BIOGRAPHIES: Jake T. JACOBSON, Rice Lake, Barron Co., WI *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Vic Gulickson 24 February 2004 *********************************************************************** Jake T. Jacobson, business man of Rice Lake, was born in Norway, Aug. 7, 1881, son of Thore and Elizabeth (Kingsted) Jacobson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1884, and located in Lee, Illinois. Thore Jacobson worked for sixteen years in the employ of the Farmers' Elevator Co. there, and in 1900 established a dray line, which he conducted some eight years, afterward becoming government watchman on the dam at Rock Falls, Ill. After the death of his wife, in the spring of 1915, he took up his home with his daughter, Mary, at Shabbona, Ill., until 1917, since which date he has made his home with the subject of this sketch. In the family there are nine children. Ole lives in Ashland, Wis. Jake T. is a business man of Rice Lake. Christ lives in Shabbona Grove, Ill., Martha is the wife of A. G. Clark, of St. Paul, Minn. Mary is now Mrs. Roy Tilton, of Shabbona, Ill. Tillie, is dead. Linnie is the wife of Gust Neisheim, of Minneapolis, Minn. Kearney and Elmer are employed by their brother, Jake T., at Rice Lake. Jake T. attended school at Lee, Ill., and farmed there for a while. He went to Nebraska in 1900 and in 1904 came to Rice Lake. Here he followed the plumbing and heating trade until 1912, when he entered the employ of Frank Bandalin, in a billiard hall. In 1914 he purchased the place, which then had five tables and two bowling alleys. In 1916 he purchased the two-story brick building which he now occupies, built on forty feet in the rear, making it 112 by 26 feet, with full basement, put in modern heating and plumbing, installed nine new pool tables and one new billiard table, and put in four new alleys, so that he now has as fine an establishment of its kind as is to be found in the smaller towns of the Northwest. In addition to this, he carries a full line of smokers' supplies, such as cigars, cigarettes, pipes, tobacco and accessories, serves soft drinks. and distributes the daily papers. Since early youth he has been a baseball player, and in this connection is known throughout this part of the state. He has been catcher of the local team for sixteen consecutive seasons, a record hard to beat among the amateur players of the Northwest, and in this line he has shown much skill and dexterity. He is a man of genial personality, admirably suited for the position he occupies, he prides himself on the high standard he maintains in his place, and he holds a high place among the business men of the city, his establishment being an important factor in the pleasant impression which the traveling public receives of Rice Lake. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Eagles, and is active in the Commercial Club. Mr. Jacobson was married Feb. 27, 1909, to Christina Sigstad, of this place, born March 14, 1886. They have two children: Allan Sigstad, born Nov. 6, 1914, and Dorothy Elizabeth, born June 27, 1917. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 814. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm