Edward Seitz Shumaker papers

Edward Seitz Shumaker, eldest son of David W. and Sarah Ann Seitz Shumaker, was born in 1867 in Greenville, Ohio. He graduated from DePauw University in 1895 and received his D.D. in 1918. He married Lena Truax in 1896 and she died in 1899. He then married Flora Holliger in 1900. He had five children: Lois W., Albert E., Paul R., Charles W. and Arthur W. He was a student pastor at Bainbridge and Knightsville Methodist Churches. He entered the Northwest Indiana Conference and had appointments in Plainfield; Maple Avenue, Terre Haute; and Williamsport. Edward Shumaker was a prominent leader of prohibition forces in Indiana in the early 20th century and was head of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League. He was editor of Indiana edition “American Issue,” 1907-1915. In 1929, at the age of 62, he served time in the Indiana State Farm at Putnamville for 53 days for contempt of court. Dr. Shumaker publicly criticized the Indiana Supreme Court in the Anti-Saloon League’s annual report for its decision in liquor cases. He was sentenced on Aug. 4, 1927, to serve 60 days at the State Farm. After various legal delays, Dr. Shumaker announced in October 1928, that he was ready to serve his sentence. When he arrived at Putnamville, he was met by a pardon from Governor Ed Jackson and was released upon payment of a $250 fine which accompanied the sentence. After Shumaker’s release, attorney general of Indiana, Arthur L. Gilliom, filed a motion with the Supreme Court for Shumaker to be recommitted to the penal farm, contending that the Governor had no power to set aside a contempt sentence. The Supreme Court upheld Gilliom’s motion. A habeas corpus petition then was filed in Federal District Court. Robert Baltzell, judge of the Federal District Court for Southern Indiana, then held that the Indiana Supreme Court had the right to declare invalid the governor’s pardon. He refused the habeas corpus petition. Shumaker began serving his term in January 1929 and was released April 4, 1929. He died in October of the same year.