Edward L. Jackson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Edward L. Jackson | |
 |
|
|
32nd Governor of Indiana
|
|
|---|---|
| In office January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929 |
|
| Preceded by | Emmett Forrest Branch |
| Succeeded by | Harry G. Leslie |
|
|
|
| Born | December 27, 1873 Howard County, Indiana |
| Died | November 18, 1954 Orleans, Indiana |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Rosa Wilkinson, Lydia Beatty Pierce[1] |
| Religion | Disciples of Christ[2] |
Edward L. "Ed" Jackson (December 27, 1873 - November 18, 1954) was governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from January 12, 1925 to January 14, 1929.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Jackson was born the son of a mill worker in Howard County, Indiana. While still a boy his family moved to to Kennard, Indiana. He began working in a stave factory and delivering newspapers when he became interested in law.
On February 20, 1897, he married Rosa Wilkinson. Together they would have two daughters, Helen and Gertrude.[3] Jackson received a legal education in his home county and was admitted to the bar in 1898 at New Castle, Indiana. He then created his own law practice. At first he found it difficult to subsist on his income of his legal profession and he became a part time bricklayer.
[edit] Public life
In 1898, he entered politics and became prosecuting attorney for Henry County, and in 1902 he was appointed by Governor J. Frank Hanly to filla vacancy as a circuit court judge. He was later elected to the same position where he served for eight years. In 1914 he ran for Indiana Secretary of State but was defeated. In his second bid for the position in 1916 he was elected.
Jackson's political rise was put on hold as when World War I broke out and he enlisted in the Army in 1917. After training camp he was commissioned as a Captain and later promoted to Major. He was first stationed at Toledo, Ohio, then Battle Creek, Michigan and finally Lafayette, Indiana, where he was commandant of the S.A.T.C. at Purdue University.
After receiving his discharge, Jackson returned to the state political scene. He subsequently joined the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was, by this point, becoming an ever-present and powerful force in Indiana politics, and if one wanted to seek high office, as Jackson did, membership in and favor with the Klan was considered a prerequisite. In 1920 he was appointed by Governor James P. Goodrich to served as Indiana Secretary of State after the death of W. A. Roach created a vacancy. he was reelected to the position in 1922.
In 1924, Jackson, a Republican, was elected governor of Indiana. he was inaugurated January 12, 1925. He stressed the need to run the government economically and his administration oversaw the payoff of the state's 3.5 million dollar debt and significant reduction in taxes. He also increased attention on the Department of Conservation, the Indiana Dunes State Park and the George Rogers Clark Memorial where established with his support.
Jackson's term in office was marked by a series of scandals related to the murder trial of D. C. Stephenson, the Grand Dragon (state leader) of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan. Jackson himself was charged with trying to bribe former governor Warren T. McCray, but his trial ended in a verdict of proven, but not guilty, because the statute of limitations had run out. His term as governor ended January 14, 1929, he did not seek reelection.
[edit] Retirement
After his term as governor Jackson resumed his law practice opening an office in Indianapolis where he remained until 1937. That year he moved to Orleans, Indiana where he raised cattle and maintained an apple orchard.
He suffered a paralyzing stroke in 1948 and was bedridden for the remainder of his life. He died November 18, 1954 and was buried in the Green Hill Cemetery of Orleans.
[edit] References
[edit] Further Reading
Lutholtz, M. William (1991). Grand Dragon: D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press.
Moore, Leonard Joseph (1991). Citizen Klansmen: The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana, 1921-1928. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press.
Tucker, Todd (2004). Notre Dame vs the Klan: how the Fighting Irish defeated the Ku Klux Klan. Chicago, IL: Loyola Press, 251 p. ISBN 0829417710.
[edit] External links
- Ed Jackson biography
- Ed Jackson on Find-A-Grave
- Indiana County History - Jackson Biography
- Edward Jackson Papers
- National Association of Governors
| Preceded by Emmett Forrest Branch |
Governor of Indiana January 12, 1925 - January 14, 1929 |
Succeeded by Harry G. Leslie |
|
||||||||||
