BROUGH, JOHN (17 Sept. 1811-29 Aug. 1865) was a newspaper publisher, state auditor, railroad president, and CIVIL WAR governor of Ohio, Brough was born in Marietta, Ohio. Orphaned at 11, he became an apprentice printer. After paying his way through Ohio University, he edited and published newspapers in West Virginia and Ohio. A Democrat, Brough was elected state representative of the Fairfield-Hocking district at age 26 and served 1838-39. As Auditor for the State of Ohio between 1839 and 1845 Brough prevented a repudiation of the Ohio debt which would have endangered interest payments on the OHIO & ERIE CANAL bonds. Brough founded the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1841 publishing it and practicing law until 1848 when he sold it. Shortly afterward, he established residence in Cleveland and became president of the Bellefontaine and Indianapolis Railroad, which later joined the Big Four (the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, & Indianapolis Railroad Co.). He also served as president of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad.
In 1863, Unionist Republicans in Ohio convinced Brough to run for Governor, and he won over Clement L. Vallandigham. Although he raised 34,000 militia troops for Civil War service, his policy of promoting army officers according to seniority generated so much discontent that he decided not to run for reelection in 1865.
Before his term was up, he died at age 53 in Cleveland and was buried in WOODLAND CEMETERY. His first wife, Achsah P. Pruden of Athens, Ohio, whom he had married in 1832, died 8 Sept. 1838; they had a son, John, and a daughter, Mary. His second wife, Caroline A. Nelson, of Columbus, Ohio, whom he married in 1843, bore him three daughters, Caroline, Emma, and Anna.