Ridgley C. Powers

Ridgley C. Powers
29th Governor of Mississippi
In office November 30, 1871 – January 4, 1874
Lieutenant	Alexander K. Davis
Preceded by	James L. Alcorn
Succeeded by	Adelbert Ames
Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
In office 1870–1871
Governor	James L. Alcorn
Preceded by	Office re-created
Succeeded by	Alexander K. Davis
Personal details
Born	Ridgley Ceylon Powers December 24, 1836 Mecca, Ohio
Died	November 11, 1912 Los Angeles, California
Alma mater	University of Michigan; Union College

Ridgley Ceylon Powers (December 24, 1836 – November 11, 1912) was a Union officer in the American Civil War and a Mississippi politician who served as that state's Governor from 1871 to 1874.

Background

He was born in Mecca, Ohio, on Christmas Eve. Later in life, he graduated from the University of Michigan and completed post-graduate work at Union College located in Schenectady, New York, in 1862.

Wartime participation

In the second year of the American Civil War, Powers enlisted into the United States Army as a private. He became a second lieutenant and later a captain in the 125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served at the Third Battle of Chattanooga and in the Atlanta Campaign before returning with his regiment to Tennessee for much of the remainder of the war. He ended his military service as a colonel upon the end of the conflict.

Governorship

In 1865, the Ohioan settled in Noxubee County, Mississippi as a cotton planter, later becoming sheriff. During Reconstruction, Powers was elected the seventh lieutenant governor and began his term in 1870. Governor James L. Alcorn resigned the following year to accept a U.S. Senate seat, thereby making Powers the acting governor; he finished the unexpired term ending in 1874.

Death

Powers died in Los Angeles, California in 1912.