Representative John Gloninger

John Gloninger (September 19, 1758 – January 22, 1836) was a Federalist member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. He was born in Lebanon Township in the Province of Pennsylvania, in what was then part of Lancaster County and later became Dauphin and subsequently Lebanon County. Little is recorded about his early family background, but his life and career were closely tied to the development of this region in the late colonial and early national periods.

Gloninger’s public service began during the American Revolutionary War, when he served as a subaltern officer in the Associators, the local militia forces organized in Pennsylvania to support the revolutionary cause. He later rose to command a battalion of militia, reflecting both his military capability and his standing in the community. His early military experience helped establish his reputation as a local leader at a time when Pennsylvania was transitioning from colonial governance to statehood within the new republic.

Following the war, Gloninger became deeply involved in the civil and judicial affairs of Pennsylvania. Upon the organization of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, he was appointed a lieutenant of the county militia by the Supreme Executive Council on May 6, 1785, a position that combined military and administrative responsibilities. He entered legislative service as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1790. That same year he resigned his seat in the House to accept election to the Pennsylvania State Senate, in which he served from 1790 until 1792. During this period, he also held important judicial posts: he was appointed by Governor Thomas Mifflin as justice of the peace of Dauphin County on September 8, 1790, and was commissioned as an associate judge on August 17, 1791. These overlapping roles illustrate his prominence in both the legislative and judicial branches of state government.

Gloninger’s judicial career continued as the internal boundaries of Pennsylvania evolved. When Lebanon County was formed out of Dauphin County, he was commissioned on September 11, 1813, as one of the associate judges for the new county. His appointment as associate judge at the creation of Lebanon County underscored his long-standing connection to the area and his experience in administering justice at the county level. He would later be reappointed to this position after his brief tenure in national office, reinforcing his role as a central figure in the local judiciary.

As a member of the Federalist Party representing Pennsylvania, John Gloninger contributed to the legislative process during one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth Congress, serving during a significant period in American history marked by the War of 1812 and intense partisan debate over national policy. His service in Congress occurred during this critical era, in which he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in Pennsylvania. Gloninger served in the House from the beginning of the Thirteenth Congress until his resignation on August 2, 1813, after which he returned to his judicial responsibilities in Lebanon County.

In his later years, Gloninger remained a respected figure in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he continued to be associated with the local bench and community affairs. He died in Lebanon on January 22, 1836. His interment took place in the First Reformed Churchyard in Lebanon, reflecting his long residence and enduring ties to the region in which he had been born, had served in war and peace, and had spent a lifetime in public service at the local, state, and national levels.