| Jacob Hostetter | |
| State1: | Pennsylvania |
| District1: | 4th |
| Term Start1: | November 16, 1818 |
| Term End1: | March 3, 1821 |
| Preceded1: | Jacob Spangler |
| Succeeded1: | James S. Mitchell |
| Office2: | Member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly |
| Term2: | 1797–1802 |
| Birth Date: | 9 May 1754 |
| Birth Place: | near York, Province of Pennsylvania, British America |
| Party: | Democratic-Republican |
| Children: | Jacob Jr. |
Jacob Hostetter (May 9, 1754 – June 29, 1831) was a judge, member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
Jacob Hostetter was born on May 9, 1754, near York (later Hanover) in the Province of Pennsylvania. He attended the common schools and worked as a clockmaker. He manufactured the Hostetter clock out of a building in Hanover.[1] [2]
Hostetter was a member of the general assembly of Pennsylvania from 1797 to 1802.[1] Hostetter was commissioned as judge in York County on February 28, 1801. He succeeded John Stewart who left for the U.S. Congress and was succeeded by John L. Hinkle.[3] [4]
He was elected as a Republican to the Fifteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jacob Spangler. He was re-elected as a Republican to the Sixteenth Congress.[1]
Around 1825, Hostetter moved to Ohio and settled in New Lisbon, Ohio. He then continued working as a clockmaker with his son Jacob Jr. He later moved to Canton.[2]
Hostetter's son Jacob served in the Ohio legislature and worked as an associate judge.[2] He was a minister of the Mennonite Church.[2]
Hostetter died on June 29, 1831.[1] [2]