Biography

01/01/1773 - 06/29/1839

Jacob “Major” Alter, Jr., (D13) Cumberland County 1817-1821

Jacob “Major” Alter, Jr., born January 1, 1773, Allen, Cumberland County, Province of Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of John Jacob Alter and Margaret GraafeLandis; farmer; married, Elizabeth Foutz Alter, 1796, children, Jacob Alter, William P Alter, John Alter, Eliza Alter Graham, Simon Snyder Altar, David Alter; elected, Republican, House of Representatives, 1809-1816; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1813; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1817-1821; unsuccessful campaign, Coroner, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 1822; elected, Democrat, House of Representatives, 1825-1827; trustee, Dickinson College Trustee, 1820-1833; died, June 29, 1839 (aged 66), West Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; interment, Plainfield Church of God Cemetery, Plainfield, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Trustee, Dickinson College Trustee, 1820-1833.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, House of Representatives, 1809-1816.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 13th district, 1813.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 13th district, Cumberland County, 1817-1821.

Unsuccessful campaign, Coroner, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 1822.

Elected, Democrat, House of Representatives, 1825-1827.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Not available currently. 

Legacy: 

Father, John Jacob Alter, Pennsylvania House of Representatives was 1799-1805. Son, Simon Snyder Altar, named after, Simon Snyder, member, House of Representatives, Northumberland County, 1797-1808; third Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving 1808-1817.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "A" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Jacob “Major” Alter Jr. (1773-1839) - Find a Grave Memorial