Emmett Forrest Branch
Encyclopedia
Emmett Forrest Branch was the 31st Governor
of the U.S. state
of Indiana
from 1924 to 1925, serving the remainder of the term of Warren T. McCray
after he resigned from office after being convicted for mail fraud. His brief term focused on continuing the reforms and projects of his predecessor.
the oldest of his four siblings Olive Branch, Leafy Branch, and Frank Oaks Branch. His parents were Elliot and Alice Parks Branch. His father was a Republican politician who had served in state government for several decades. His grandfather and great-grandfather had also been involved in state politics and served as state senators. He attended Indiana University
and graduated in 1896 where he played on the school's championship-winning baseball team. He would be the first IU graduate to become governor. After college he studied law with his uncle Judge M.H. Parks. He was admitted to the Bar in 1899 and established a law practice in Martinsville.
During the Spanish-American War
he enlisted in Company K of the 158th Regiment eventually rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. After the war he entered politics and was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, serving thee terms from 1903 to 1909. During World War I
he returned to the army as a lieutenant colonel
of the 151st Infantry. He later commanded the 165th Depot Brigade at Camp Travis in Texas
and served as part of the forces guarding the Mexican
border in 1916 and 1917.
in 1907 and 1908. While Speaker he ended the omnibus
practice that allowed multiple bills to be combined and passed without debate.
In 1910 he returned to his law practice were he remained until nominated to run for Lieutenant Governor in 1920 and won the election. As President of the Senate he took part in debate and supported several controversial measures including banning gambling and liquor sales on Memorial Day
. When legislation to ban teaching the German language in public was introduced, the Senate edged on violence and order was restored only after Branch beat his gavel so hard on the podium that he broke both the podium and the gavel, causing the chamber to burst into laughter.
Warren T. McCray
had been having a behind the scenes battle with the Indiana Ku Klux Klan and became involved in questionable loan transactions which the Klan exposed as a scandal to force him out of office. McCray was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to ten years in prison, forcing him to leave office on April 30, 1924. The same day Branch was sworn in as governor. A close friend of McCray, he cried while taking the oath of office, and later said that everything was so "sudden and surprising."
Branch's term was brief, and he focused on continuing the projects and reforms McCray had begun, including expanding the state highway system, completing the new state prison, and expanding the school for the blind. He oversaw the completion of the Riley Hospital for Children. A month after taking office, a boxing match was held in Michigan City. Prize fighting was illegal in Indiana, and protesters demanded that the governor shut down the match. Branch secretly ordered the militia mobilized and put on standby, and sent a general to attend the match to see if he could detect any gambling going on. The general reported that nothing of note happened, and the match was held without incident.
to manage the state armory, a post he held until his death from a heart attack on February 23, 1932. He is buried in the Hilldale Cemetery.
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
from 1924 to 1925, serving the remainder of the term of Warren T. McCray
Warren T. McCray
Warren Terry McCray was the 30th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1921 to 1924. He came into conflict with the growing influence of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan after vetoing legislation they supported...
after he resigned from office after being convicted for mail fraud. His brief term focused on continuing the reforms and projects of his predecessor.
Early life
Branch was born in MartinsvilleMartinsville, Indiana
Martinsville is a city in and the county seat of Morgan County, Indiana, United States; the population was 11,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
the oldest of his four siblings Olive Branch, Leafy Branch, and Frank Oaks Branch. His parents were Elliot and Alice Parks Branch. His father was a Republican politician who had served in state government for several decades. His grandfather and great-grandfather had also been involved in state politics and served as state senators. He attended Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and graduated in 1896 where he played on the school's championship-winning baseball team. He would be the first IU graduate to become governor. After college he studied law with his uncle Judge M.H. Parks. He was admitted to the Bar in 1899 and established a law practice in Martinsville.
During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
he enlisted in Company K of the 158th Regiment eventually rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. After the war he entered politics and was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, serving thee terms from 1903 to 1909. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he returned to the army as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 151st Infantry. He later commanded the 165th Depot Brigade at Camp Travis in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and served as part of the forces guarding the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border in 1916 and 1917.
Legislator
After returning from the army, he opened a law office in Martinsville and married Katherine Bain, the daughter of a prominent newspaper owner. The couple had one son. In 1902 he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives and served for three terms. He was elected Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Indiana State House of Representatives is the highest official in the Indiana House of Representatives, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party. As in most Anglosphere countries and provinces, the speaker presides over the lower house of the legislature.The...
in 1907 and 1908. While Speaker he ended the omnibus
Omnibus bill
An omnibus bill is a proposed law that covers a number of diverse or unrelated topics. Omnibus is derived from Latin and means "for everything"...
practice that allowed multiple bills to be combined and passed without debate.
In 1910 he returned to his law practice were he remained until nominated to run for Lieutenant Governor in 1920 and won the election. As President of the Senate he took part in debate and supported several controversial measures including banning gambling and liquor sales on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
. When legislation to ban teaching the German language in public was introduced, the Senate edged on violence and order was restored only after Branch beat his gavel so hard on the podium that he broke both the podium and the gavel, causing the chamber to burst into laughter.
Governor
GovernorGovernor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
Warren T. McCray
Warren T. McCray
Warren Terry McCray was the 30th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1921 to 1924. He came into conflict with the growing influence of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan after vetoing legislation they supported...
had been having a behind the scenes battle with the Indiana Ku Klux Klan and became involved in questionable loan transactions which the Klan exposed as a scandal to force him out of office. McCray was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to ten years in prison, forcing him to leave office on April 30, 1924. The same day Branch was sworn in as governor. A close friend of McCray, he cried while taking the oath of office, and later said that everything was so "sudden and surprising."
Branch's term was brief, and he focused on continuing the projects and reforms McCray had begun, including expanding the state highway system, completing the new state prison, and expanding the school for the blind. He oversaw the completion of the Riley Hospital for Children. A month after taking office, a boxing match was held in Michigan City. Prize fighting was illegal in Indiana, and protesters demanded that the governor shut down the match. Branch secretly ordered the militia mobilized and put on standby, and sent a general to attend the match to see if he could detect any gambling going on. The general reported that nothing of note happened, and the match was held without incident.
Later life
After his term as governor ended he retired to Martinsville where he practiced law and managed his business interests as President of the Branch Grain and Seed Company and a major stockholder in the Martinsville Trust Company. He also owned several large farms in Morgan County. In 1929 he was appointed by Governor Harry G. LeslieHarry G. Leslie
Harry Guyer Leslie was a Indiana Republican Party politician, speaker of the state house and the 33rd Governor of the state. His term as governor was marked by the start of the Great Depression.-Family and education:...
to manage the state armory, a post he held until his death from a heart attack on February 23, 1932. He is buried in the Hilldale Cemetery.