orphaned at a very young age and was taken in by his half sister and her husband Reverend Pleasant Thurman. He moved to Chillicothe, Ohio in 1819 to be close to his sister's family. After 3 years of studying law, he was admitted to the Ohio bar at the age of 21. As a lawyer he gained a reputation for his speaking a debating skills.

   In 1832, William Allen became the Democratic parties candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His opponent was outgoing Governor of Ohio Duncan McArthur. Allen beat McArthur in a tight race. Allen eventually married McArthur's daughter. After 1-2 year term in congress, Allen lost reelection and returned to his law practice in Chillicothe.

   In 1837, Allen was chosen to be a U.S. Senator. He served 2- 6 year terms in the Senate before losing reelection to a 3rd term in 1849. In the Senate, Allen became an ally of President James K. Polk and his western expansion efforts. Some credit him for coining the term "Fifty fore forty for fight". This was the slogan for people who wanted to annex the entire Oregon Territory. And the northern border of the Oregon Territory was the 54 degrees 40 minutes latitude line.

   At the 1848 Democratic national convention, the front runners for the Presidential nomination were former President Martin Van Buren and former Secretary of War Lewis Cass. Many encouraged Allen to run as a compromise candidate, but he refused. Instead he put his support behind Cass, who then secured the nomination, but lost in the general election to Zachary Taylor. After his second term as Senator was over, Allen returned to his "Fruit Hill" farm that he had inherited from his father in law Duncan McArthur, seemingly retired from politics.


     By 1873, the corruption of the Grant administration left a good possibility for a Democrat to win the Ohio Governorship.  William Allen's nephew (sister's son), then U. S. Senator Allen G. Thurman suggested that his Uncle become the nominee. Allen won the election against incumbent Governor Edward M. Noyes. He was a strong Governor, cutting taxes and at times settling labor disputes by calling in the state militia. Ultimately, it was his support of green back (money with no gold or silver backing it) that lost him public support. He lost his re election in 1875 to former Governor and future President Rutherford B. Hayes.

    His nephew Allen Thurman would become President Grover Cleveland's VP running mate in his failed re election bid in 1888.

  Allen died at his Fruit Hill home in Chillicothe in 1879. 

  After picking up a couple Ohio Governors buried out of state on one of my President sites trips in March 2012, I didn't get around to gravehunting for Ohio Governors for several months. Finally an opportunity presented itself in October 2012 when my sister in law, who lives in southern Ohio was having a baby shower. She lives about an hour away from Chillicothe. So I dropped off my wife and daughter Khloe at the shower, while my son Nicky and I headed to Chillicothe. It was a beautiful fall day at the peak of fall foliage. In Chillicothe is Grandview Cemetery final resting place of 4 of Ohio's earlier Governors. Of the 4, 2 are brother in laws (Edward Tiffin and Thomas Worthington) and 2 are father - son in laws (Duncan McArthur and William Allen).

    Now I already knew the Tiffin - Worthington connection, but did not know that McArthur and Allen were in laws. But when I finally stumbled upon Allens grave, and immediately found McArthur right next to him. I figured there had to be some sort of family connection. In Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery, there are a couple of Governors who happen to be 20 or 30 feet away from each other. These 2 have them beat considering that their individual headstones are less then 5 ft. apart.

Fruit Hill in Chillicothe, Ohio was William Allens home that he inherited from his father in law Duncan McArthur

Governor Allen

Notice the close proximity between Governor Allen on the left and Governor McArthur on the right. The flag markes McArthurs individual gravesite and 2 small stones over in Allen.

Governor Allen and me

#5 Othniel Looker

Othniel Looker

Born: October 4, 1757
Died: July 23, 1845
Political Party: Democratic Republican
Term of Office: March 24, 1814 - December 8, 1814
Buried: Kitchell Cemetery Palestine, IL
No. 25 of 56

   Othniel Looker was born on Long Island, New York. In 1776 he joined the New Jersey Militia where he served as a private during the Revolutionary War. He would serve in the New York State Assembly. Like many Revolutionary War veterans, Othniel Looker was given land in Ohio by the federal government. After moving to Hamilton County, Ohio he was elected the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served from 1807 to 1809. Then he served in the Ohio Senate from 1810-1812 and 1813-1817.

  After Governor Return J. Meigs Jr. was appointed Postmaster General in 1814, then Speaker of the Ohio Senate Othniel Looker assumed the Governorship. He finished out Meigs term, but was defeated in his attempt to gain a term on his own right by the much more well known Thomas Worthington.

    After returning home to Hamilton County in 1817, Looker served as an associate judge on the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton County. 

   After his wife died, he left Ohio and moved to Palestine, IL to live with his daughter. It was in Palestine that he died and was buried in 1845. Becoming one of seven Ohio Governors, who are not buried in Ohio. He was also the only Governor of Ohio to serve in the American Revolution.

   I visited the gravesite of Othniel Looker in March 2012, on my way home from St. Louis. It was interesting to find. His grave is in a small cemetery that only consist of a few head stones and is right smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. I made the stop quick, because it seemed possible that it was private property, considering the headstone is literally a few feet from someones house.

There is also an Othniel Looker House near Cincinnati that I hope to see someday. And add to this page.

The small cemetery in which Governor Looker is buried. Kitchell was the last name of his son in law, whom he was living with



The small Kitchell Cemetery

Gravesite of Governor Looker

A close up. There was once a picture in the rectangled area between Born and Died.

Governor Looker and I