Biography

12/21/1844 - 10/16/1901

Jacob B. Kemerer (D18) Northampton County 1899-1901

Early Life:

Jacob B. Kemerer, born December 21, 1844, Centre Valley, Upper Saucon, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; son of Benjamin and Mary Bachman Kemerer; moved to Freemansburg, Pennsylvania, then to Philadelphia; Central High School, Philadelphia, 1861; married, Amanda J. Seem, 1865; studied law, admitted, Northampton County bar, 1876; attorney, continued in active practice, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; member, Bethlehem Council, 1880-1887, elected, president, Bethlehem Council, 1885-1887; Chief Burgess of Bethlehem, 1887-1893; engaged partnership, real estate, fire insurance business, 1877-1899; Solicitor of Bethlehem, 1892-1893; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1899-1901; died, October 16, 1901, while in office of the Senate. Burial location unknown.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Member, Bethlehem Council, 1880-1887, elected, president, Bethlehem Council, 1885-1887; Chief Burgess of Bethlehem, 1887-1893; Solicitor of Bethlehem, 1892-1893, chaired, Bethlehem Street, Water, Law, and Police Committees.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 18th district, Northampton County, 1899-1901; committee assignments, Appropriations, Banks and Building and Loan Associations, Judiciary General, Law and Order, New Counties and County Seats.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members K". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1901). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1181, 1187-1190, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1156.

South Bethlehem Globe (South Bethlehem, Northampton, Pennsylvania) Wednesday October 16, 1901.

Memorial proceedings of the Senate upon the death of Hon. Jacob B. Kemerer : late a Senator from the eighteenth district of Pennsylvania (wikimedia.org)