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John Brough

John Brough (17 September 1811-29 August 1865) was the Democratic Governor of Ohio from 11 January 1864 to 29 August 1865, succeeding David Tod and preceding Charles Anderson.

Biography[]

John Brough was born in Marietta, Ohio in 1811, and he became a printer's apprentice after being orphaned at 11 and rose to be a newspaper publisher in Marietta and Lancaster. Brough backed the Democrats as owner of the Ohio Eagle, and he went on to serve in the State House from 1838 to 1839 and as State Auditor from 1839 to 1845. Brough also went into the railroad industry during the 1840s, transforming Madison, Indiana into the leading pork packing city in the nation as president of the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railway. Brough became a War Democrat during the American Civil War and served as Governor from 1864 to 1865 after narrowly defeating Copperhead leader Clement Vallandigham in a race that drew national attention. Brough strongly supported the war effort and raised 34,000 troops near the end of the war, exceeding the state quota. With the conclusion of the war, Brough decided not to seek re-election, and he died of gangrene after a stumble in the State House yard.

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