Jacob Haussling

Jacob Haussling
Mayor of Newark
In office January 1, 1907 – January 1, 1915
Preceded by	Henry Meade Doremus
Succeeded by	Thomas Lynch Raymond
Personal details
Born	February 22, 1855
Died	February 25, 1921 (aged 66) Newark, New Jersey
Political party	Democratic

Jacob Haussling (February 22, 1855 – February 25, 1921) was the four time Democratic Mayor of Newark, New Jersey who took his own life 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 committed suicide nine years later at the age of 66.^[2]

References

1. "Newark Ex-mayor Haussling a Suicide". The New York Times. February 26, 1921. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 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. "He won four terms as Mayor of Newark on the 'What'll you have?' plank, and then killed himself". PolitickerNJ.com. Retrieved 2012-07-22. Haussling was re-elected easily in 1908, 1910 and 1912. But controversies surrounding the indictment of the Essex County Democratic boss James R. Nugent (who had been dumped by Gov. Woodrow Wilson as Democratic State Chairman) helped Republican Thomas Raymond unseat Haussling in the 1914 election.