Edward L. Jackson

Infobox Politician
name Edward L. Jackson


caption =
birth_date = birth date|1873|12|27
birth_place = Howard County, Indiana
death_date = death date and age|1954|11|18|1873|12|27
death_place = Orleans, Indiana
party = Republican
religion = Disciples of Christ [ [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.94702e711043a03e9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=20dc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=print NGA Bio] ]
spouse = Rosa Wilkinson, Lydia Beatty Pierce [ [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.94702e711043a03e9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=20dc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=print NGA Bio] ]
alma_mater=
office =
order
term_start =
term_end =
predecessor =
successor =
office2 =Governor of Indiana
order2 =32nd
term_start2 =January 12, 1925
term_end2 =January 14, 1929
predecessor2 =Emmett Forrest Branch
successor2 =Harry G. Leslie
allegiance=United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=1917–1919
rank=Major
commands=
unit=
battles=World War I

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.

Biography

Early life

Jackson was born the son of a mill worker in Howard County, Indiana. While still a boy, his family moved 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. [ [http://www.in.gov/library/exhibits/lawyers/aids/s712.html Edward Jackson Papers] ] 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.

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 fill a 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 serve 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 on January 12, 1925. He stressed the need to run the government economically. His administration oversaw the payoff of the state's 3.5 million dollar debt and a significant reduction in taxes. He also increased attention on the Department of Conservation. The Indiana Dunes State Park and the George Rogers Clark Memorial were 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 and he did not seek reelection.

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.

ee also

*Indiana Klan
*List of Governors of Indiana

Notes and references

Further reading

* cite book
last=Lutholtz
first=M. William
authorlink=
coauthors=
title=Grand Dragon: D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana
publisher=Purdue University Press
date=1991
location=West Lafayette, Indiana
pages=
url=
doi=
id=
isbn=1557530106

* cite book
last=Moore
first=Leonard Joseph
authorlink=
coauthors=
title=Citizen Klansmen: the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana, 1921-1928
publisher=University of North Carolina Press
date=1991
location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina
pages=
url=
doi=
id=
isbn=0807819816

* cite book
last=Tucker
first=Todd
authorlink=
coauthors=
title=Notre Dame vs. the Klan: how the Fighting Irish defeated the Ku Klux Klan
publisher=Loyola Press
date=2004
location=Chicago, IL
pages=
url=
doi=
id=
isbn=0829417710

External links

* [http://www.in.gov/gov/2689.htm Ed Jackson biography]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11190 Ed Jackson on Find-A-Grave]
* [http://www.countyhistory.com/doc.gov/035.htm Indiana County History - Jackson Biography]
* [http://www.in.gov/library/exhibits/lawyers/aids/s712.html Edward Jackson Papers]
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.94702e711043a03e9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=20dc224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=print National Association of Governors]