5. Jacob David Christ (1907-1908)
Served 1 Year
Jacob Christ was born December 7, 1859, in Queens, New York and is the son of David and Catherine Christ. He lived at 7 Mary Street (now East Marie Street.)
Jacob married Mathilde Oberfeld in April of 1884, and they held two residences, one on Jerusalem Avenue and Herzog Place and in New York City located at 317 West Thirteenth Street. He was a Blacksmith and Truck Builder, a trade he learned from his father and his grandfather. He built some of the first fire apparatus in Hicksville on Long Island.
Jacob joined as a member of Protection Hook and Ladder Company 1 before the department was organized in 1880.
In 1880, Jacob and his dad had taken part in a celebration that was recorded as “the grandest affair" that anyone had seen in Hicksville. The community took possession of a ladder truck that had many buckets suspended from it and it was decorated in red and gold, while the brass work was all shining, and it was hitched by a team of horses. It was their creation that was being celebrated when the truck was driven on Broadway several times, between Mr. Hahn's store in the north and to Limberg's corner in the south. There were toasts to the little apparatus at every corner and none were of sparkling water, since prohibition wasn't in power then.
Jacob was elected as the 5th Fire Chief after a contentious election in December and sworn into office in January of 1907. His 1st Assistant Chief was William Duffy, and the 2nd Assistant Chief was Edward Wagner. At the fire house the department held its monthly meeting, and it was several hours before the new officers were seated in their respective offices. The meeting was presided over by the former Chief Julius Augustin, to turn over the reins, when Fredrick Schwarzenberger, Chairman of the board of election inspectors handed in his report of the election. When the report was examined, it was found to be incorrect. The inspectors had taken it upon themselves to entertain the protest of Christian Brengel who claimed to have been elected treasurer of the department over Dr. Adolph G. Rave. Brengel claimed that the doctor had not served sufficient time in the department to be eligible to the office. The report caused a general uproar, and everyone wanted to talk at the same time. The matter was discussed for some time and finally the inspectors were requested to retire and bring in a proper report. They entered the side room and soon returned with a report that did not differ materially from the first and there was more talk, and they were sent out again but without any result. Finally, a recess was declared. The inspectors re-canvassed the vote and brought in a report of the votes cast which showed that Jacob Christ had been elected chief; William Duffy, first assistant chief and Edward Wagner, second assistant chief. They were declared elected by the chair and took their seats.
There was an unfortunate turn of events in his term. At the funeral of Hartmann Rohrbach, Christen Brengel was suspended for a year after he came very close to a fight with Chief Christ at the cemetery.
He was a member of Herte Lodge, F.&.A.M Manetto Lodge being one of the charter members. He was also a member of the Hicksville Civic Club and an active member of the Royal Arcanum. He held office in the German Lutheran Church and served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, Deacon and Trustee at various times. Jacob was President of the German Lutheran Aid Society, which had done much for the German Lutheran Trinity Church that was organized on June 7, 1885.
Chief Jacob Christ passed away on November 2, 1924, and is interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery, in Hicksville.
First Ladder Truck Built by David and Jacob Christ before Jacob was elected Chief
