Jacob Haussling Explained

Jacob Haussling
Office:24th Mayor of Newark
Term Start:1907
Term End:1915
Predecessor:Henry Meade Doremus
Successor:Thomas Lynch Raymond
Birth Date:22 February 1855
Birth Place:Newark, New Jersey
Death Place:Newark, New Jersey
Party:Democratic

Jacob Haussling (February 22, 1855 – February 25, 1921) was the four time Democratic Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He killed himself on February 25, 1921.[1]

Biography

Haussling began his political career in 1888 with an unsuccessful bid to become Sheriff of Essex County, New Jersey. His second attempt in 1893 was successful, serving one term until being unseated by Republican Henry Meade Doremus in the following 1896 election. Ten years later, the two men would again vie for the same position, this time, Mayor of Newark. In this race, however, Haussling was victorious over the two-term mayor Doremus, in large part due to his strong stance against the unpopular "Bishop's Law", which prohibited the operation of saloons on Sundays.

Haussling was re-elected in 1908, 1910, and 1912, until being defeated by Thomas Lynch Raymond in 1914. By his wife's account, the defeat and fall from public favor was difficult on Haussling, who died from suicide nine years later at the age of 66.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Newark Ex-mayor Haussling a Suicide . Jacob Haussling, four times Democratic Mayor of Newark, whose personal and political fortunes had waned of late years, stabbed himself to death yester day. Mrs. Haussling, who sat all day beside the body in the couple's Newark home, 440 High Street, epitomized the story of the ex-Mayor's decline when she said: . . February 26, 1921 . 2008-06-30 .
  2. Web site: He won four terms as Mayor of Newark on the 'What'll you have?' plank, and then killed himself . PolitickerNJ.com . 2012-07-22.