John McEnery, Governor of Louisiana 1872, La-Cemeteries

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John McEnery 1st Unrecognized Governor of Louisiana
Preceded by	P. B. S. Pinchback
Governor by	Election
Served from	January 14, 1873
Served to	September 20, 1873
Left Office by	Federal Troops supplied by President Grant
Replaced by	William P. Kellogg

Born	March 31, 1832 Petersburg, Virginia
Died	March 28, 1891 Monroe, La.
Age	58
Cause	Pneumonia
Party	Democratic
Education	Hanover College
Education	Tulane University
Profession	Lawyer
Military Service	Lt. Col. 4th La. Regiment Confederate Army
Wounded	Twice - Incapacitated

Spouse	Mary Elizabeth Thompson
Children	2 daughters & 4 sons
Religion	Catholic
Burial	Metairie Cemetery

1873

John McEnery would have been the 26th Governor of Louisiana had he been allowed to serve. He died in 1891 and is interred at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.

McEnery is the left figure in this bronze relief and Kellogg is to his right. These two individuals both declared victory in the governor's election of 1872. McEnery was supported by Governor Warmoth who had long standing animosity with President Grant. Kellogg on the other hand was in the U. S. Senate and a supporter of President Grant.

The State Returning Board, controlled by Governor Warmoth, declared McEnery the victor. The State Returning Board had previously been the official vote tabulating office of the state but had not been so previously controlled by a governor. Kellogg obtained an injunction preventing the State Returning Board from officially declaring McEnery the victor. A rival board was formed, but with no ballots to review, remarkably, found Kellogg the victor.

Neither party acquiesced, both parties declared victory, Both had inauguration ceremonies. Rival legislatures were formed and passed laws. Two rival governments then existed. The U. S. Congress investigated. Its majority found that the McEnery ticket should be recognized or a new election held, but Congress had no authority to act.

President Grant sent troops to suppress the McEnery faction which was on the verge of armed conflict.

Not only was he not able to serve as governor after winning, McEnery now shares this bronze sculpture with William Pitt Kellogg, the person that President Grant declared the legal governor.

President Grant declared Kellogg the victor by executive order on September 20, 1873. Kellogg was the last Republican governor for the next 110 years.

Understandably, McEnery's stone does not acknowledge that he was a Governor of Louisiana.

John McEnery
Born in Petersburg, Va. March 31, 1832
Died in New Orleans March 28, 1891

Obituary from April 1, 1891 newspaper L'A ielle de la Nouvelle-Orleans.

"John McEnery, 58 years, 105d St. Charles Avenue."

Biographies

La. Secretary of State
National Governors Association

News

The Duty of Our People 12-31-1872
Mini- Obit of James D. McEnery 2-11-1873
Lost Louisiana - Part 1 4-5-1873
Lost Louisiana - Part 2 4-5-1873
Correspondence Between Gov. McEnery & Gen. Emory 5-7-1873
The Louisiana Question 9-12-1873
Fusion Villainy in Louisiana 9-13-1873
Address of Todd and Hunsaker to Their Constituents 9-21-1873
Gov. Kellogg in His Own Defense 10-5-1873
More Light on the Louisiana Question 10-31-1873
Exit Penn. 9-18-1874
Louisiana 2-8-1875
The Tilden Electors 12-7-1876
McEnery Swaps Swamp Land for State Land 5-4-1885
Death Notice 1 3-29-1891
Death Notice 2 3-29-1891
Obituary 3-30-1891
Funeral 3-30-1891

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