N. E. JACOBS

N. E. Jacobs, whose name is an honored one in the business circles of Tipton, has throughout his business career been identified with the hardware trade and is today a member of the well known firm of Laubscher & Jacobs. He is a native of this state, his birth occurring near Iowa City in Johnson county on the 26th of July, 1861. He was only three years old, however, when he accompanied his parents, John and Rosanna (Frankhauser) Jacobs, on their removal to a farm in Cass township, Cedar county. The father was born in Switzerland, December 13, 1818, but the mother was a native of Ohio. She died in Cass township, this county, in 1870, at the age of forty-four years. The parents were married in the Buckeye state and came to Iowa about 1845, making their home in Johnson county for some years. The father, who made farming his life occupation, was about thirteen years old on the emigration of the family to America and he grew to manhood in Ohio, which state continued to be his home until coming to Iowa. In his family were nine children, of whom seven still live, namely: Louisa, the wife of W. W. Johnson of Sanborn, O’Brien county, Iowa; William R., of Correctionville, Iowa; A. P., of Paulina, Iowa; Lottie, the wife of A. C. Laubscher, who is engaged in business with our subject; Ernest, a farmer, living one mile from Correctionville; N. E., of this review; Alexander of Tipton; and two who died in infancy.

N. E. Jacobs grew to manhood upon his father’s farm in Cass township and acquired his education in the local schools. On starting out in life for himself he decided to engage in mercantile pursuits and for six years conducted business in Paulina as a dealer in hardware and farm implements, being at that time in partnership with his brother, A. P. Jacobs, under the name of Jacobs Brothers. In1896, however, he sold his interest in the business to his brother and came to Tipton, where he has since been connected with A. C. Laubscher under the firm style of Laubscher & Jacobs. They carry a large and complete line of hardware and implements and are doing a successful business. While a resident of Paulina, Mr. Jacobs also served as a director of the Farmers State Bank of that place and has ever been regarded as one of the leading business men of the community in which he resides.

It was in 1893 that Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage to Miss Emma Handorf, also a native of this state, who was born in Marshall county, February 23, 1870, her parents being Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Handorf. Two children were born of this union, Donald Alexander, who is still living, and Florence, who died at the age of two years.

Fraternally Mr. Jacobs affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Tipton but has never been active in public life, preferring to center his energies upon business affairs. His indefatigable energy has constituted a prominent factor in the growth and substantial progress of his business, and today he is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Tipton.