Omer N. Custer
Omer N. Custer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 43rd and 45th Illinois Treasurer | |
| In office January 12, 1925 – January 10, 1927 | |
| Governor | Len Small |
| Preceded by | Oscar Nelson |
| Succeeded by | Garrett D. Kinney |
| In office January 14, 1929 – January 12, 1931 | |
| Governor | Louis Lincoln Emmerson |
| Preceded by | Garrett D. Kinney |
| Succeeded by | Edward J. Barrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 25, 1873 Fayette County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 17, 1942 (aged 68) Galesburg, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Omer Nixon Custer (December 25, 1873 – October 17, 1942) was an American politician, newspaper editor, and businessman.[1][2]
Life
[edit]Born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Custer moved to Galesburg, Illinois where he owned the Galesburg Register-Mail newspaper. He was also president of the Galesburg National Bank and of the telephone company. Custer was a Republican. He served as Illinois Treasurer from 1925 to 1927 and 1929 to 1931. As time went on Omer Custer expanded his business enterprises in many fields of endeavor. The 1930–31 edition of "Who's Who in America" included Custer, listed as the president of the First Galesburg National Bank, Purington Paving Brick Company, Western Illinois Ice Company, Hotel Custer Company; publisher of the Galesburg Register-Mail; and director of the Intra State Telephone Company, Illinois Light and Power Company, Galesburg Overall Company, Beatrice Creamery Company, and Western Investment Company. He was a member of the Masons, Elks, Rotary, Hamilton Club and Chicago Rod and Gun Club. He was also a trustee of Lombard College.[3]
Death
[edit]Custer died in Galesburg, Illinois of a heart attack on October 17, 1942. His estate was valued at $1,169,704.[4][5]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Omer N. Custer | 251,508 | 32.81 | |
| Republican | Charles T. Stephenson | 188,122 | 24.54 | |
| Republican | Charles A. Gregory | 183,554 | 23.95 | |
| Republican | Peter I. Bukowski | 72,452 | 9.45 | |
| Republican | Matthew B. Wells | 70,914 | 9.25 | |
| Total votes | 766,550 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Omer N. Custer | 1,498,925 | 67.71 | |
| Democratic | John C. Martin | 693,658 | 31.34 | |
| Socialist | John T. Whitlock | 17,397 | 0.79 | |
| Socialist Labor | Abe Cohen | 2,443 | 0.11 | |
| Independent Republican | Hugh W. O’Toole | 768 | 0.03 | |
| Single Tax | Robert T. Aiston | 433 | 0.02 | |
| Total votes | 2,213,624 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Omer N. Custer | 899,550 | 70.90 | |
| Independent Republican | Omer N. Custer | 37 | 0.00 | |
| Total | Omer N. Custer | 899,587 | 70.91 | |
| Republican | I. J. Brown | 369,086 | 29.09 | |
| Independent Republican | I. J. Brown | 10 | 0.00 | |
| Total | I. J. Brown | 369,096 | 29.09 | |
| Total votes | 1,268,683 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Omer N. Custer | 1,626,253 | 56.99 | |
| Democratic | George W. Alschuler | 1,213,188 | 42.51 | |
| Socialist | John T. Whitlock | 12,707 | 0.45 | |
| Socialist Labor | H. R. Bloemsma | 1,502 | 0.05 | |
| Total votes | 2,853,650 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Len Small | 481,960 | 36.64 | |
| Republican | Omer N. Custer | 370,301 | 28.15 | |
| Republican | Oscar E. Carlstrom | 282,741 | 21.50 | |
| Republican | William H. Malone | 116,838 | 8.88 | |
| Republican | Edward J. Brundage | 38,449 | 2.92 | |
| Republican | Willard A. Maxwell | 13,413 | 1.02 | |
| Republican | Herbert E. Clayton | 6,259 | 0.48 | |
| Republican | J. Edward Jones | 5,284 | 0.40 | |
| Total votes | 1,315,245 | 100.0 | ||
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Omer N. Custer, Publisher in Galesburg, Dies". Chicago Tribune. October 18, 1942.
- ^ Marquis (Author), Albert Nelson (Editor) (1931). Who's Who is America : Vol. 16 - 1930-1931 Two Years. Chicago: The A. N. Marquis Company, 1931.
{{cite book}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ Article
- ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1920-1930,' Biographical Sketch of Omer N. Custer, pg. 96-97
- ^ Peterson, Lowell (Spring 1967). "Omer N. Custer: A Biography of a Downstate Political Boss". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 60 (1): 37–63. JSTOR 40190241.
- ^ a b c d e "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
