Getting Back at It

     For nearly 4 years I've had this project on the back burner. In my spare travel time I've been focused on my primary hobby of visiting Presidential sites.

     I haven't visited a new Governors grave since I visited Chilicothe in October 2012. I got 4 of them that day. But I just got around to posting about 2 of them earlier this week, after about a 3.5 year hiatus of posting.

   During this hiatus there was been 2 more Governors pass away. 62nd Governor John J. Gilligan passed away in 2013. And most recently 65th Governor George Voinovich passed away earlier this year (2016). Voinovich was buried in the Cleveland area. As a matter of fact a couple weeks after he passed away I was up by Cleveland and spent the night at a hotel about 20 minutes from the cemetery in which he was buried. I thought about sneaking over there, to pay my respects, but since we were up there as a little getaway for our Wedding Anniversary, my wife insisted that we wouldn't be seeing any "history stuff". So I'll need to go up there another time. Governor Gilligan on the other hand, from what I can tell, donated his body to science upon his death. More specifically to the University of Cincinatti Medical Center. So I'm not sure what I will do there but I will figure out someway of honoring him. 

#1 Edward Tiffin

Edward Tiffin

Born: June 19, 1766

Died: August 9, 1829

Political Party: Democratic Republican

Term of Office: March 3, 1803 - March 4, 1807

Buried: Grandview Cemetery Chillicothe, Ohio

                                                                       No. 29 of 56

   Edward Tiffin was born in England in 1766. As a teenager, he studied medicine in England. In 1783, he moved with his family to America and settled in Virginia. In Charles Town, Virginia he set up a medical practice. Meanwhile, he his involvement in the local Methodist church led him to become a lay minister in 1792.

     He married Mary Worthington, the sister of Thomas Worthington, who would later be one of Ohio's first US Senators  and later Governor of Ohio. When Worthington acquired land in Chillicothe, Ohio, the Tiffin's moved with the Worthington's to Ohio in 1798. Both men became active in the political climate of the Northwest Territory. Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair appointed Tiffin to be chief clerk of the Northwest Territories court of  Common Pleas. Tiffin was chosen to serve in the legislature of the Northwest Territory in 1799, and was then picked to serve as Speaker of the House of the NW Territories. As Ohio moved closer to statehood, Tiffin served as president of the Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1802. Just like his brother in law Thomas Worthington, Tiffin was often at odds with Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair, who opposed Ohio's statehood. St. Clair, a Federalist, knew that the state of Ohio would become a stronghold for the Democratic Republican party. Thankfully, due to the efforts of Tiffin, Worthington, President Jefferson and others, Ohio became the 17th State on March 3, 1803. And Edward Tiffin became it's 1st Governor. Tiffin's brother in law Thomas Worthington was chosen at the same time to be one of Ohio's first 2, US Senators.

   As Governor, Tiffin dealt with a number of issues. Among these were the rise of the American Indian Confederacy, organized by Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh traveled throughout the Northwest Territory and formed a large alliance of American Indian tribes to fight the United States. This issue was made worse by British forces coming through Canada, providing aid and weapons to Tecumseh and his men. Edward Tiffin won reelection in 1805. He served as Governor until January 1, 1807, at which time Tiffin was chosen to replace his brother in law Thomas Worthington in the US  Senate. In this, Tiffin set a precedent of many future Governor's who would represent Ohio in the US Senate after there time as Governor had ended.

    Tiffin resigned from the US Senate in 1809 to return to his medical practice. Not long after returning home he was elected into the Ohio House of Representatives, where he was chosen to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House. In 1812, President James Madison appointed Tiffin to be chief commissioner of the United States Land Office. It was while serving in this position that Tiffin found himself in Washington DC in 1814 as the invading British Army was en route to burn the Capital. Tiffin saw to it that the British Army would not get there hands on the records held in his office.

   He spent his final years, closer to home, serving as Surveyor of the Northwest territory. He died in 1829.
 
    As I have gotten back into this hobby in early 2017, I had been updating these pages with more information. When I updated the Thomas Worthington page, for some reason that post was updated as a new post and places as a more recent addition. So to set the record straight, Worthington was the 28th Governor gravesite that I visited, 3rd in this cemetery. And Tiffin is the 29th overall and the 4th in this cemetery.

Edward Tiffin and I

#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

#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.

Governor Anderson's gravesite is one of the most unique that I have seen. It's shaped like a bed frame.

Governor Anderson and I



#18 Mordecai Bartley

Mordecai Bartley

Born: December 16, 1783
Died: October 10, 1870
Political Party: Whig
Term of Office: December 3, 1844 - December 12, 1846
Buried: Mansfield Cemetery Mansfield, Ohio
23 of 56


   Mordecai Bartley was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania in 1783 to a farming family. He married in 1804 and in 1809 moved his young family to Jefferson County, Ohio.

    When the War of 1812 broke out, Bartley served as a Captain on an infantry company that he, himself started. Eventually General William Henry Harrison appointed him adjutant of one of his regiments. After the war, Bartley moved his family to a new farm near Mansfield, Ohio. Due to the families involvement in merchant activities, on top of farming, the family moved into the town of Mansfield to be closer to the action in 1834.

    While Bartley was doing well with his farm and other business ventures, he got involved in politics. He served as a state senator in 1817 and 1818. Then in 1822, he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served 4-2 year terms in Congress and then decided to retire from politics and not seek reelection in 1830. He went home to Mansfield and tended to his business ventures.

   In 1844, Mordecai Bartley's son, Thomas, was serving as Speaker of the Ohio Senate. When Governor Wilson Shannon resigned to become President John Tyler's minister to Mexico, Thomas Bartley became the 17th Governor of Ohio, place holding the office for the rest of Shannon's term. 1844 was an election year, and the Whig party approached Mordecai Bartley to be their candidate for Governor of Ohio. He accepted, beating his Democratic challenger and future Governor David Tod. And so, on December 3, 1844, Mordecai Bartley was sworn in as Ohio's 18th Governor, succeeding his son Thomas as Governor. This is one of the very few times that a father succeeded his son to such a high political office.

    Mordecai Bartley's single 2 year term as Governor was busy. With Whig's controlling the state legislature they were able to accomplish a lot. They passed the Kelly Key Bank Bill of 1845, which stabilized the state banking system. He was also well known for his opposition to the fugitive slave laws and Ohio's laws limiting basic rights to African American's. He also opposed the Mexican War, but did his part to round up troops for the war effort. Bartley did not seek reelection and retired from politics for good, once again attending to his business ventures in Mansfield. He died in 1870.
 

    I visited the gravesite of Governor Mordecai Bartley on March 4, 2012, a Sunday afternoon. We had just done our northern KY / Cincinatti trip the Sunday before. In that week we had gotten our new camera in the mail. We had been very disappointed with the picture quality of our old camera for awhile now. And I was very disappointed with how some of the pictures turned out from the previous week. I really wanted to go somewhere to try out the new camera. Mansfield is only about an hour or so away and I knew that there was a Governor buried there. So after church we headed for Mansfield for a little site seeing. Mansfield is also the area where most of the movie 'Shawshank Redemption' was filmed. I didn't look to much into it. But I did map out the Ohio State Reformatory ( aka Shawshank prison) to see while we were in the area. As it turns out the prison was closed til May. But I found a website that gives more filming locations for the movie in the area. So sometime I will make it over there and see all that. Mordecai Bartley's grave wasn't to hard to find, since I knew from findagrave that he just across from the large John Sherman gravesite.

Mordecai Bartley gravesite Mansfield, Ohio

Governor Modecai Bartley and I. Mansfield, Ohio

The next few pictures are from my return trip in June 2017

My kids Governor Bartley and I