Born in Telemarken, Norway January 3, 1836. He was a son of Jacob Abrahamson, who came to America in 1848. Abraham Jacobson was a lad of twelve years when the family came to the new world, and at that early age he began working for the proprietor of a hotel, store and post office at Little Muskego Lake, Wisconsin. He was thus engaged for two years, or until his parents removed to Iowa in 1850, locating in Winneshiek county near Decorah. Here the lad worked for two years but, ambitious for an education and desiring to enter the ministry, he in 1852, entered what was then known as the University of Illinois, at Springfield, an institution built and supported by the Lutherans. In order to bear his own expenses and pay his way through school Mr. Jacobson accepted the position of janitor and later served as custodian in the courthouse, in which Abraham Lincoln delivered many addresses before meetings while Mr. Jacobson was engaged in the latter capacity. After completing his course at college he was appointed pastor of the First Lutheran church at Chicago, Illinois, where he remained for one year, when he returned to Iowa but was soon called to the newly organized territory of Dakota, making the trip overland by ox team. His mission fields were at Yankton, Elk Point and Vermilion, where many Norwegian emigrants had formed settlements. In the fall of 1864 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where, desirous of extending his knowledge, he took a post-graduate course at the German Lutheran Theological Seminary, completing his studies there in 1866. In the winter of 1868 he was again sent into the missionary field, his work taking him to Minnesota. Later in that year he was called to Dane county, Wisconsin, as the permanent pastor of a church there, and he labored efficiently in that field until 1878 he was forced to retire from the ministry, his previous strenuous and incessant work in behalf of his fellowmen causing the failure of his health. He returned to his parents' home in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he bought the old homestead. He at once began its further improvement and development, bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and continued in its operation throughout his remaining days. He had other interests as well, and for more than fifteen years served as president of the Norwegian Mutual Life Insurance Company of Winneshiek County. It was on the 3d of January, 1863, that Mr. Jacobson was united in marriage to Miss Nicoline Hegg. Mr. Jacobson was stanch in his support of the Republican Party and ever took a deep interest in the material and political as well as the moral welfare of the community. His public-spirited citizenship was acknowledged by his fellowmen, who chose him to represent his district in the thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies.

Born in Telemarken, Norway January 3, 1836. He was a son of Jacob Abrahamson, who came to America in 1848. Abraham Jacobson was a lad of twelve years when the family came to the new world, and at that early age he began working for the proprietor of a hotel, store and post office at Little Muskego Lake, Wisconsin. He was thus engaged for two years, or until his parents removed to Iowa in 1850, locating in Winneshiek county near Decorah. Here the lad worked for two years but, ambitious for an education and desiring to enter the ministry, he in 1852, entered what was then known as the University of Illinois, at Springfield, an institution built and supported by the Lutherans. In order to bear his own expenses and pay his way through school Mr. Jacobson accepted the position of janitor and later served as custodian in the courthouse, in which Abraham Lincoln delivered many addresses before meetings while Mr. Jacobson was engaged in the latter capacity. After completing his course at college he was appointed pastor of the First Lutheran church at Chicago, Illinois, where he remained for one year, when he returned to Iowa but was soon called to the newly organized territory of Dakota, making the trip overland by ox team. His mission fields were at Yankton, Elk Point and Vermilion, where many Norwegian emigrants had formed settlements. In the fall of 1864 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where, desirous of extending his knowledge, he took a post-graduate course at the German Lutheran Theological Seminary, completing his studies there in 1866. In the winter of 1868 he was again sent into the missionary field, his work taking him to Minnesota. Later in that year he was called to Dane county, Wisconsin, as the permanent pastor of a church there, and he labored efficiently in that field until 1878 he was forced to retire from the ministry, his previous strenuous and incessant work in behalf of his fellowmen causing the failure of his health. He returned to his parents' home in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he bought the old homestead. He at once began its further improvement and development, bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and continued in its operation throughout his remaining days. He had other interests as well, and for more than fifteen years served as president of the Norwegian Mutual Life Insurance Company of Winneshiek County. It was on the 3d of January, 1863, that Mr. Jacobson was united in marriage to Miss Nicoline Hegg. Mr. Jacobson was stanch in his support of the Republican Party and ever took a deep interest in the material and political as well as the moral welfare of the community. His public-spirited citizenship was acknowledged by his fellowmen, who chose him to represent his district in the thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies.