Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-05-25
Death of Hon. Jacob Ziegler.

known to all of Us, passed peacefully
away at about 10 O'Clock last Satur-
day morning, May l9. in the 18th
year of his age.
His death was not wholly unex-
pected, and while all feared, yet all
hoped, they might see his familiar
form still move around and among US.
Of his particular disease we need not
speak, but it enforces the truth of the
lines which say:
"Our life con ntains thousand springs,
And dies if one be wrong"
Mr.. Ziegler suffered patiently, un-
complainingly. In our visits to his
sick-room we heard no complaints, no
regrets. He died resigned, sleeping
away bis life as it were, yet conscious
to the end. No citizen could have
departed from our midst for whom
there is more sincere sorrow. None
had stronger hold upon the affec-
tions of our people.
In his autobiography, as found in
tie history of this county, it is stated
that he was born in Adams county,
this State, and came to Butler in the
year 1881, boy of ls years OF age.
That he rapidly grew in favor with
our people appears from the fact that
soon after, in 1885, when but %
years of age, he was made clerk to
the board of County Commissioners.
Three years later, 1888, we find him
appointed, by the Governor of the
State, Prothonotary of the county,
and in the fall of the same year, the
Constitution of the State having been
changed and that Office with others
made elective by the people, we find
him elected Prothonotary of the
county by the people. We well
recollect seeing him serve in that ca
pacity and more popular officer, or
more popular man, we suppose never
has lived in the county. He was
admitted to the Bar about the close
of his term of Office, but never engag-
ed actively in the practice of the law.
Soon after, 1842, he was one of the
founders of the Democratic Herald,
a paper which, although changing
ownership several times, always ex-
ercised great influence in its party
councils. In l847 he was elected
member of the General Assembly for
the county, and from that time up to
1867, twenty years. be filled several
Offices at Harrisburg, among them
clerk or assistant clerk in both Senate
and House number of sessions. He
was also, within that time, chief clerk
in the Office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth during the Admins
tration of Gov. Bigler, three years.
He also filed an Office in one of the
departments at Washington within
that time.
In 1867 he returned to his home
here and regained the control of his
old paper, which by his enterprise
was enlarged and improved at differ
ent times until it is now one of the
leading ones Of the State. 1t is per-
haps as an editor that we can and
should more particularly speak of him.
For the past nineteen years that we
have been cotemporary with him as
journalist here we can recall but
single occasion or two in which we
found exception or felt aggrieved by
his words as an editor And in these,
as on all occasions, he was quick to
make amends-quick to explain or
apologize. His good nature was such
that be desired to do no wrong. He
would rather do favor, and many q
one be did. not only to his brethren
of the press, but to many of his fel-
low citizens. All must speak of
Uncle Jake, as be was familiarly call
ed, as kind hearted, obliging, gen.
erous, good-natured citizen and friend,
no matter what position he occupied
or at what time an appeal was made
to him.
Captain Ziegler was also gifted
with personal powers possessed by
few. His conversational gifts were
rare and in some respects unexcelled.
He could entertain his friends or an
audience as few men could. With a
fine sense of the humorous, pecu-
liar wit, and a way of telling a story
or an anecdote, an inexhaustible fund
Of which he possessed, he could imi-
tate and describe persons and things
in a manner that always created mer-
riment and good feeling. This, with
his other good qualities, made him a
general favorite, and one whose COM
pany was always sought. Added to
this was fine and manly form and
face, q candor and outspoken way
that attracted attention to him at all
times and in all places. Hardly o
man, woman or child in this county
but has seen or heard of Uncle Jake,
and if they had not seen him they
sought to do so, so general a favorite
was he with all our people.
But death came, and has taken one
whom all hoped could remain longer.
He had, however, reached the allotted
age of three score years and ten, and
even more than that number. Still
he will be missed in this community
as perhaps no other one could be.
The regret over his death is sincere
and universal. But death is the Ger