Omer N. Custer
43rd and 45th Illinois Treasurer
In office
January 12, 1925 – January 10, 1927
GovernorLen Small
Preceded byOscar Nelson
Succeeded byGarrett D. Kinney
In office
January 14, 1929 – January 12, 1931
GovernorLouis Lincoln Emmerson
Preceded byGarrett D. Kinney
Succeeded byEdward J. Barrett
Personal details
Born(1873-12-25)December 25, 1873
Fayette County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 17, 1942(1942-10-17) (aged 68)
Galesburg, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican

Omer Nixon Custer (December 25, 1873 – October 17, 1942) was an American politician, newspaper editor, and businessman.[1][2]

Life

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

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

Illinois Treasurer Republican Primary, 1924[6]
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
Illinois Treasurer General Election, 1924[6]
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
Illinois Treasurer Republican Primary, 1928[6]
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
Illinois Treasurer General Election, 1928[6]
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
Illinois Gubernatorial Republican Primary, 1932[6]
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

  1. ^ "Omer N. Custer, Publisher in Galesburg, Dies". Chicago Tribune. October 18, 1942.
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ Article
  4. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1920-1930,' Biographical Sketch of Omer N. Custer, pg. 96-97
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
Party political offices Preceded byOscar Nelson Republican nominee for Illinois Treasurer 1924 Succeeded byGarrett D. Kinney Preceded byGarrett D. Kinney Republican nominee for Illinois Treasurer 1928 Succeeded byClarence F. Buck Political offices Preceded byOscar Nelson Treasurer of Illinois 1925–1927 Succeeded byGarrett D. Kinney Preceded byGarrett D. Kinney Treasurer of Illinois 1929–1931 Succeeded byEdward J. Barrett
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