Widow Succeeds Urbahns in Office
- Steve Barnett
- Jan 22
- 1 min read
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 22, 1926: Shortly before noon today, Grace May Banta Urbahns was administered the oath of office at her home, 404 E. 43rd St, becoming the first woman treasurer of the state of Indiana and the first woman to hold a major office provided by the state Constitution. Her accension to this office followed the death of her husband, Bernhardt “Ben” Henry Urbahns who had been elected state treasurer in 1924. Urbahns died the previous evening of complications following surgery for the removal of a kidney. Before entering the hospital, Urbahns was concerned that he might not survive the surgery and sought to have his wife appointed state treasurer in the event of his death. Gov. Ed Jackson had agreed to this request and this morning he signed the commission selecting the grief-stricken woman.
“Widow Succeeds Urbahns in Office,” The Indianapolis News, 22 January 1926, p. 1:8
