Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Jacobs, Isaac W. 1820 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com December 8, 2005, 4:21 pm Author: Tom Gregory HON. ISAAC W. JACOBS Had Mr. Jacobs been induced, during the latter years of his honorable career, to depict with pen the leading incidents of his life, the reader would have learned much concerning the history of our country, the privations endured by pioneers as they followed the tide of emigration toward the west, and the hardships borne by men who cleared the forests or taught scantily equipped frontier schools, or practiced law or medicine or preached the gospel in the obscure hamlets that dotted the prairies or nestled on mountain sides. The earliest events in the life of this honored California pioneer were associated with old Virginia. It was in Hardy county, that state, that he was born June 24, 1820, and there it was that he rambled in his care-free boyhood through the woods and along the banks of the streams, observant, receptive and happy. But all too soon a change came into his life, and the necessity for self support brought an abrupt end to all his little careless pleasures. When, at the age of fifteen years, he went to Ohio, it was with the knowledge that thenceforth he must earn his own way and place in the world, but that knowledge did not dampen his ambition or impair his determination to complete his education. After a weary day's work on the farm he took up his books and often he burned midnight oil in an effort to secure the information for which he ardently longed. As a result of his persistence he passed a creditable examination, received a teacher's certificate and was given charge of a school in a country district in Ohio. Upon his removal from Ohio to Missouri, the young teacher continued his educational work for a year, and during the next year he studied law in the office of Judge Winters. Then, going to Iowa, he entered the law office of the Hon. G. W. Grimes, afterward United States senator from that state, and a year later he was able to pass a brilliant and exacting examination before Judge Mason, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa and one of the most eminent jurists of his day. After having been admitted to practice law before all the courts of Iowa, Mr. Jacobs returned to Missouri and formed a partnership with a well known lawyer of Buchanan county. He was still a young man when gold was discovered in California, and when he realized the possibilities of conditions here he determined to close out his Missouri interests as soon as possible, preparatory to removal to the coast. The summer of 1854 found him crossing the plains with a large expedition of emigrants, with whom he experienced the discomforts incidental to the primitive mode of travel which was the only one available for the occasion. Believing that more gold was to be made in garnering crops than in digging gold dust, he never worked in the mines. In 1854 he was admitted to practice in the courts of California, and in 1858 he was elected district attorney of Yolo county. From that time until he passed away, February 10, 1905, he was identified with the public affairs of the county and with its professional and agricultural activities. He long owned and cultivated a ranch of four hundred acres near Yolo and made, a specialty of grain and stock and gradually he drifted into a private banking business, for the accommodation of his large clientele and the business community generally. Recognized as a Democratic leader, he was elected by that party in 1892 to represent his district in the California assembly. In that position he gave to his constituents the best of his talents. He was not only a scholar, but an orator as well, and on public occasions was often engaged by his admiring fellow citizens as the principal speaker of the day. In 1849 Mr. Jacobs married Almira E. Martin, only daughter of James Martin and a native of Virginia. Her father emigrated from Missouri to California in 1854 and passed away in Yuba county. Mrs. Jacobs proved herself a devoted wife and mother and her earth life terminated November 4, 1901. She bore her husband twelve children, John M., the first in order of birth, died, aged forty-seven years. Linnie J. was the next in order of nativity. Oscar E., of Blacks Station, is represented elsewhere in this work; George N. and James R., of Woodland, are also represented elsewhere; William R. is a well known lawyer of Los Angeles; Isaac W. died in infancy; Joseph A. lives at Knights Landing; Martha is Mrs. James Taylor of Yolo; Mary is Mrs. Edward Baldwin of Berkeley; Annie E. is Mrs. Welch of Red Bluff; Van W. died, aged thirty-five years. Mr. Jacobs died, full of years and of honors, leaving the priceless legacy of a good name to his children and grandchildren and the example of a life well spent, which should be of benefit to the people among whom he lived so long and with so much credit to himself and to the community. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/jacobs121bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb