Omer Stokes Jackson (September 1884June 1, 1940) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

lawyer and politician who served as the twenty-eighth

Indiana Attorney General The Indiana Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Indiana in the United States. Attorneys General are chosen by a statewide general election to serve for a four-year term. The forty-fourth and Attorney General is Todd Roki ...

from January 1, 1937, to June 1, 1940.

Biography

Early life and education

Jackson was born in

Hancock County, Indiana Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2020 United States Census recorded a population of 79,840. The county seat is Greenfield. Hancock County is included in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical ...

. His father was Stokes Jackson, a lawyer and former chairman of the

Indiana Democratic Party The Democratic Party of Indiana is the affiliate of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Indiana. The Indiana Democratic Party currently holds two of Indiana's United States congressional delegations from I ...

. Jackson graduated from high school in Greenfield. He attended

Valparaiso University Valparaiso University (Valpo) is a private university in Valparaiso, Indiana. It is a Lutheran university with about 3,000 students from over 50 countries on a campus of . Originally named Valparaiso Male and Female College, Valparaiso Universit ...

before entering

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington, Indiana University, IU, or simply Indiana) is a public university, public research university in Bloomington, Indiana. It is the flagship university, flagship campus of Indiana University and, with ...

, where he earned his legal degree from the

Maurer School of Law The Indiana University Maurer School of Law is located on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The school is named after Michael S. "Mickey" Maurer, an Indianapolis businessman and 1967 alumnus who donated $35 million in 2008 ...

. Jackson practiced law with his father until the latter’s death in 1916. Jackson also practiced law for over twenty years in Rushville as a partner of John B. Hinchman, a local judge who would later swear Jackson in as attorney general.

Political career

In 1911, State Attorney General

Thomas M. Honan Thomas Michael Honan (August 8, 1867 - September 21, 1932) was an United States of America, American lawyer and politician who served as the sixty-fifth List of speakers of the Indiana House of Representatives, Speaker of the Indiana House of Re ...

appointed Jackson to the office of second deputy AG. Honan’s successor, Richard M. Milburn, retained Jackson, reappointing him to the same office. Throughout the 1930s, Jackson worked his way up the ranks of the Indiana Democratic Party. In 1930, he was elected Democratic chairman of Hancock County. In 1933, he was elected Democratic chairman of Indiana’s

11th District 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 and preceding 12. It is the first repdigit. In English, it is the smallest positive integer whose name has three syllables. Name "Eleven" derives from the Old English ', which is first attested i ...

. In 1934, Jackson was elected chairman of the party, leading the Democrats to several key victories in the state throughout the rest of the decade. As chairman, Jackson helped to establish the party's first "colored bureau" and was known throughout his life as a friend to

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

Hoosiers. Jackson resigned as chairman in 1939, amid criticism from those in his party that he was holding too many offices at once—in addition to his position as chairman, Jackson was also serving as state attorney general and as a member of the state election board. In January 1937, shortly before the end of his term,

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Paul V. McNutt Paul Vories McNutt (July 19, 1891 – March 24, 1955) was an American diplomat and politician who served as the 34th governor of Indiana, high commissioner to the Philippines, administrator of the Federal Security Agency, chairman of the ...

appointed Jackson to serve as

, succeeding

Philip Lutz, Jr. Philip C. Lutz Jr. (August 28, 1888 - May 22, 1947) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the twenty-seventh Indiana Attorney General from January 1, 1933 to January 1, 1937. Biography Early life and education Lutz was born in Boo ...

Jackson was the first attorney general to be appointed since the passage of the 1933 State Governmental Reorganization Law, which turned state attorney general from an elected to an appointed office (appointed by the governor). Jackson served the bulk of his term in the administration of Democratic Governor

M. Clifford Townsend Maurice Clifford Townsend (August 11, 1884 – November 11, 1954) was an American politician and the 35th governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1937 to 1941. During his term, he led relief efforts during and after the Great Flood of 1937. ...

. James P. Hughes, former Justice of the

Indiana Supreme Court The Indiana Supreme Court, established by Article 7 of the Indiana Constitution, is the highest judicial authority in the state of Indiana. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis, the Court's chambers are in the north wing of the Indiana ...

, served as Assistant Attorney General under Jackson. Jackson pushed

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

Henry F. Schricker to run for governor in the 1940 gubernatorial race. Schricker did run, and narrowly won the election.

Personal life and death

Jackson was married to Ellis Rock Jackson. They had a daughter, Dorothy June Williams. In 1940, while traveling to his farm in Hancock County with his son-in-law, Jackson died suddenly of a heart attack, in the middle of his term. Governor Townsend appointed Samuel D. Jackson, former Allen County prosecutor, to succeed Jackson as attorney general.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Omer 1884 births 1940 deaths People from Greenfield, Indiana Indiana Democrats Indiana Attorneys General Valparaiso University alumni Indiana University Maurer School of Law alumni