John Jacobson

The pioneer history of Allamakee county contains the record of no more able and deservedly successful man than John Jacobson, who came to Paint Creek township in 1851 and for many years has been prominently connected with its agricultural progress. He has developed here three fine farms and is today the owner of a valuable and productive property of one hundred and twenty acres, upon which he has resided for a number of years.

He was born in Norway on the 7th of November, 1843, and is a son of Tron and Hendricka Jacobson, also natives of that country. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1850 and after spending the winter in Rock county, Wisconsin, came in the spring of 1851 to Allamakee county, Iowa, making the journey in a covered wagon drawn by ox teams. The father preempted eighty acres of land in Paint Creek township, but this was taken away from him by a man from Indiana who proved an earlier claim. Mr. Jacobson afterward acquired another eighty acres of land and turned his attention to its improvement and development, building upon it a log house, which was his home until his death in 1908, when he was ninety-five years of age. He had long survived his wife, her death having occurred in 1880. Both were members of the Lutheran church and the father was a stanch republican in politics. He took an active interest in the development of the section to which he came as a pioneer. In his family were ten children, two of whom died in childhood. The others are: Mrs. A. N. Nelson, of Lansing; Mrs. I. A. Johnson, of Lafayette township; Mrs. Ole Berke, who resides in Paint Creek township; Mrs. Ed Erickson, of Lansing; Martin, who resides upon the old homestead; John, of this review; Nettie, who lives in Waterville, Iowa; and Hans, who resided in Lafayette township until his death, which recently occurred.

John Jacobson was eight years of age when he came to Allamakee county with his parents and he was reared in a frontier region, his childhood being spent amid the hard conditions of pioneer life. Before he was twenty-one he was a practical and able farmer, having learned the best agricultural methods through his experience upon his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-seven he began his independent career, settling upon one hundred and twenty acres of land which he purchased from his father. Five years later he bought one hundred and eighty acres near Waterville and upon this he resided until 1901, when he removed to his present property of one hundred and twenty acres. This is a well improved and valuable tract of land, reflecting everywhere the care and supervision of its owner, who is a progressive an able agriculturist and a far-sighted and discriminating business man.

Mr. Jacobson married Miss Wagot Solverson, a native of Norway, and they became the parents of nine children: T. S. Buringrud, who lives at Bucyrus, North Dakota, and who has adopted what is called the farm name of the family; Adolph, also of North Dakota; Sander, of Waterville, Iowa; Ingeman, also of Waterville; Otto and Selma, who live at home; and Henry, Manuel and Richard, who have passed away. The surviving members of the family are devout adherents of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Jacobson gives his allegiance to the republican party and is interested in everything pertaining to community growth and welfare. He has resided in Paint Creek township since 1851 and is one of the few remaining citizens who have so long witnessed its growth and development. By his able work in the improvement of his three farms he has made substantial contributions to its progress and by his honorable, upright and straightforward life has won the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he has so long lived and labored.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Jan Miller

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