The Hangman's Ropemaker: Jacob Bupp, the Alderman (Part Three: 1891)

"The 'Squire, by the way, makes hangman's ropes, and occasionally quotes Scripture, in addition to his Aldermanic duties."

~ "Quite a Different Case," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 26 April 1891, page 7

*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*

Jacob Bupp had been elected as Alderman in 1889, and spent a good part of 1890 in the news for either his alderman duties or his ropemaking.  1891 was also a busy year for Jacob Bupp, and it was his last year in office as alderman of the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny City at 18 McClure Avenue. He also continued his rope-making business.

On 26 February 1891, both Harry Marsh and William West were hanged using ropes he created.  William West's hanging caused a stir because the rope broke.  But more on that in another blog post.

One of his constables, Bartley Maree, had a bit of excitement on 20 March 1891.  Maree had a warrant for a man by the name of James Crowley, who was up on charges of disorderly conduct.  Crowley was found in a saloon on Preble Avenue in the Ninth Ward of Allegheny City.  When Maree tried to make the arrest outside of the saloon, another man by the name of Sullivan, asked Maree to read the warrant.  When Maree reached for the paper in his pocket, Crowley knocked him down and then Crowley and Sullivan used the constable's mace to beat him insensible before disappearing.  Maree was left with some very ugly injuries.  A manhunt was done of the area afterwards for Crowley, but it is unknown whether or not he was caught.  Maree did recover from his injuries, as Pittsburgh area newspapers in September listed him as making arrests again.

*Note here - Woods Run was apparently a dangerous area in that time, and The Pittsburgh Press had run a quote after the Maree incident that stated "The police in the Woods Run district are getting frightened.  It is a common occurrence with them to get hurt while making arrests." ("Dangerously Beaten," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 March 1891, page 2)*

On 2 April 1891, a pair of brothers, David and Joe Nicely, were hanged in Somerset County using his ropes.  Their hanging also created a stir for Jacob, as he almost didn't get paid for the ropes.

On 14 April 1891, a fight occurred outside Jacob's office between Alex Dugan and Peter Weis, who had just had a hearing rendered by Jacob and didn't like the outcome of said hearing.  Constable Merriman, one of Jacob's constables, charged both men with disorderly conduct the very next day.

On 25 April 1891, William Jackson appeared before Jacob Bupp on charges of chicken theft.  Jackson was described as a "venerable colored man, with hair frosted by the night winds."  he had stolen chickens because he had no money to buy food, and after arguing Scripture with Jacob, he was discharged with no fines, because the old alderman could see wisdom in the old man's statement.

On 10 June 1891, Mrs. Cook of Woods Run was brought up by Mrs. Barbara Stipple on a serious charge and was arrested by Constable Merriman of Bupp's office.

On 20 June 1891, Jacob Bupp appeared before Alderman McKelvy to give more information on his service in the military during the Civil War for his pension claim.  An physician's examination was done on him on 2 July 1891 because he claimed he had an injury to his right leg and had rheumatism as a result of his service. No injuries were found and his claim was denied, a mentioned in the post on his Civil War service.

In July 1891, three Hungarian men and Alexander Killian/Killen were all supposed to be hanged, all using ropes made by Jacob.  However, all four men cheated the hangman, just as Jacobs, Rudy and Smith did the previous year.

By 4 July 1891, Jacob Bupp had apparently and abruptly resigned from his post, even though he later vehemently denied handing in his resignation.  W. F. Richardson was appointed by the governor of Pennsylvania in Bupp's stead, and for a bit it seems the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny had two aldermen.  But it appeared Jacob's run as alderman didn't last much longer, even if he didn't abruptly resign.

You see, there was a bit of a scandal.....

Jacob Bupp was arrested 9 August 1891 on a charge of misdemeanor in office.  Henry Shaney was the prosecutor that made the charges and alleged that he asked Jacob to collect money for him while Jacob held his commission as alderman, but that after Jacob collected the money, he pocketed it instead of turning it over.  Alderman McMasters was the one assigned to hear the case on 14 August 1891 and listened to testimony from Isaac Glantz, who was the plaintiff in the case in which Jacob pocketed the money.  The amount Jacob pocketed was $11.50 (roughly worth $325 today).  McMasters found against Jacob, and the hearing was referred to the trial court system.

On 8 October 1891, it was reported that Jacob was in jail, having defaulted on his bail from the hearing on 9 August 1891.  Apparently he could not find a bondsman to pay for his bail while he awaited trial, so he ended up having to sit in jail at the Allegheny County Courthouse.  Further research will need to be done to determine the outcome of the case - and this log post will be update to reflect that if and when it should ever be found.

Apparently the outcome of the case was resolved enough that Jacob could be home in December, as he was again interviewed by a local newspaper  The interview did state that Jacob "was formerly the Alderman in the ward in which he lives, and dealt out justice with as much delight as he made ropes" ("Hanging's the Way," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 26 December 1891, page 3).

The State of New York had just begun to implement electrocution as an execution method, and Jacob chimed in against the novel idea.  He felt electrocution was too horrible and cruel a method to be used as a capital punishment.

It stated in the interview that he was the maker of over 101 hangman's ropes at this point, and had witnessed 72 of those hangings himself.  This article also stated he worked as a rope maker in Illinois for a period of years in the 1840s and became acquainted with some of the early Mormon leaders when he was there.  (Further research will need to be done to verify this statement, and will appear in a future post should I ever find such information.)

Even though he wasn't an alderman in 1892, he was listed in the directory as such.  It was likely that the directory information was given and printed before he resigned (or was forced to give up) his office.  He was also referred to as "Alderman Jacob Bopp" in a newspaper article dated 26 Feb 1892, when he was mentioned as the ropemaker for the hanging of Patrick Fitzpatrick.

Sources Used and Referenced
"A Pugnacious Prisoner," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 21 March 1891, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

"A Rope for West," The Daily Republican (Monongahela, Pennsylvania), 16 January 1891, page 1; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

"A Ward With Two Aldermen," Pittsburg Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 4 July 1891, page 12; online images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 19 August 2016), Historic American Newspapers.

Additional Evidence in the Claim of Jacob Bupp, Private, Company G, 6th Regiment Pennsylvania, Affidavit of Jacob Bupp filed by H.K. Tyler (lawyer) of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania filed June 22, 1891; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Alderman Bupp in Jail," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 8 October 1891, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"Bupp's Statements Denied," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 9 March 1891, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 September 2017).

"Business for the Hangman," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 7 July 1891, Page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 September 2017).

"Collided with the Law," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 11 June 1891, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 October 2017).

"Court Proceedings Condensed," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 26 February 1892, page 8; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 9 October 2017).

"Dangerously Beaten," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 March 1891, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 July 2019).

"Didn't Like the Decision," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 18 July 2019, page 6; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 18 July 2019).

"Echoes of the Night," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 10 August 1891, page 5; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 22 March 2016).

"Ex-Alderman Bopp Roped In," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 10 August 1891, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 September 2017).

"Flashbacks," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 8 April 1931, page 8; online images, Google News (https://news.google.com/newspapers : accessed 19 August 2016).

"Hanging's the Way," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 26 December 1891, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 12 May 2019).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1890/1891 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher & Thurston, 1890), 874, "Bupp Jacob, 18 McClure av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1891/1892 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher & Thurston, 1891), 978, Listed under aldermen "Bupp Jacob, 18 McClure, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1892/1893 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher & Thurston, 1892), 186, "Bupp Jacob, alderman, 18 McClure av, h Shady av, 11th wd, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

"Little Local Items," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 27 May 1891, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 October 2017).

"Nicelys Hear Their Doom," Altoona Tribune (Altoona, Pennsylvania), 23 January 1891, page 4; online archives with images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

"Notes about the State," Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 19 March 1891, page 5; online images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 13 May 2019), Newspaper Archives.

"Pound the Officer," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 21 March 1891, page 6; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 October 2017).

"Quite a Different Case," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 26 April 1891, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

Surgeon's Certificate in case of Jacob Bupp, Co. G, 6th Reg't, Pa. H. A. claim number 931690, examined July 2nd, 1891 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The Hangman's Ropemaker: Jacob Bupp, the Alderman (Part Two: 1890)

"A hearing was held yesterday before Alderman Jacob Bupp, of the Eleventh Ward, Allegheny...."

~ "For Dynamiting Fish," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 3 August 1889, page 12 (yes, I used the same quote as last blog!)

*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*

Note: This is part two of three of Jacob Bupp's life as alderman of the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny City.  Click here to read part one.  Click here to read part three.

Jacob Bupp's first eight months in office were fairly eventful, as my previous post demonstrated.  The next year was just as busy for him, as he continued to make ropes for several hangings (to be written about in the future and posted to this blog when done) as well as be an alderman.  

By the end of his only full year in office, he appeared to have an actual office space at 18 McClure in which he carried out his alderman duties, as evidenced by the Allegheny City directories from that year and the year following.  He still resided in the house on 191 Shady Avenue though.

In February, he was noted in few newspapers as creating the rope that hanged George W. Clark of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.  While he worked as an alderman, this hanging also demonstrates that he worked his ropemaking business as well.

On 14 March 1890, Frank Gerade of Shady Avenue came into Jacob Bupp's office, a day before he murdered his eight year old step-daughter Annie Hofer by bashing her brains out.  Jacob gave testimony that he saw Gerade three times that day, and that each time the man was acting in a wildly strange manner.  He added that the man in question was brought before him on several times for several various charges, though none of those charges made the papers. However, Bill Loftquist, in his blog on Frank Gerade, states that the Gerades "were regularly involved in serious incidents of child and spousal abuse," so it is likely that some of those charges were brought before Jacob in his alderman duties. (Gerade was later sentenced to death for the murder, but eventually was able to get that sentence reversed.)

At the end of  March of 1890, Jacob Bupp was written about in an interview done by The Pittsburg Dispatch in an article titled "Making Nine Ropes," that appeared on the second page of the 31 March 1890 edition, but parts of the article ended up being syndicated by newspapers across the country about his singular record of hangman's ropes.  According to the interview, he had created the ropes for eight-eight different hangings, mostly in Pennsylvania, but a few across the country.  He was busy making ropes for several hangings that were to take place the first week of April (interviews said nine hangings-but in reality it was only seven).  William H. Bartholomew in Easton, Alfred Andrews in Bellefonte, Zach Taylor in Waynesburg, and Charles Carter in Ebensburg all hanged.  Three others had their sentences commuted ultimately to life in prison: James H. Jacobs and John W. Rudy of Lancaster and William H. Smith of Allegheny City.

The syndicated article mentioned nothing about him being an alderman, but did state that:

"Personal Gossip," The Wichita Daily Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), 29 May 1890, page 2; source: Library of Congress via Chronicling America  - Note the spelling of Pittsburgh without the 'h'.... the city didn't adopt the current spelling until 1911

The full interview by The Pittsburg Dispatch described him as being an "old gentleman, having resided in the Eleventh ward  for many years.  He is small in stature, with a full gray  beard.  He is robust and healthy, and is a good conversationalist, particularly on criminal matters.  He keeps well posted on the affairs of the country."  The same article then goes on to say that he was the father of only three children, which, as stated in other blogs, was not truth.  His children William, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary Ann all lived in Allegheny City with their own families, while Emma lived in Big Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania with her family. The only two children as of yet unaccounted for in 1890 were Alice and Ella.

 On 18 June 1890, Jacob Bupp heard a case in which John Miller asked for charges to be brought up against his neighbor John Doge for trespassing when Doge's cows got into Miller's garden and proceeded to eat most of the produce growing there.  The suit had been brought up after Miller tried to resolved the problem himself by making Doge keep the cows penned up, but the problem repeated itself, so Miller pressed charges.

On 29 July 1890, Frederick Hamma was brought before Jacob Bupp on charges of disorderly conduct for using abusive and vile language around his neighbors.  Hamma was described as a tough citizen who lived in the Ninth Ward of Allegheny City.

Sometime during the summer of 1890, a suit was brought up in front of him by August Wetzel of Manchester against August Walz/Waltz, his brother-in-law, for the return of money spent by Wetzel to secure passage to America for Walz and family.  His wife was the sister of Walz' wife, and wanted her sister and family to come to America.  Bupp ruled in favor of Wetzel.  However, Walz entered a counter suit because while the families were living together, he had done work for Wetzel, and the counter-suit was found in favor of Walz for the amount owed Wetzel.  Since the suits cancelled each other out, the families seemed happy, according to the papers.

However, like most city officials, Jacob Bupp was not without scandal.  While the misdemeanor was unknown, a true bill was found against him by a grand jury on 10 September 1890 and the trial for that charge was held a week later.  The outcome of that trial is yet unknown, but it can be assumed he was allowed to keep his office regardless of the outcome, as he was still doing alderman duties afterwards.


On 18 October 1890, Jacob Bupp first applied for a pension for his military service, which was already covered in depth on the post about his Civil War service.  A few days later, he was a witness on the naturalization petition for Charles Fenner, who was renounced his citizenship from Germany. 

Sometime in December of 1890 August Messner was charged with assault against the wife of Ernest Morzke and agreed to pay $200 to the Morzke family before Jacob Bupp.  However, Messner refused to pay the fine and the trial went to court in 1891, where he was found not guilty.

Jacob had one more year as alderman.... Part Three:1891 can be found by clicking this link.

Sources Used and Referenced
Ancestry.com, "1890 Veterans Schedules," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 August 2016), Entry for Jacob Bupp. Year: 1890, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 88, Page: 2, and Enumeration District: 226.

"A Terrible Tragedy," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 15 March 1890, page 1; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

"A True Bill Found," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 11 September 1890, page 8; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 11 September 2017).

"A Welcome Worn Out," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 6 August 1890, page 6; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 September 2017).

"Briefly Sketched," Saline Observer (Saline, Michigan), 10 April 1890, page 6; online images, Digital Michigan Newspapers (https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/cgi-bin/michigan : accessed 21 September 2017).

"Claimed Innocence," Butler citizen (Butler, Pennsylvania), 28 February 1890, page 2; online images, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 7 September 2017).

"Cows in the Garden," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 19 August 1890, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"Expert in Nooses," The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), 10 April 1890, page 1; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 September 2017).

"Fast Losing Hope," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 28 March 1890, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 September 2017).

"The Hangman's Halter," Wessington Springs Herald (Wessington Springs, South Dakota), 23 May 1890, page 4; online images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 21 September 2017). 

"Jacob Bupp Once More," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 31 March 1890, Page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"The Judgements a Stand-Off: Brothers-In-Law Sue Each Other for Boarding and Other Bills," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 6 August 1890, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1890/1891 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher & Thurston, 1890), 874, "Bupp Jacob, 18 McClure av, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

"Local Brevities," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 29 July 1890, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

Loftquist, Bill. "Frank Gerade," State Killings in the Steel City: The History of the Death Penalty in Pittsburgh, 9 February 2018 (https://state-killings-in-the-steel-city.org/ : accessed 7 July 2019)

"Making Nine Ropes," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 31 March 1890, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"Met Death Bravely," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 27 February 1890, page 5; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

Naturalizations - PA Western," database online with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 6 July 2019), Entry for Jacob Bupp, witness in petition for Charles Fenner of Germany, 21 Oct 1890, referencing roll 48; citing Naturalization petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and the Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Records of the US Circuit and District Courts: Declarations of Intent and Petitions for Naturalizations, Oct 1820-Jan 1931, RG 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Neighborhood Notes," The Butler Citizen (Butler, Pennsylvania), 4 April 1890, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 September 2017).

"Personal Gossip," Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa), 13 April 1890, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 19 September 2017).

"Quartet Hanged Today: Bopp, the Expert Choker-Maker, Provides the Hemp," The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 9 April 1890, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 July 2019).

"Smith, the Wife Murderer," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 1 April 1890, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 October 2017).

Soldier's Application and Declaration for Invalid Pension for Jacob Bupp, Private, Company G, 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery filed 20 October 1890; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for Jacob Bupp; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Today's Trial Lists," official announcement, Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 17 September 1890, page 3; "Criminal Court - Commonwealth vs. ...... Jacob Bupp"; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"Untitled," Lincoln Evening Call (Lincoln, Nebraska), 4 May 1890, page 5; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 September 2017).

The Hangman's Ropemaker: Jacob Bupp, the Alderman (Part One: 1889)

"A hearing was held yesterday before Alderman Jacob Bupp, of the Eleventh Ward, Allegheny...."

~ "For Dynamiting Fish," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 3 August 1889, page 12

*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*

Note: This particular chapter in Jacob's life will be divided into three parts.  This is Part One.  Part Two focuses on his very chaotic year of 1890 of both alderman duties and hangings, and Part Three discusses the duties of 1891 and the scandal that forced him from office.

Whether he was capitalizing on his fame as a ropemaker, especially with the recent fame of the national papers running his name and address during the Chicago Anarchists heyday, or whether he decided that since he already was both a judge and a constable, alderman should be next remains to be seen.

Whatever the situation, Jacob Bupp ran for alderman of the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny City in February of 1889.  He won that election,  receiving 204 votes.  He ran against a man named Robert Wilson, who only received 187 votes.

Aldermen were elected by popular vote and were given the power in minor infractions, such as assault and battery cases, local ordinance violations, forgeries, perjuries, riots and unlawful assemblies.  As city officials, they also held the power to notarize documents.  Basically, they operated as a small scale judicial system run by the city.

Jacob received his commission as alderman on 16 April 1889 from the registrar's office.  There were several accounts in the newspapers as to trials and suits brought up before Jacob during his tenure as alderman, as well as other documents.  The following list are just the events that took place within the first year, which was also the first year that the city directories listed his occupation as an alderman instead of either laborer or ropemaker.

On 2 August 1889, he fined Larry O'Toole and James Gallagher $50 and costs for violating of fish laws by dynamiting the waters of the Ohio River near McKee's Rocks to kill fish.  Fish Warden Hague entered the charges in the suit.  The very next day, O'Toole also posted bail for stealing 20 sticks of dynamite and tools from W.E. Howley, a contractor in Wood's Run.  It can be assumed the dynamite stolen was the dynamite used in the fishing incident.

On 7 August 1889, it was reported that Jacob Bupp had given George Mason a warrant for a Miss Maud Weizer,  who had apparently struck Mason on head with an iron for asking her to walk with him.  Miss Weizer was charged with aggravated assault and battery.

On 13 August 1889, Edward Leek posted bail for charges of assault and battery and selling liquor without a license.  The man who filed the charges against him was Gustav Wueski.  Jacob Bupp was the Alderman on record, although Leek filed a cross suit before Alderman Foley.

On 22 August 1889 he was the alderman on record when O. A. Meggs filed charges of aggravated assault and battery against John Kerins.  According to the information given, Kerins struck Meggs across the head with a stove lid.

On 30 August 1889, Bridget Kelley filed charges of malicious mischief when part of her fence was knocked down, allowing a number of fowl to escape her property.  Warrents were issued for Mary Reese and Mary O'Toole. whom Kelley alleged did the deed.

On 2 September 1889, Doctor William J. Langfitt appeared before him to file a Physician's Affidavit for the pension case of John D. Wood of Company K of the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, who had rheumatism so bad from being in the trenches at the Siege of Petersburg (Virginia) at the end of the Civil War that it was hard for him to continue to work.  *This little bit of information was particularly interesting to me because a couple of generations later, John D. Wood's grandson married Jacob Bupp's great-granddaughter and became my paternal grandparents.*

Jacob Bupp's affirmation and signature on the Medical Evidence Affidavit of Physician William J. Langfitt in the claim of John. D. Wood, claim number 718416, for original pension, filed by W. H. Lockhart, attorney, September 13, 1889; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for John D. Woods and held by the author

On 25 September 1889, John McKelvy was to have a hearing before Jacob Bupp on a charge of aggravated assault and battery.  A Mrs. Wilson brought up the charges, alleging that McKelvy had beaten her seven year old son for no apparent reason.

On 9 Dec 1889, Jacob Bupp presided over a hearing between Norman King, the son and administrator of the late Lewis King of Etna, and Robert Humphreys and Joseph Ackerman of Etna.  King had sued Humphreys and Ackerman for conspiracy in depreciating the sale value of his father's home.  Humphreys had been Lewis King's son-in-law and was hoping to sell the house to Ackerman by pushing out all other bidders.  Ackerman and Humphreys were ordered held for $500 bail each by Bupp.  This case was declared a very interesting case by the newspapers that reported on it.

On 19 December 1889, Charles Call and Edward Miller were brought before Jacob Bupp on charges of assault and battery after beating a young boy by the name of John Carson. John's father Ezra had brought the charges against Call and Miller, and no cause was given for the beating.

Click here for Jacob Bupp, The Alderman (Part Two: 1890)!

Sources Used and Referenced
"Allegheny's Chosen Ones," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 February 1889, Page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"Allegheny Etiquette," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 7 August 1889, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accesssed 3 October 2017).

"A Suit for Conspiracy," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 10 December 1889, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 October 2017).

"A Terrible Beating," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 19 December 1889, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

"Fishing with Dynamite," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 3 August 1899, page 11; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"For Dynamiting Fish," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 3 August 1889, page 12; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"For Stealing Tools and Dynamite," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 3 August 1889, page 9; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 October 2017).

J.F. Diffenbacher's directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1889/1890 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Diffenbacher and Thurston, 1889), 196; digital image, University of Pennsylvania, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

"Local Items, Limited," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 14 August 1889, page 5; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 August 2017).

"Local Items, Limited," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 September 1889, page 7; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 October 2017).

"Looking After Her Fences," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 1 September 1889, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 6 July 2019).

"Making Nine Ropes," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 31 March 1890, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

Medical Evidence Affidavit of Physician William J. Langfitt in the claim of John. D. Wood, claim number 718416, for original pension, filed by W. H. Lockhart, attorney, September 13, 1889; Photocopy provided by NARA in the pension file for John D. Woods; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C. 

"More Election Returns," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 21 February 1889, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 July 2019).

Potter, Chris. "Have Pittsburgh city councilors ever been called 'aldermen'?"  Pittsburgh City Paper, You Had To Ask, 4 January 2007 (https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/have-pittsburgh-city-councilors-ever-been-called-aldermen-i-used-to-see-alderman-signs-on-an-old-building/Content?oid=1334642 : accessed 6 July 2019).

"Received Their Commissions," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 17 April 1889, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 10 October 2017).

"Struck with a Stove Lid," Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 23 August 1889, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 October 2017).

The Hangman's Ropemaker: Constable Bupp

"Constable Jacob Rupp of the Eleventh ward, Allegheny, sometime since appointed J. J. Hays one of his deputies."

~ "Court Brevities," Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 23 March 1876, page 4.  The "Rupp" was likely a typo.

*This blog post is one in a series of blogs on my famous ancestor, Jacob Bupp, the Hangman's Ropemaker- click the page tab above labeled "The Hangman's Ropemaker" for more information and the blog series*

Since he had already been elected as a judge, and apparently was starting to become a popular gentleman in the area, likely due to his burgeoning rope-making business and the success of his hangman's ropes, Jacob Bupp decided in 1873 to run for constable of the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny City.

In those days, a constable in Allegheny City maintained the peace, executed warrants, and policed crowds.  They served the court system by delivering summons, complaints, subpoenas and orders of eviction and protection.  They also were the only law enforcement officials allowed to be on duty at polling places on Election Day.... coincidentally they were also elected to their positions.

According to the opinion of the editors in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review article "The Philadelphia Constable," there had been a number of questionable practices of constables.  Some constables were elected and never carried out their duties as constable.  Some collected exorbitant fees for their services from those who elected them.  Some accepted bribes for the appointment of deputy constabularies, who then often were as corrupt as those they bribed.  As stated in the same opinion piece:

"Apparently, many constables run for election without any intention of practicing.  They may run merely for the satisfaction of winning in a public election, for the prestige of holding the title of constable, or because they just happen to be available when a ward leader needs someone to fill out the long ballot." (page 511)

It is not known if any of the above were true in Jacob's case.

What is known is that Jacob was nominated by the Republican Party in Allegheny City and endorsed by them for constable after winning the Republican primary for the position in the days leading up to the general election.  On 9 Dec 1873, he was elected constable of the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny City with 107 votes.  His competitor was M. Beard, who only had 27 votes.

Constables were usually paid on a fee system, so they also could have full time jobs, such as Jacob  did with his ropemaking.  However, the directory listings for Jacob Bupp in both 1874 and 1875 in the Pittsburgh and Allegheny City Directories list him as a constable, and living on the same lot his son had purchased in 1871, in what is now the Shadeland neighborhood.  While there is no evidence of any hangings having been carried out with Jacob's ropes during this period, he could have been still making ropes for any of the multitude of other uses during this time.  It is possible to also surmise that he was indeed working as a constable full time, although no evidence seems to exist to either prove or disprove this theory.

*Edit made 6 June 2019*:  Further research having been done, it is now known that Jacob Bupp was likely the manufacturer of ropes for two separate hangings while in office.  The two events were the hanging of Ernest Ortwein, done on 23 February 1875, and the hangings of William Murray and Frederick Myers, who were hanged on 6 January 1876.

Constables did not have a limit to how many deputies they could have, however in Allegheny County, an appointment of a deputy constable had to be affirmed by an order of the court.  Constable Bupp had one such deputy that created quite a scandal.

Bupp had appointed a man by the name of J. J. Hays as one of his deputies.  One of the court's judges, Judge Kirkpatrick, had refused the commission of deputy constable Hays on multiple occasions, as Hays had apparently had a recent run-in with the law, having been suspected in the murder of a local girl.  Hays had also been brought up a few months prior on charges for perjury for making false claims in another trial that had been brought up in front of Judge Kirkpatrick, as well on several charges of assault and battery the previous year.

On 21 March 1873, Hays applied to another one of the court judges, Judge White, for approval and White approved it, but upon learning Kirkpatrick had refused to sign off on the commission, White withdrew his approval, and Hays was summoned to the court to give up his commission.

It is unknown if Hays gave up his commission.  He was found not guilty of perjury, but ordered to pay half of the court costs in another case he was involved in.  He ultimately skipped town, and by the end of 1876 found himself having been extradited back to Pittsburgh from Ohio, and was jailed for skipping out on his bondsman.

It is not clear when Jacob finished his term as constable, but given that typically a constable was elected for six years, it can be assumed he completed an entire term, which would mean he was done in late 1879 or 1880.  However, directory listings for him for the years 1876, 1878 and 1879 list him as a ropemaker and laborer (he was missing from the 1877 directory).   This could mean that either he had given up his commission after 1876 or he was no longer working full time as a constable but rather was using it to supplement his rope-making income.

In any case, it appears his constabulary days were limited to a single term.

Jacob continued to reside in the Wood's Run/Shadeland neighborhood in the Eleventh Ward of Allegheny City, but what is curious is his enumeration listing for the 1880 census, where he, Caroline, and their daughters Kate and Lizzie are enumerated in the Tenth Ward, which lay just to the east of the Eleventh Ward per the city maps from the time.  Why he was there remains a mystery, but he is enumerated as being a fifty-eight year old laborer born in Pennsylvania, whose parents were also born in Pennsylvania.  Caroline is listed as his wife and housekeeper, aged fifty and born in France.  Both daughters are listed as "at home."  By 1882, he was back living on Shady Avenue, presumably in the family home, so why he was briefly in the Tenth Ward is still a confusion.

Perhaps it had something to do with debt.  In March of 1877,  a sheriff's sale notice appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for the lots owned by Jacob and William H. Bupp.  Another notice appeared in September of the same year, and by 1 December 1879, the Wood's Run Savings Fund and Loan Association held a deed of indenture on the properties.  While William appeared to continue to live on his lot, Jacob had apparently moved out, temporarily.  The Bupp family appeared to reacquire the property, however no deed has yet been located to prove this.

Sources Referenced:
"A Constable Sues for Damages", The Pittsburgh Commercial Daily (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). 14 March 1876, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 May 2019).

"Allegheny", Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). 9 February 1876, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 May 2019).

"Allegheny City Election," The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 10 December 1873, page 1. Jacob Bupp elected constable of the Eleventh Ward with 107 votes; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 12 May 2019).

"Allegheny City Primaries," Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 8 December 1873, page 1; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 12 May 2019).

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 273: 505-506, Deed of indenture from Grantor Fred J Melaney and wife Sarah to Grantee William H. Bupp, dated 14 June 1871; FHL microfilm 1509878.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed book 400: 221-223, William H. and Elizabeth Bupp deed of indenture to Woods Run Savings Fund and Loan Association, 1 Dec 1879; FHL microfilm 8092439.

"Allegheny Elections," election results, Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 10 December 1873, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 August 2016), Entry for Jacob Bupp and family, Year: 1880, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1088, Family History Film: 1255088, Page: 82D, Enumeration District: 027, and Image: 0162.

Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny: From Official Records, Private Plans and Actual Records (Philadelphia: G. M. Hopkins, 1882), plates 35 and 36; online images, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 15 May 2019).

"Brevities", Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). 19 Dec 1876, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 May 2019).

"Court Brevities," Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 23 March 1876, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 May 2019).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1874/1875 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1874), 112, "Bupp Jacob, police, Shady av, 11th wd, A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1875/1876 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1875), 111, Bupp Jacob, constable, Cliff, 11th wd, A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1876-1877 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1876), 111, "Bupp Jacob, rope maker, McClure av, 11th wd, A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1878/1879 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1878), 126, "Bupp Jacob, lab, McClure av, 11th wd, A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1879-1880 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1879), 139, "Bupp Jacob, rope mkr, McClure av, 11th wd, A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 17 August 2016).

Editors, "The Philadelphia Constable," University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 104 (1956), online archive, Penn Law (https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7472&context=penn_law_review : accessed 13 May 2019), 508-542.

Joint State Government Commission, "Overview of the Constabulary: History," Constables in Pennsylvania: Proposed Statutory Reforms (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, April 2014), 5; JSGC Public Website (http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/resources/documents/ftp/publications/2014-369-Constable%20Report%206.03.14.pdf : accessed 13 May 2019).

"Quarter Sessions - Judge Kirkpatrick", The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). 21 March 1876, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 13 May 2019).

"Sheriff Sales," notice of auction, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 24 March 1877, Page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016). 

"Sheriff's Sales," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 September 1877, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 September 2017).

"Troubles of a Deputy Constable," The Pittsburgh Commercial (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 23 March 1876, page 4; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 August 2016).

"What the Heck are Constables and Does Pittsburgh Need Them?," Popular Pittsburgh, 10 June 2016 (https://popularpittsburgh.com : accessed 13 May 2019).