Do You Know Ohio: Presidents

Did you know that Ohio has had more Presidents than any other state? There have been eight, earning the Buckeye State the nickncame “the Mother of Presidents.”

The first President of the United States from Ohio was William Henry Harrison 1841. Harrison repsented the Whig party, his birthplace was Berkley Plantation Virginia, but lived in North Bend Ohio when elected. Harrison was the ninth President elected, and the first sitting President to have his pictuere taken. He was also the first President to die in office, Harrison died 32 days into his term. He died from pneumonia.

The next President from the Buckeye State was Ulysses S. Grant from 1869-1877. Grant was the 18th President of the United States, and was born in Pt. Pleasant, Ohio. Grant signd legislation establishing Yellowstone National Park as America’s first national park.

Following Grant was Delaware, Ohio’s Rutherford B. Hayes from 1877-1881. Hayes was the 19th President. He lost the popular vote but won the electoral college by one vote. Hayes signed a bill in 1879 that allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to being president, Hayes was also present during the Civil War for the Battle of Buffington Island in Meigs County, Ohio.

James A. Garfield was the Buckeye State’s next President. He was the 20th President of the United States. He was from Orange (Moreland Hills), Ohio. He followed Hayes and was president in 1881. His term was cut short as he was shot July 2, 1881, six months after taking office. He died that same year. Garfield had started the prosecution of post office employees and private mail carriers that attempted to defraud the goverment.

Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President from North Bend, Ohio. He served rom 1889-1893. He was the grandson of Ohio’s first President William Henry Harrison. Benjamin was the first president to approve $1 billion dollars in approprations during peace time, he also signed the Sherman Antitrust Act, the oldest of all U.S. antitrust laws.

The next president to come from Ohio was William McKinley, from Niles, Ohio. He was the 25th President of the United States from 1897-1901. McKinley annexed Puerto Rico, Guam, the Phillippines, and Hawaii. He also upheld the gold standard and promoted pluralism among ethnic groups. McKinley was assassinated in 1901 during his second term. Prior to becoming president, McKinley was also at the Battle of Buffington Island during the Civil War in Meigs County, Ohio.

William H. Taft was 27th President of the United States, serving 1909-1913. The Cincinnati, Ohio born president was the first President to throw the ceremional first pitch at a baseball game in 1910. He also launched 80 antitrust suits against some of the nations largest corporations.

Last but not least is the 29th President of the United States, Warren G. Harding from Corsica (Blooming Grove), Ohio. Harding hosted the 1921 Washington Naval Conference, the first national strategic arms limitation talks. Harding died of a heart attack while in office.

Ohio has had eight Presidents lead this nation, some states have yet to get someone from their state elected to the office. Will there be more presidents from Ohio? It is possible but who and when such candidates might come about, we will have to wait and see.