Representative Isaac Southard

Isaac Southard (August 30, 1783 – September 18, 1850) was an Anti-Jacksonian member of the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1833, representing New Jersey at-large. He was born in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey, the son of Henry Southard, who also served in Congress, and the brother of Samuel Lewis Southard, a prominent New Jersey statesman and U.S. senator. He received his early education at the classical school in his native town, where he pursued a traditional curriculum that prepared him for business and public service.

After completing his schooling, Southard engaged in the general merchandise business in Somerset County, a pursuit he followed until 1814. His early commercial experience rooted him in the economic life of his community and provided a foundation for his later roles in public finance and administration. During this period he became increasingly involved in local affairs, laying the groundwork for a long career in both civil and military positions within New Jersey.

Southard entered federal service as deputy collector of internal revenue for Somerset County, a position that placed him at the intersection of local business interests and national fiscal policy in the years following the War of 1812. He also pursued a military career in the New Jersey militia. On February 17, 1815, he was appointed major of the Second Battalion, Second Regiment, Somerset Brigade, and he later rose to the rank of colonel in the New Jersey State Militia. His militia service reflected both the continuing importance of state military organizations in the early republic and his standing in the community.

In addition to his federal and military roles, Southard held a series of important local and state offices. He served as a director of the State Bank at Morristown, New Jersey, participating in the management of one of the region’s key financial institutions. On November 13, 1820, he was appointed a lay judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County, and on November 16, 1820, he was commissioned a justice of the peace. That same year he became county clerk of Somerset County, a position he held from 1820 to 1830. In these judicial and administrative posts, Southard was responsible for overseeing local legal matters, public records, and county governance during a decade of growth and political change in New Jersey.

Southard’s experience in local government and finance led to his election to the United States House of Representatives. He was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-second Congress and served from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1833, representing New Jersey at-large. As a member of the Anti-Jacksonian Party, he aligned with the National Republican opposition to President Andrew Jackson, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American political history. During his single term in Congress, he participated in the democratic process on behalf of his constituents, representing New Jersey’s interests in debates over federal power, economic policy, and internal improvements. He was not successful in his bid for reelection, and his congressional service concluded at the end of that term.

Following his departure from Congress, Southard continued his public career in New Jersey’s legal and financial institutions. In 1833, Governor Elias P. Seeley appointed him master and examiner in chancery, a position that involved important responsibilities in the state’s equity courts. He subsequently served as state treasurer of New Jersey from 1837 to 1843, overseeing the state’s finances during a period marked by the economic disruptions of the late 1830s and early 1840s. His tenure as treasurer reflected the confidence placed in his judgment and experience by state leaders.

In his later years, after completing his service as state treasurer, Southard resided for several years in Trenton, New Jersey, the state capital, where he remained connected to the political and civic life of New Jersey. He later moved to Somerville, New Jersey, where he lived until his death on September 18, 1850. Isaac Southard was interred in the Old Cemetery in Somerville, closing a life marked by sustained service in commercial, military, judicial, legislative, and financial roles at both the state and national levels.