First Lady of Indiana

First Lady of Indiana
Seal of Indiana
Incumbent Maureen Braun since January 13, 2025
Style	Mrs. Braun, Madam First Lady
Residence	Governor's Residence
Inaugural holder	Anna Harrison (Territory of Indiana) Ann Gilmore Hay (State of Indiana)
Formation	November 7, 1816 (1816-11-07)

The First Lady of Indiana is the spouse of the Governor of Indiana. The role of First Lady of Indiana has never been defined. The spouse of Indiana is prominent in the social life of the state. As of 2026, there have been no female governors of the state of Indiana and therefore no First Gentleman of the state of Indiana. Not all governors of the state have been married and some have had several first ladies during their tenure.

There are 5 former living first ladies of the state: Judy O'Bannon, widow of Governor Frank O'Bannon, Maggie Kernan, wife of Governor Joe Kernan, Cheri Herman Daniels, wife of Governor Mitch Daniels, Karen Pence, wife of Governor Mike Pence, and Janet Holcomb, wife of Governor Eric Holcomb.

History

The title of First Lady of Indiana was first established on November 7 in the year 1816 with Mariah Jennings becoming the first first lady (wife of Jonathan Jennings). Before Indiana was a state, when it was a territory, future First Lady of the United States, Anna Harrison served as First Lady of the territory of Indiana when her husband, future President of the United States, William Henry Harrison served as governor of the territory of Indiana.

Three First Ladies of Indiana have served as Second Ladies of the United States while their husbands were Vice President of the United States. This includes Eliza Hendricks (wife of Thomas A. Hendricks), Lois Irene Marshall (wife of Thomas R. Marshall) and Karen Pence (wife of Mike Pence).

File:Mike Pence & Karen Pence by Gage Skidmore.jpg

First Lady Karen Pence with husband, Governor Mike Pence.

File:Gov. Marshall & wife LCCN2014687164.jpg

First Lady Lois Irene Marshall with husband, Governor Thomas R. Marshall.

Current

The current First Lady of Indiana is Maureen Braun, who is the wife of Republican Governor Mike Braun, who has been serving since January 13, 2025. As First Lady of Indiana, Maureen Braun has focused on improving childhood literacy by leading fundraisers throughout the state.

File:Indiana Governor's Residence - June 2022 - Sarah Stierch.jpg

Residence of the current First Lady of Indiana, Maureen Braun and Governor Mike Braun and the First Family of the state.

List of First Ladies of the Territory of Indiana

Name	Image	Birth-Death	Term	Territorial Governor	Notes
Anna Harrison	File:Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison.jpg	(1775–1864)	January 10, 1801 – December 28, 1812	William Henry Harrison	Later became First Lady of the United States upon her husband's Inauguration in 1841.
Mary Alexander Thornton		(1756–1837)	March 3, 1813 – November 7, 1816	Thomas Posey	Was the second wife of Thomas Posey and the last first lady of the territory of Indiana before it reached statehood.

There were only two first ladies of the Indiana territory before the state reached statehood in 1816.

List of First Ladies of the State of Indiana

Name	Image	Birth-Death	Term	Governor	Notes	References
Ann Gilmore Hay		(1792–1826)	November 7, 1816 – September 12, 1822	Jonathan Jennings	She was the first First Lady of the State of Indiana. She was the first of two wives her husband had throughout his lifetime.
Delilah Anderson Boon		(1777–1848)	September 12, 1822 – December 5, 1822	Ratliff Boon	She had the second shortest tenure as First Lady of Indiana, serving a little less than three months.
Ann Parker Paul		(1700s–1800s) Unknown	December 5, 1822 – February 12, 1825	William Hendricks	During her and her husband's marriage they had no children.
Esther Booker		(Late 1700s – 1800s) Unknown	February 12, 1825 – December 7, 1831	James B. Ray	She married her husband during his tenure as governor. Throughout their marriage they had several children together.
Catherine Stull Van Swearingen Noble		(1700s–1800s) Unknown	December 7, 1831 – December 6, 1837	Noah Noble	During her and her husband's marriage they had no children.
Zerelda G. Wallace	File:Zeralda G. Wallace (page 193 crop).jpg	(1817–1901)	December 6, 1837 – December 9, 1840	David Wallace	During her marriage with her husband she had several children with him. She was the stepmother of her husband's child, Lew Wallace from his first marriage, along with several others.
Ellen Williamson		(1819–1877)	December 9, 1840 – December 6, 1843	Samuel Bigger	During her and her husband's marriage they had no children.
Martha Ann Hurst		(Late 1700s or Early 1800s – 1847) Unknown	December 6, 1843 – December 27, 1848	James Whitcomb	During her and her husband's marriage they had one child, a daughter named Martha Renick Whitcomb.
Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	James Whitcomb	His wife died as a result of childbirth, which left him a widower during his tenure.
Sarah Alexander		(1810 approx. – 1863)	December 26, 1848 – December 5, 1849	Paris C. Dunning	Was the first wife of her husband; he later remarried to his second wife Allen Ashford.
Louisa Cook		(1812, approx. – 1852)	December 5, 1849 – 1852	Joseph A. Wright	Was the first wife of her husband and died during her tenure as First Lady of Indiana.
Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	Joseph A. Wright	This period was in-between his first and second marriages when he was a widower.
Harriet Burbridge		(1800s–1855)	1854–1855	Joseph A. Wright	Was the second wife of her husband and died during her tenure as First Lady of Indiana.
Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	1855 – January 12, 1867.	Joseph A. Wright	His second wife died when he was governor and for the rest of his tenure the office was vacant. After his tenure he did remarry to his third and final wife, Caroline Rockwell.
Unmarried	Unmarried	Unmarried	Unmarried	Ashbel P. Willard	Was unmarried throughout his life.
Unmarried	Unmarried	Unmarried	Unmarried	Abram A. Hammond	Was unmarried throughout his life.
Joanna Maria Elston		(1817–1914)	January 14, 1861 – January 16, 1861	Henry S. Lane	Shortest serving First Lady of Indiana with a tenure of two days.
Lucinda Burbank Morton		(1826–1907)	January 16, 1861 – January 24, 1867	Oliver P. Morton	She served as Second Lady of Indiana when her husband was Lieutenant Governor.
Matilda Baker		(1800s–1855)	January 24, 1867 – January 13, 1873	Conrad Baker	She served as Second Lady of Indiana when her husband was Lieutenant Governor.
Eliza Hendricks	File:ELIZA C. MORGAN HENDRICKS A woman of the century (page 382 crop).jpg	(1823–1903)	January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877.	Thomas A. Hendricks	Later became Second Lady of the United States in 1885, serving until her husband's death.
Nancy Williams		(1805–1880)	January 8, 1877 – June 27, 1880	James D. Williams	Her and her husband had seven children together while they were married.
Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	June 27, 1880 – November 20, 1880	James D. Williams	His wife died during his last few months as governor, thus making him a widower.
Eliza Jane Jaqua Gray 1st term		(1828–1908)	November 20, 1880 – January 10, 1881	Isaac P. Gray 1st term	She served as Second Lady of Indiana when her husband was Lieutenant Governor.
Cornelia Stone		(1800s–1886)	January 10, 1881 – January 12, 1885	Albert G. Porter	She was the second wife of her husband and they married during his first year as governor.
Eliza Jane Jaqua Gray 2nd term		(1828–1908)	January 12, 1885 – January 14, 1889	Isaac P. Gray 2nd term	First First Lady to hold non-consecutive terms. One of two First Ladies of Indiana to serve non-consecutive terms.
Unmarried	Unmarried	Unmarried	Unmarried	Alvin Peterson Hovey	Was unmarried throughout his life.
Rhoda Jane Castle		(1833–1926)	November 23, 1891 – January 9, 1893	Ira Joy Chase	Her and her husband had no children. She served as Second Lady of Indiana when her husband was Lieutenant Governor.
Martha Renick Whitcomb		(1847–1923)	January 9, 1893 – January 11, 1897	Claude Matthews	During her marriage her and her husband had two children together.
Catherine Boyd		(1849–1928)	January 11, 1897 – January 14, 1901	James A. Mount	Her husband was in the military from 1862 to 1865 during the American Civil War and was ranked as a Sergeant.
Bertha McCullough		(1853–1945)	January 14, 1901 – January 9, 1905	Winfield T. Durbin	During her and her husband's marriage they had no children.
Eva Hanly		(1860–1927)	January 9, 1905 – January 11, 1909	Frank Hanly	During her and her husband's marriage they had no children.
Lois Irene Marshall	File:Mrs. Thos. R. Marshall.jpg	(1873–1958)	January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913.	Thomas R. Marshall	Later became Second Lady of the United States in 1913, serving for 8 years.
Jennie Ralston		(1861–1925)	January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917	Samuel M. Ralston	She was the second wife of her husband, and they were married from 1889 until her husband's death in 1925 on October 14.
Cora Frist		(1861–1941)	January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921	James P. Goodrich	During her marriage her and her husband had one child, Pierre F. Goodrich, who was a lawyer, philanthropist, businessman and founder of Liberty Fund.
Ella M. Ade		(1869–1939)	January 10, 1921 – April 30, 1924	Warren T. McCray	Her term as First Lady of Indiana came to an end after her husband resigned from governor as a result of his conviction. He was pardoned by President Herbert Hoover.
Katherine Bain		(1800s–1900s) Unknown	April 30, 1924 – January 12, 1925	Emmett Forest Branch	She served as Second Lady of Indiana while her husband was Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.
Lydia Beatty Pierce		(1800s–1900s) Unknown	January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929	Edward L. Jackson	She was the second wife of her husband, marrying in 1920. His first wife was Rosa Wilkinson.
Martha Morgan Pierce		(1886–1977)	January 14, 1929 – January 9, 1933	Harry G. Leslie	During her and her husband's marriage they had no children.
Kathleen Timolat		(1894–1980)	January 9, 1933 – January 11, 1937	Paul V. McNutt	She and her husband married in 1918 and had no children together. She was widowed when her husband died in 1955.
Nora Adele Harris		(1889–1982)	January 11, 1937 – January 13, 1941	M. Clifford Townsend	Her and her husband had no children. She served as Second Lady of Indiana when her husband was Lieutenant Governor.
Maude L. Brown 1st term		(1888–1973)	January 13, 1941 – January 8, 1945	Henry F. Schricker 1st term	Married her husband in 1914 and had no children together during their 52 year long marriage.
Helene Edwards		(1893–1968)	January 8, 1945 – January 10, 1949	Ralph F. Gates	During her marriage her and her husband had two children together.
Maude L. Brown 2nd term		(1888–1973)	January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953	Henry F. Schricker 2nd term	One of two First Ladies of Indiana to serve non-consecutive terms.
Kathryn L. Heiliger		(1900s- Late 1900s or early 2000s) Unknown	January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957	George N. Craig	During her marriage her and her husband had two children together.
Barbara Winterble Handley		(1909–2000)	January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961	Harold W. Handley	During her marriage her and her husband had two children together.
Virginia Homann Welsh		(1900s–2014)	January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965	Matthew E. Welsh	During her marriage her and her husband had two children together.
Josephine Mardis Branigin		(1908–1988)	January 11, 1965 – January 13, 1969.	Roger D. Branigin	She married her husband in 1929 and survived him after he died in 1965.
Patricia Dolfus Whitcomb		(1930 or 1931 – 2021)	January 13, 1969 – January 8, 1973	Edgar Whitcomb	After her tenure as first lady, her and the governor divorced in 1986.
Elizabeth Bowen		(1918– 1981)	January 8, 1973 – January 12, 1981.	Otis Bowen	She died just a few months after serving as First Lady of Indiana. Her husband remarried twice.
Josie Davis		(1900s–2004)	January 12, 1981 – January 9, 1989.	Robert D. Orr	After her tenure as First Lady of Indiana, her and her husband divorced in 2000.
Susan Bayh	File:Evan and Susan Bayh pose for a picture on the day he was sworn in as Indiana's Secretary of State (cropped).jpg	(1959–2021)	January 9, 1989 – January 13, 1997.	Evan Bayh	During her marriage to her husband they had two twin boys. The names are Birch Evans IV, (Beau), and Nicholas, born in 1995.
Judy O'Bannon	File:Judy O'Bannon Speaking.jpg	(b. 1935)	January 13, 1997 – September 13, 2003.	Frank O'Bannon	During her tenure some topics she worked on were Communities Building Community, The "State's Living Room", Building a Global Community and Work with other First Ladies.
Maggie Kernan	File:Maggie Kernan (52753161222) (cropped).jpg	(b. 1946)	September 13, 2003 – January 10, 2005.	Joe Kernan	During her tenure, Kernan launched a statewide effort to recruit mentors for seventh grade students in schools.
Cheri Herman Daniels	File:Reagan Contact Sheet C39260 (cropped2).jpg	(b. 1950)	January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013.	Mitch Daniels	During her tenure, she partnered with the Indiana State Department of Health to raise awareness for heart disease in women.
Karen Pence	File:Karen Pence official portrait 2.jpg	(b. 1957)	January 14, 2005 – January 9, 2017.	Mike Pence	Pence, a honeybee conservative, had a beehive installed at the governor's mansion. Later became Second Lady of the United States in 2017.
Janet Holcomb		(b. 1950s) Unknown	January 17, 2017 – January 13, 2025.	Eric Holcomb	During her tenure, Holcomb focused on Youth and Education, the Arts and Outdoor Sports.
Maureen Braun	Error creating thumbnail:	(b. 1950s) Unknown	January 13, 2025 -.	Mike Braun	Incumbent First Lady since 2025. Wife of current Governor, Republican Mike Braun.

There has been a total of 50 First Ladies of Indiana, with some governors being unmarried and some having multiple marriages during their governorship.

See also

• First Lady of the United States
• Second Lady of the United States
• First lady
• List of current United States first spouses

Sources and references

1. https://www.nga.org/governor-spouse/janet-holcomb/
2. https://www.in.gov/governorhistory/mikepence/karenpence/index.htm
3. https://www.nga.org/former-governors/indiana/
4. https://www.nga.org/governor-spouse/maureen-braun/
5. https://www.nga.org/governor-spouse/maureen-braun/

Template:Governors of Indiana

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