Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Jacobs, Oscar E. 1853 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 5, 2005, 2:32 am

Author: Tom Gregory

OSCAR E. JACOBS

    The earliest memories clustering around the distant days of childhood are
associated in the mind of Mr. Jacobs with Yolo county, its broad stretches of
unimproved land, its tiny villages, its scanty population laboring against the
discouragements of the frontier and its genial climate bringing health and
sunshine and bountiful crops in compensation for the privations of the pioneers.
While he is not a native of the west (for he was born in Texas August 7, 1853,)
in all but the accident of birth he is a typical Californian and the native-born
sons do not surpass him in devotion to the commonwealth and in loyal affection
for the county of his home. Years of industry and frugal self-denial enabled him
to purchase the property where long he had lived as a tenant and he now owns the
well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres lying near Black's Station and
evidencing in its bountiful harvests the skill of his husbandry and the sagacity
of his supervision.

    The name of Hon. Isaac W. Jacobs, father of Oscar E., is honorably
associated with the early history of Yolo county, where he engaged in the
development of farm property and in the practice of law, where he filled a
number of offices with marked intelligence and bore a part in early movements
for the local upbuilding. Of Virginian birth and parentage, he read law and was
admitted to the bar while still making his home in the Old Dominion. During
young manhood he removed to Missouri and opened a law office at Chillicothe,
Livingston county. While living there he married Almira Elizabeth Martin, a
native of Virginia. For a few months the young couple made their home in Texas,
where a son, Oscar E., was born, but in a short time they returned to Missouri
and made preparations to move to California, crossing the plains in 1854 and
settling in Stockton. In a few months they came to Yolo county and bought a
pre-emption claim on one hundred and sixty acres, later securing a patent from
the government. Establishing his home on the tract he cultivated the land,
harvested the crops and invested his earnings in other property until he had
acquired the title to four hundred acres of fertile land.

    The development of a valuable farm did not engross the attention of Mr.
Jacobs to the exclusion of other activities, for he engaged in the practice of
law and served with conspicuous ability in the offices of district attorney and
member of the general assembly. Eventually he retired from agricultural and
professional cares and in his last days he enjoyed the leisure and the comforts
to which his long labors justly entitled him. His wife passed away in 1903 and
two years later he also entered into eternal rest. In the annals of the county
his name is worthy of a prominent place, for he was one of the pioneers who laid
the foundations upon which the present prosperity has been rendered possible.
Talented in an unusual degree, he used his abilities to promote the welfare of
his community and proved a public-spirited citizen.

    There were eight sons and four daughters in the parental family of whom nine
are still living. Oscar E., who was born during the temporary sojourn of his
parents in Texas, has lived in California from his earliest recollections and
passed his boyhood years on the home farm in Yolo county. After he had completed
the studies of the common schools he was sent to college and remained for one
year, after which he returned to Yolo county. Later with a brother he went to
Ventura county and entered four hundred acres of land, which he worked for one
year. From that county he moved south to San Diego and for a year he was
employed in that part of the state, returning in 1881 to Yolo county. Shortly
after his return he rented a quarter section and began to operate the land. For
twenty-five years he remained on the farm as a renter, meanwhile saving with a
resolute purpose in view. At the expiration of that time he was in a position to
purchase the ranch. On the property in 1908 he erected a commodious residence.
An excellent system of fencing divides the fields from one another and from the
pasture. The barn facilities are adequate for all needs. Durham cattle are
raised in considerable numbers and are of the best grades.

   The marriage of Mr. Jacobs took place in San Diego September 12, 1880, and
united him with Miss Dora Caldwell, who was born and reared in California, being
the daughter of a Forty-niner, Tarleton Caldwell, a native of Virginia and for
some time a successful miner in the west. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are the parents of
three sons and two daughters. William T., the eldest son, is engaged in business
at Woodland. O. E., Jr., and Van V. are at home, as is also the youngest child,
Bernice E. The older daughter, Eliza, is the wife of Rodney Ely and lives on a
farm in Yolo county. For years Mr. Jacobs served as a member of the school board
and meanwhile aided greatly in the development of educational interests. Stanch
in his advocacy of Democratic principles, he has served the party as a delegate
in county conventions and in other ways has endeavored to advance the party
success locally, but he has not sought office for himself nor has he craved any
honor except that of serving the county as a progressive and public-spirited
citizen.


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]

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