Representative Abraham Jacobson View All Years

HON. ABRAHAM JACOBSEN.

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to draft resolutions commemorating the life, character and public services of the Honorable Abraham Jacobsen of Winneshiek County, late member of this House, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Abraham Jacobsen was born in Telemarken, Norway, January 3, 1836, came with his parents to America in the spring of 1848. The family settled in Muskego, Racine County, Wisconsin. Mr. Jacobsen then about twelve years old went to work for a man who kept hotel, store and post office at Little Muskego Lake, his wages being twenty-five cents per week. His employer took an interest in the lad from the distant land of the north, and would on Sundays teach him to read English, his text book being the New Testament. Later he furnished him with clothes and books and sent him to school. In 1850 the Jacobsen family moved to Winneshiek County, Iowa, and settled near Decorah.

In 1852 Mr. Jacobsen, now sixteen years old, left home to study at what was then known as the State University of Illinois, located at Springfield, which was built and supported by the Lutherans. The greatest part of the journey from Decorah to Springfield was accomplished on foot. He was the first Norwegian attending a higher institution of learning in this country. He was a classmate of Robert Lincoln. John Hay was also a student there at the same time. To help pay his way at school he was employed as janitor and later as custodian in the court house. Abraham Lincoln addressed meetings there on several occasions while Mr. Jacobsen was employed in the building, as Mr. Lincoln was a candidate for the United States Senate before the legislature at that period. Later Mr. Jacobsen was employed as librarian in the Supreme Court rooms, where Abraham Lincoln and his friends would meet nearly every evening discussing politics and telling stories. The last time he met Mr. Lincoln was in 1860, when he was nominated for the presidency, and when Mr. Jacobsen among the thousand of Springfield citizens met Mr. Lincoln with a hearty greeting and handshake.

After Mr. Jacobsen had finished school he became pastor of the First Lutheran church in Chicago, where he stayed about one year, and then returned to Iowa, but was soon called to the newly organized Dakota territory. The journey to Dakota was made by a small party driving over land with oxen and following a trail from Ft. Atkinson through Ft. Dodge to Sioux City, enduring hardships and privation, and in constant danger of Indians and renegades who were roaming over the boundless prairies. The party finally reached their destination in Dakota.

Mr. Jacobsen’s mission fields were at Yankton, Elk Point and Vermillion, where Norwegian emigrants had formed settlements. Dr. Jayne, whose acquaintance Mr. Jacobsen had made in Springfield, was at this time governor of Dakota territory and resided in Yankton. At his home Mr. Jacobsen was a welcome visitor whenever he had a moment to spare in his work. After organizing congregations where conditions and number would permit in this field, he returned to Decorah.

In 1860 he was sent to the Emigrant Quarantine Station at Quebec, Canada, to assist the Norwegian emigrants who were landing there in great numbers. Through his efforts better conditions and better facilities were established for getting the passengers started on their inland journey. After his mission in Quebec was accomplished, he spent three years at home on the farm, and in the fall of 1864 he went to St. Louis, Missouri and took up post-graduate studies at the German Lutheran Theological Seminary and finished his course in 1866. In the winter of 1868, he was sent out to do missionary work in the new found settlements in Ottertail, Douglas and other counties in Minnesota, where he made his trips over the snow covered trackless prairies on a pair of skis, or Norwegian snow shoes, and held services nearly every day in the settlers’ houses and organized congregations. A great number of fine churches today mark the fields of his early work. The same year he was called as permanent pastor to Dane county, Wisconsin and stayed there until 1878, when poor health forced him to retire from the ministry and he moved to his parents’ farm in Winneshiek County, Iowa, which he bought and took his old parents under his care during their remaining years. His father died in 1879 and his mother in 1884. Even as an active farmer he found time to serve the neighboring congregations temporarily, and was always an active member of the United Lutheran church, and had its welfare and progress at heart.

Mr. Jacobsen was actively interested in the great political questions of the day, and was honored with many positions of trust in his community. He was extensively engaged in settling up estates and probate matters. For many years he was president of the Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association of Winneshiek county. He took great interest in the preservation of the pioneer history of the state, and he did considerable writing on this subject, both in the English and Norwegian languages. Being a man of mind and action he was also both a theoretical and practical farmer. His farm was up to date in every respect, but he was always willing to impart his knowledge and experience to others. He was for the last fifteen years of his life editor of the “Practical Farmer’s” department of Decorah Posten, a leading Norwegian newspaper.

Whereas, The Hon. Abraham Jacobsen, member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first General Assemblies, departed this life on the 15th day of May, 1910, at his home near Decorah, Iowa, and,

Whereas, The life and character of the deceased were such as to entitle him to the respect and esteem of all who knew him—a man beloved by all for his generous and kindly heart, his sterling integrity and uprightness of life; therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to express its high regards and appreciation of his character and public services, and at this time extend to his family its sincere sympathy in their sorrow; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the chief clerk be directed to send an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

L. M. ENGER,

THOS. HICKENLOOPER,

G. W. KOONTZ,

Committee.

Adopted.