Jacob Haussling

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]