Jacobson, Abraham Rev. 1836 - 1910

JACOBSON, O’CONNOR, HEGG, GROSS, BAKKEN, BOE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/25/2023 at 09:56:17

Source: Decorah Republican May 19, 1910, P2 C3

ABRAHAM JACOBSON DEAD., Boe
Pioneer Resident of Springfield Township Summoned to His Final Rest on Sunday Last.
Rev. Abraham Jacobson, one of the very early pioneer Norwegians of Winneshiek county, passed away Sunday last at his home in Springfield township, after an illness of about two weeks, the cause of death being heart disease. His death was a shock to family and friends alike, for his condition was not considered serious and outside of his family very few knew that he was ill. Some of his children had been sent for and his daughter, Miss Christiana, was in Decorah at the time of his death, on her way home from Northfield. Mrs. Lars Boe of Forest City, another daughter, learned of her father’s death upon arriving in Decorah Monday, the news not having reached her before she left her home.
Rev. Jacobson was born in Norway, Jan. 3, 1836, and came to America with his parents in 1848. They first settled at Muskego, Wis., where they remained until the spring of 1850, when they came to Iowa and located on the farm in Springfield township, about four miles south of Decorah, where Mr. Jacobson died.
Of the succeeding years of his life, up to 1878, Alexander’s history of Winneshiek county briefly outlines his activities thus:--
The subject of this sketch began attendance at the Illinois State University, at Rockford, in the autumn of 1852, having accomplished about sixty miles of the journey on foot. There he remained until 1860, when he went to Chicago as pastor of the first M. E. church. After one year he returned home, and soon after went to Dakota as a missionary; thence, in 1862, to Quebec, Canada, as a missionary for one season. He then returned to this county, and for three years was engaged in farming. In 1866 he went to St. Louis to attend the German Lutheran Concordia, and in 1868 went to Perry, Dane county, as pastor of the church, and remained until 1878, when a cyclone passed over the town, destroying the church, injuring the parsonage and several other buildings; one man was killed within a few feet of Mr. J., and he himself was badly bruised. He then returned to his present home, and worked as a missionary in the west.
Of pioneer experiences Mr. Jacobson possessed a large fund, from which he drew when occasion called him before a gathering of old settlers. The hardships and privations that to-day are not known and which would be considered unbearable, all figured in his early life in this county and he has given them graphic expression in the Atlas of Winneshiek county, issued in 1904. He was the historian for Springfield township and contributed a valuable sketch to that publication.
Of his later life many of our residents are familiar. He served as assessor of his township, later as member of the board of supervisors, and from 1904 to 1907 was a member of the lower house of the Iowa legislature, serving in the 30th and 31st sessions.
When the question of a division arose in the Lutheran church Rev. Jacobson allied himself with what is known as the United church, and has since taken a prominent part in the activities of that body. Beside his devotion to religious work, Rev. Jacobson took great interest in farm life and horticulture and no gathering pertaining to these occupations found him absent if it were possible for him to attend.
He was twice married. His first wife was Mary H. O’Connor, to whom he was united in 1860. She died the following year. On Jan. 3, 1863, he was married to Nicoline Hegg. To them eleven children were born, all of them living. They are Clara G. Hegg, a teacher at Amhurst Junction, Wis., Mrs. Mary H. Gross of Northfield, Jacob O., living hear Hills, Minn., Mrs. Signe O. Bakken of Springfield township, Isaac M., Canton, S. D., David L., of Evansville, Minn., Mrs. Helga L. Boe of Forest City, Otto of Hettinger, N. D., Carl G., Christiana and Rongvald, living at home.
The funeral will be held to-day at Rev. Bakken’s church, and there will undoubtedly be a large attendance, for Mr. Jacobson’s relations, with his fellowmen were such as to earn their respect. His death leaves but three of the original band of Norwegian pioneers, who came to Springfield township in 1850, the others being E. G. Opdahl and his sister, Mrs. Erick Anderson, and Mrs. Simons, mother of Mrs. G. P. Houg.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he died May 15, 1910. He is buried in the North Washington Prairie Cemetery.

North Washington Prairie Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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