Hon. Jacob Waeckerlin, police judge of Rawlins, was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, September 19, 1860. His parents were also natives of the land of the Alps, where the father died during the infancy of his son Jacob, and the mother, Mrs. Hilda Waeckerlin, also passed away in that country.
    In early life Jacob Waeckerlin was apprenticed to the cabinetmaker's trade and at the age of twenty years he left home to come to America. In April, 1880, he located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he learned the baker's trade, remaining in that city for about two years. He then secured a position as baker on one of the steamers plying between Cincinnati and Louisville on the Ohio river. He continued in that position for three years and later he was employed at the baker's trade in St. Louis and in Omaha. In 1887 he arrived in Rawlins and secured a position as baker in the Union Pacific Hotel, there remaining for a year, at the end of which time he started out in the restaurant business, conducting his establishment for seven years. He then sold out at a good profit and opened a bakery and confectionery store, which he still conducts, being thus actively identified with the commercial interests of the city. Since making his initial step in the business world in Switzerland his course has been marked by continuous progress, resulting from laudable ambition, close application and indefatigable energy. He holds to the highest standards in the manufacture of his product, and the excellence of the output is the basic element of his growing trade.
    In 1889 Mr. Waeckerlin was married to Miss Mary Ellen Mackin, who was born in Liverpool, England, and became a resident of Rawlins in 1886. They have two children: Doris Loraine, who was born in Rawlins, March 19, 1898, and is a graduate of the high school: and Carl John, who was born March 16, 1902, and is now a high school pupil.
    Fraternally Judge Waeckerlin is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he served as justice of the peace from 1905 until 1909. The excellent record which he made during that period led to his reelection to the office in 1915 and he served until 1917. Since 1914 he has been police judge and has been most fair and impartial in his decisions, his record receiving the endorsement of all broad-minded citizens. He stands very high in public regard by reason of his upright life and his devotion to the general welfare.
    In a business way his record is equally commendable, for he has worked upward by reason of his individual ability, yet his path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. As the years have gone on he has made judicious investment and is today the owner of considerable real estate in Rawlins, from which he derives a substantial annual rental. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in return for the advantages which have been his he renders to his adopted country unqualified allegiance.