Jacob Haussling

Jacob Haussling
24th Mayor of Newark
In office 1907–1915
Preceded by	Henry Meade Doremus
Succeeded by	Thomas Lynch Raymond
Sheriff of Essex County, New Jersey
In office 1893–1896
Succeeded by	Henry Mead Doremus
Personal details
Born	(1855-02-22)February 22, 1855 Newark, New Jersey
Died	February 25, 1921(1921-02-25) (aged 66) 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][2]

Biography

Haussling was born in Newark, to Henry Haussling, a Bavarian immigrant, and Josephine Freund.^[2] He attended St. Mary's Parochial School, the Second Ward Grammar School, and Stratton's Business College. ^[2]

Haussling began his political career in 1888 with an unsuccessful bid to become Sheriff of Essex County, New Jersey.^[1] His second attempt in 1893 was successful, serving one term until being unseated by Republican Henry Meade Doremus in the following 1896 election.^[2] In 1906, Haussling was victorious over the Republicans partly due to his strong stance against the unpopular "Bishop's Law", which prohibited the operation of saloons on Sundays. ^[2][3][4][5] Although he replaced Henry Doremus as Mayor, Doremus was not renominated and Haussling won over Republican nominee Walton S. Howarth. ^[4]

Haussling was re-elected in 1908, 1910, and 1912, until being defeated by Thomas Lynch Raymond in 1914.^[2] 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.^[3][2] Scholar Dan O'Flaherty argues that his defeat was part of a total disappearance of Germans from Newark politics, caused by anti-German prejudice and a change in government structure. ^[6]

References

1. "Newark Ex-mayor Haussling a Suicide". The New York Times. February 26, 1921. Retrieved June 30, 2008. 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:
2. "Jacob Haussling, Ex-Mayor, Suicide". Newark Evening News. February 25, 1921. p. 1.
3. "He won four terms as Mayor of Newark on the 'What'll you have?' plank, and then killed himself". PolitickerNJ.com. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
4. "Republican City Ticket Goes Under". Newark Evening News. November 7, 1906. p. 1.
5. "Democrats Hopeful of Gains in State". Trenton Sunday Advertiser. November 4, 1906. p. 14.
6. O'Flaherty, Dan (April 16, 2018). "The Unnatural Political Demise of German Newark" (PDF). Newark History Society.

Political offices
Preceded by Henry Meade Doremus	Mayor of Newark 1906–1915	Succeeded by Thomas Lynch Raymond