Fred Jacobs Biography


	This biography appears on page 1165 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	FRED JACOBS.—The sons of Switzerland have ever been noted for 
courage and fortitude and for loyalty to their honest convictions and 
the life record of Fred Jacobs exemplifies those sterling traits of 
character which have ever marked the sons of the Swiss nation. He was 
born in Berne on the 15th of April 1844, and is a son of John Jacobs, 
who never left his native country. The subject acquired a good education 
there and lived a life of energy and activity, but believing that his 
labors would prove more effective in gaining succes in the new world, he 
came to the United States in 1884. Yankton county was his destination 
and he made his way by the Missouri river until he reached this section 
of the state. He rented land for nine years and then with the capital he 
had acquired through his own energy and determination he purchased three 
hundred and twenty acres of land. Since that time he has sold a portion, 
but still retains possession of two hundred and forty acres. He has 
planted all of the trees upon his farm and has made all of the 
improvements, including the erection of splendid buildings. His fields 
are well tilled and he raises good grades of stock. One hundred and 
eighty acres of his land is under cultivation and the remainder is 
devoted to pasturage purposes. Each year he raises a large number of 
hogs and also makes a specialty of Hereford cattle. 

	In 1866 Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage to Miss Magdalena 
Kupfer, a daughter of Jacob Kupfer, who was a stone-mason and spent his 
entire life in Switzerland. This worthy couple have become the parents 
of nine children: Robert, who married Bertha Ezely and is a farmer and 
dairyman; Emil, deceased; Fred, who wedded Eliza Nordheck, and is a 
harness maker of Yankton; Alfred, who married Carrie Thompson and served 
in the Philippine war as a member of Company M, First Regiment of South 
Dakota Volunteers, while now he is engaged in farming; Max, who wedded 
L. Peterson, now deceased, and who is a cook in Montana; Ida, the wife 
of Leonard McCone, a liveryman of Nebraska; Herman, who is assisting in 
the operation of the home farm; and Paul and Edward, who are under the 
parental roof. The children have attended the public schools and have 
been carefully trained in habits of industry and uprightness. In his 
political views Mr. Jacobs is an earnest Republican and all of his sons 
support the same party, while five of them belong to the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. Mr. Jacobs holds membership in the Congregational 
church and has ever been interested in the movements and measures 
pertaining to general progress and improvement. The cause of education 
has found in him a warm friend and he has cooperated in many measures 
for the public good.