Representative John Huyler

John Huyler (April 9, 1808 – January 9, 1870) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey’s 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for one term from 1857 to 1859. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history in the years immediately preceding the Civil War, when he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of constituents in a district comprising Bergen, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex Counties.

Huyler was born in New York City on April 9, 1808. He attended the common schools at Tenafly, New Jersey, receiving a basic education typical of the period. As a young man he apprenticed as a mason, learning a skilled trade that would shape his early working life. He later engaged in contracting and building in New York City, pursuing that occupation until 1846 and establishing himself in the construction business during a time of rapid urban growth.

In 1846 Huyler moved permanently to New Jersey, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits at Pollifly in Lodi Township, Bergen County. About 1855 he settled in the village of Hackensack, New Jersey. There he entered the mercantile and lumber business, activities that would remain central to his livelihood before and after his national political service. His growing prominence in local affairs led to his selection as president of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, a key county-level governing body in New Jersey.

Huyler’s political career advanced at the state level when he was elected a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, serving from 1850 to 1852. In 1852 he was chosen speaker of the General Assembly, reflecting the confidence of his colleagues and his influence within the Democratic Party. He subsequently served as a judge of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals, then the state’s highest appellate tribunal, from 1853 to 1857. His judicial service, combined with his legislative experience, positioned him as a prominent Democratic figure in northern New Jersey.

In 1856, often referred to as Judge Huyler due to his prior judicial service, he was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fifth Congress from New Jersey’s 4th congressional district, which at that time comprised Bergen, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex Counties. He served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1859. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New Jersey, Huyler contributed to the legislative process during his single term in office, participating in the democratic process at a time of mounting national tension over slavery and sectional issues. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress, running as a Lecompton Democrat in the controversies surrounding the Lecompton Constitution in Kansas.

After leaving Congress, Huyler resumed his business interests, returning to the lumber trade and continuing his mercantile activities in New Jersey. He remained a recognizable public figure in his community during his later years, known both for his earlier state and federal service and for his long-standing involvement in local affairs.

In the final weeks of his life, Huyler was involved in a violent altercation that preceded his death. On December 21, 1869, he encountered a man named Benjamin Ackerman, described as a drunkard who had reportedly remained sober for about a year. Huyler stated to Ackerman’s wife that if Ackerman were to stay sober, he would not prosecute him. When it became clear that Ackerman was intoxicated, an argument ensued and escalated. Huyler attacked Ackerman with his cane, and Ackerman fought back, knocking Huyler to the ground. Ackerman attempted to kick him, but a passerby intervened and stopped the assault. The police arrived and brought Huyler to his house. He died at his home five days later, on January 9, 1870.