5th Governor of Ohio. A native of Hanover, New Jersey, he served as a Private during the Revolutionary War in the New Jersey Militia with Obadiah Kitchel's Company of Colonel Martin's Regiment. After the war, he moved to New York and taught school until he became a member of the New York State Assembly in 1803 and 1804. He received a land grant for his military service and moved to Ohio in 1804. After settling near Harrison in Hamilton County, he became a member of the Ohio Legislature and served from 1807 to 1809. He was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1810 and became the Speaker of the House in 1813 and 1814. He was named as the Acting Governor of Ohio in 1814 when Return Meigs, Jr. resigned to accept another position. Looker completed his term and was defeated in an attempt at reelection. He was the only Ohio governor to have served in the Revolutionary War. In 1817, he became an Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton County and served in that capacity until 1824. When his health began to fail, he moved to Palestine, Illinois in 1844 to live with his daughter, Mrs. Rachel L. Kitchel. The home in which he lived in Harrison, Ohio, the Othniel Looker Home, has been restored and is open to the public as a museum. His tombstone reads that he died on August 29, 1846, however, the Cincinnati Gazette contains an obituary notice indicating that his death occurred on July 23, 1845.
5th Governor of Ohio. A native of Hanover, New Jersey, he served as a Private during the Revolutionary War in the New Jersey Militia with Obadiah Kitchel's Company of Colonel Martin's Regiment. After the war, he moved to New York and taught school until he became a member of the New York State Assembly in 1803 and 1804. He received a land grant for his military service and moved to Ohio in 1804. After settling near Harrison in Hamilton County, he became a member of the Ohio Legislature and served from 1807 to 1809. He was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1810 and became the Speaker of the House in 1813 and 1814. He was named as the Acting Governor of Ohio in 1814 when Return Meigs, Jr. resigned to accept another position. Looker completed his term and was defeated in an attempt at reelection. He was the only Ohio governor to have served in the Revolutionary War. In 1817, he became an Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton County and served in that capacity until 1824. When his health began to fail, he moved to Palestine, Illinois in 1844 to live with his daughter, Mrs. Rachel L. Kitchel. The home in which he lived in Harrison, Ohio, the Othniel Looker Home, has been restored and is open to the public as a museum. His tombstone reads that he died on August 29, 1846, however, the Cincinnati Gazette contains an obituary notice indicating that his death occurred on July 23, 1845.
Bio by: K Guy
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