Ohio Governor Gravesites: #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.