Benjamin Kurtz Focht, & Son Brown Focht,
In Front Of the Saturday News Office (abt 1918)
In the Lewisburg cemetery is a tombstone for Benjamin Kurtz Focht, 1863 to 1937.
Editor of the Lewisburgh Saturday News, Congressman, and
"Father Of The Old Age Pension".
In 1916 when Focht was about 53 years old, he introduced the first Old Age Pension bill in Congress, providing for individuals older than 65 who did not have enough income to meet their needs. Focht’s bill, although much revised, was later incorporated into the Social Security Act of 1935.
Although I'm sure I have come across B.K. Focht in various histories, the first I paid any attention to mention of him was in a "Historical Note" in the Miltonian, August 21 1923. "1885 - Hon. B. K. Focht, of the Lewisburg Evening News had a thrilling experience at the baseball game and narrowly escaped a ducking in the canal"
It's hard to find many local newspapers online from 1885, but I did find a longer explanation in the Hazelton Sentinel, September 1885 -
Obviously baseball has been causing as many arguments as politics, since the 1880s. But Focht, also a politician, caused arguments everywhere he went. The Lewisburg Journal dedicated much space, often full, wide columns, to lambasting Focht on an almost monthly basis.
Benjamin K. Focht, Newspaper Man
219 Market Street, The Lewisburgh Saturday News Building
South side of the street, Looking West
For more photos of downtown Lewisburg, Block By Block Through The Decades:
The Saturday News offered editorials "of the soundest thought on our national policies," political discussion, social news and correspondence, business advertisements, legal notices and feature articles. Passionate about history, Focht's paper ran series such as:
- Harold Musser’s history of Lewisburg (October 31-December 19,1925),
- Mrs. W. C. Bartol’s research on local Revolutionary War soldiers (July 3-August 21, 1926),
- C. M. Steese’s history of Mifflinburg (October 15, 1927-March 3, 1928)
- Reverend Morris Derr’s History of Lewisburg Churches (intermittently from February 14, 1935-November 24, 1938),
A subscription to the weekly newspaper in the 1930s cost $2 per year. Focht's publishing company also printed booklets, such as "Housewife's Delight: The Saturday News Cook Book."
Benjamin K. Focht was born in New Bloomfield, Perry County, Pennsylvania in 1863. He was the youngest child, and only son, of Reverend David & Susan (Brown) Focht.
The Rev. David Focht was a Lutheran minister, author, and chaplain, known as "Fighting Parson" for his role in the civil war. He participated in long marches and campaigns, which contributed to his early death in 1864, when Benjamin was just 1 year old.
The widow Susan Focht packed up her children and moved to Lewisburg after her husbands death. It was there, at the Academy at Bucknell that Benjamin first went to school. He also attended both the University of Pennsylvania, and Susquehanna University. (As Susquehanna University was founded by the Kurt family, I would have been surprised if he had not attended there)
At the age of 15, Benjamin began an apprenticeship with J.R. Cornelius, editor of the Lewisburg Chronicle. In a recommendation two years later, Cornelius wrote: "He has been a most faithful, obliging, active, and intelligent employee, and the best compositor, taking into consideration the short time he served at the business that I ever knew."
A year later, at age 18, Benjamin borrowed $500 from his mother and founded the Lewisburgh Saturday News, a newspaper that would "reflect his orthodox Republican philosophy for the next 56 years.".
After Benjamin Focht died in March, 1937, his son
Brown took over the paper until it merged with the Lewisburg Journal in August, 1946.
On March 13, 1947, the title changed to the Lewisburg Journal-News, and
remained as such until January 29, 1953, when the paper became the Union County
Standard and Lewisburg Journal-News for only this one, single, issue.
In 1953 it was named the Union County Standard-Journal, until
June 29, 1961 when it became the Union County Journal.
. On March 23,1987, the name changed to the Lewisburg Daily Journal.
In 2003, the Daily Journal merged with the Milton Standard to become today’s Standard Journal.
Hon. Benjamin K. Focht, Congressman
In 1890, at age 27, Benjamin Focht ran for a seat in the state House Of Representatives, and lost. The following year he campaigned to have his brother in law, former baseball star Harold McClure, elected as a judge. After succeeding at that, he was then himself elected to congress, and a variety of other positions, serving and both the House and Senate, and dying while in office, in Washington DC in 1937. (a time line of his political service is at the bottom of this post under Read More)
"Old citizens have not forgotten the color and glamour of a Focht performance, or the shake of his hand along the campaign trail; some can recall his electioneering tours via horse and buggy and the gallon jug which he passed around."
"Benjamin K. Focht was defeated for reelection in 1898 when anti-machine Republicans, in a statewide movement headed by John Wanamaker, bolted the party's ticket and supported Democratic nominee, Francis Brown, a Brook Park farmer and livestock dealer. The Mifflinburg Telegraph, which had been less than lukewarm towards Focht in earlier campaigns, castigated Wanamaker for interfering in Union County and attributed Focht's defeat to "boodle, rum, fraud, and false pretense" - qualities which editor George W. Schoch attributed to the Democrats and the influence of the disgruntled and disappointed Wanamaker" Union County, Pennsylvania Page 88
The next mention of him that I stumbled across was in the Lewisburg Journal, May 1934. Now it's important to remember that the Lewisburg Journal and the Lewisburgh news would have been rival newspapers in 1934. And if you think there is a lot of drama and conflict over sports, and politics, it's truly nothing compared to rival newspapers in the early 20th century. Editors were brutal in their attacks of each other. Frequently our small towns would have two newspapers - one run by an editor who was a registered democrat, one run by an editor who was a registered republican. For example, the rivalry between Lumbard & Weirick in Snyder county is legendary. Setting aside the known prejudices, the editorial tells us that Focht was instrumental in bringing the "Free Bridge" (as opposed to a new toll bridge - this issue was a huge debate in every town, many believed that those who use the bridges should pay for them, and opposed the idea of the entire county being taxed to support the structures) and he opposed the Lewisburg Penitentiary being built in Lewisburg.
The Lewisburg Journal
May 1934
According to the Union County Centennial History, Focht " did not rock the political boat. He was a loyal party man, and developed a smooth-working machine in the country. Alert to local interests and attentive to details, he spear headed a drive for a free river bridge at Lewisburg, and despite delays and vetoes, he eventually delivered it. He endorsed better rural roads, a department of agriculture, the establishment of the Laurelton State Village, Veterans Benefits, and free text books in the public schools; but he refused to support a minimum wage of $35 a month for teachers. Acknowledging that higher pay was desirable, he rejected the bill as a threat to home rule"
Benjamin K. Focht, The "Father Of Old Age Pensions"
In 1916 when Focht was about 53 years old, he introduced the first Old Age Pension bill in Congress, providing for individuals older than 65 who did not have enough income to meet their needs. Focht’s bill, although much revised, was later incorporated into the Social Security Act of 1935.
"In 1909 he entered the National House of Representatives as a Member of the Sixtieth Congress and at the time of his death had the longest record of service in this body of any Pennsylvania Member, although such service was not continuous. Mr Focht was a pioneer in the proposal of old age pension legislation and advocated such benefits as early as 1916 as may be seen by reference to the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD of September 8 1916 which is a clear indication of his ability to foresee and to judge the value of legislation for the future. "
Benjamin K. Focht died March 27, 1937 and is buried in the Lewisburg
Cemetery. His tombstone honors him as the “Father of Old Age Pensions.”
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Find More Stories & History Of Lewisburg Here:
And More Stories & History From Surrounding Towns Here:
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READ MORE
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Political Career:
- Focht was a delegate to the Republican State convention in 1889;
- served as an officer of the National Guard of Pennsylvania;
- member of the State house of representatives 1893-1897;
- served in the State senate 1901-1905;
- water supply commissioner of Pennsylvania 1912-1914;
- elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth, Sixty-first, and Sixty-second Congresses (March 4, 1907-March 3, 1913);
- unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress;
- elected to the Sixty-fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1915-March 3, 1923); chairman, Committee on War Claims (Sixty-sixth Congress), Committee on District of Columbia (Sixty-seventh Congress);
- unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1922 to the Sixty-eighth Congress and for nomination in 1924, 1926, 1928, and 1930, and also in 1932 for the unexpired term of Edward M. Beers in the Seventy-second Congress;
- resumed business activities in Lewisburg, Pa.;
- served as deputy secretary of the Commonwealth in 1928 and 1929;
- elected to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses and served from March 4, 1933, until his death in Washington, D.C., March 27, 1937;
The Late Benjamin K Focht
EXTENSION OF REMARKS of HON ROBERT F RICH
OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday May 24 1937
Mr RICH Mr Speaker it is my privilege today to pay tribute to a distinguished departed Member of this body the Honorable BENJAMIN K Focht of the Eighteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania I had the honor to Serve in the House of Representatives with Mr FocBT since his return to the House in the seventy third Congress I considered him a good friend and a loyal party worker I enoyed associating with him and found him to be ever con rned in looking after the interests of his constituents and the State of Pennsylvania as well as the welfare of our United States of America Mr Focht was a great patriot Born at New Bloomfield the son of a Lutheran minister our late colleague was educated in the schools and colleges of the State of Pennsylvania and at the age of 18 years en red the newspaper field by becoming editor of the Lewisburg Saturday News Throughout his life he kept in close oth with this early endeavor and contributed valuable articles to the News even after his rise to high position in the world of politics and was at the time of his death President of the Saturday News Publishing Co Entering the political field early in life he served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and state Senate was at one time Slate water supply commission and also deputy secretary of the Commonwealth He rendered valuable service to our Slate and the Nation He is known as the father of legislation to furnish free school books to Pennsylvania students d also of other important laws of Pennsylvania
In 1909 he entered the National House of Representatives as a Member of the Sixtieth Congress and at the time of his death had the longest record of service in this body of any Pennsylvania Member although such service was not continuous Mr FochT was a pioneer in the proposal of old age pension legislation and advocated such benefits as early as 1916 as may be seen by reference to the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD of September 8 1916 which is a clear indication of his ability to foresee and to judge the value of legislation for the future. He was ever interested in the principles of Americanism and served as a valuable member of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization of the House Mr FoCHT Was also a member of the Committee on the Census Committee On Pensions and War Claims Committee BEN FOCHT was devoted to his family and their welfare Was his first consideration His son Brown has followed in his footsteps by becoming editor of the Lewisburg Saturday News as did the late Congressman at the beginning of his career He was a Scholar a man of wide knowledge and had an unusual command of the English language We were especially fortunate in having the benefit of his experience and seasoned judgment in our National House of Representatives during the past several years a period of change and uncertainty and I know that he will be sorely missed in the future. While we shall mourn his loss from our midst our loss Will be his gain For he has gone to that Congress of Saints Where toil and strife are no more and where all is peace happiness and rest. "
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FOCHT, Benjamin Kurtz, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in New Bloomfield, Perry County, Pa., March 12, 1863; attended the public schools, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa., Pennsylvania State College at State College, and Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa.; established the Lewisburg (Pa.) Saturday News in 1881, serving as editor and publisher until his death; delegate to the Republican State convention in 1889; served as an officer of the National Guard of Pennsylvania; member of the State house of representatives 1893-1897; served in the State senate 1901-1905; water supply commissioner of Pennsylvania 1912-1914; elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth, Sixty-first, and Sixty-second Congresses (March 4, 1907-March 3, 1913); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress; elected to the Sixty-fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1915-March 3, 1923); chairman, Committee on War Claims (Sixty-sixth Congress), Committee on District of Columbia (Sixty-seventh Congress); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1922 to the Sixty-eighth Congress and for nomination in 1924, 1926, 1928, and 1930, and also in 1932 for the unexpired term of Edward M. Beers in the Seventy-second Congress; resumed business activities in Lewisburg, Pa.; served as deputy secretary of the Commonwealth in 1928 and 1929; elected to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses and served from March 4, 1933, until his death in Washington, D.C., March 27, 1937; interment in Lewisburg Cemetery, Lewisburg, Pa.
Biography From An Ancestry.com User:
Bemjamin Kurtz Focht was born March 12, 1863 in New Bloomfield, Perry County, PA. He was
one of the children of Lutheran minister Rev. David Heinlein Focht (a descendent of John
George Focht, who emigrated from Neustadt, Germany in the 1700’s to Northampton
County, PA) and Sarah Brown (a daughter of John Brown, an early settler of Lewisburg,
Union County PA). Sarah and the children moved to Lewisburg in 1864 after the death
of Rev. Focht.
Focht attended Bucknell Academy at Lewisburg, Susquehanna University and
Pennsylvania State College. Apprenticed at age 15 to J. R. Cornelius, publisher of the
Lewisburg Chronicle newspaper, he learned the printing trade.
In 1882, 18-year old Focht was a founder and co-owner of the Local News, and in
1883, as sole owner, changed the newspaper’s name to the Lewisburg Saturday News.
He became an influential writer, and served as editor and publisher of the paper until his
death in 1937. The Saturday News offered editorials "of the soundest thought on our
national policies," political discussion, social news and correspondence, business
advertisements, legal notices and feature articles. In the 1930's a subscription cost $2 per
year for the weekly paper. Focht's publishing company also printed booklets, such as
Housewife's Delight: The Saturday News Cook Book.
Focht married Florence Edith Wolf, daughter of H. G. Wolf (Mifflinburg
businessman and Farmer’s Bank president) in 1887. They had four children: Edith
Virginia Focht 1896-1921, Ellen Focht 1892-1969 (who married Ralph Richards), and
Brown Focht 1904-1979.
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Baumgartner, Donald J. "Benjamin K. Focht: Union County Politician." D.Ed. dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, 1975.
United States. 75th Congress, 1st session, 1937. House. Memorial services held in the House of Representatives of the United States. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1938.
19. Immigration, attitude of organized labor ; Extension of remarks of Hon. Benjamin K. Focht ; extension of remarks of Hon. Benjamin K. Focht, of Pennsylvania, in the House of Representatives, Friday, August 23, 1912 https://curiosity.lib.harvard.edu/immigration-to-the-united-states-1789-1930/catalog?f%5Bgenre_ssim%5D%5B%5D=Speeches+in+Congress
1910 - Focht Sells The Lewisburgh Saturday News, To Himself?
Another another article from the Lewisburg Journal, May 1925, still very much NOT fans of Focht -
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Note:
Some of the Lewisbugh Saturday Newspapers can be found online in chronicling america.
Others can be found on microfiche at the Union County Library, and at Bucknell.
Look in Particular for these issues /articles:
- Harold Musser’s history of Lewisburg (October 31-December 19,1925)
- Mrs. W. C. Bartol’s research on local Revolutionary War soldiers (July 3-August 21, 1926)
- C. M. Steese’s history of Mifflinburg (October 15, 1927-March 3, 1928)
- Reverend Morris Derr’s History of Lewisburg Churches (intermittently from February 14, 1935-November 24, 1938),
I found this post by chance! He is my (however many greats-) uncle!
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