The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-24
EN- NETT +. BRANCH
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Former Governor Stricken
Unexpectedly; Noted as
Soldier, Legislator.
picture on PaKe Five)

~ 4 Htt bPNCtNb
MARTINSVILLE, Ind, Feb. "a
Arrangements we're being made to-
day for the funeral of Emmett F.
Branch, 81, former Governor, who
succumbed suddenly to heart disease
at his home here Tuesday night.
Apparently in good health, Mr..
Branch visited Indianapolis Tues
day and called at the Office of Gov
ernor Harry G. Leslie, returning
here in the afternoon.
He was stricken a few hours later
and succumbed at 9:45 Tuesday
night.
Mr.. Branch incurred a stomach
disability while on a train to Gin
cinnati, April IL, 1881. He was taken
to a hospital, in that city and soon
recovered.
AS Lieutenant Governor, he sue
ceeded Warren T. McCray when
the latter withdrew from Office in
April, 1924.
He served as Governor until Jan
uary, 1925, when Ed Jackson was
sworn in, and Mr.. Branch then re-
tired to the practice of law.
He was a lifelong resident of Mar
t%insVille and was elected as state
representative from Morgan county
in 1903, 1905 and 1907, serving as
speaker in the last term.
Long Active in Politics
Long active in Republican politics,
there was much talk concerning
MI. Branch'S possibilities as a can
didate for the nomination for Gov
ernor this year and many friends
had pledged their support.
He was veteran of two wars and
a punitive campaign.
Two years after graduation from
Indiana university and entering the
practice Of law here, war was de-
clared against Spain and he was the
first man in Morgan county to enlist
as a private.
He rose from the ranks to a first
l~ieutenancy.
When trouble broke out on the
Mexican border in 1916, Mr.. Branch
declined appointment as adjutant-
general of Indiana and became
lieutenant-colonel of the One hun
dred fifty-first regiment.
Colonel in World War
The next year, upon this nations
entrance into the World war, Mr.
Branch became colonel of the same
regiment. Later he was invalided to
FIT. Bayard, New Mexico, and re-
covered sufficiently to command a
depot brigade at San Antonio, Tex
Upon the siging of the armistice he
resigned his commission.
He again became active in poll
tics and was elected Lieutenant
Governor in 1921.
His interest in politics was in
herited, a grandfather, P. S. Parks,
having served as a state senator.
and his father as Republican dis
trict chairman.
In 1924 Mr.. Branch made the
speech in the Cleveland convention
which placed the name of Senator
James E. Watson before it as a can
didate for the presidential nomina-
ton.
Played on Ball Team
While in Indiana university he
played center f1el6 on the baseball
team in 1893 when it won the state
championship; was a member Of
the first band organized on the
campus, playing the cornet. anc
business manager of the Indiana
Daily Student.
He married Miss Katherine Balm
daughter of the former owner
editor and publisher of the Mar.
tinsville Republican.
Surviving are the widow; a son
James Elliott Branch, instructor ir
Illinois university; a brother, Franz
Q. Branch; a sister, Miss Olive Lou.
Use Branch, and a nephew, M. E
Branch, all of Martinsville, and ar
uncle, M. G. Branch, of Muncie.