James T. Jacobson, born September 25, 1854, in Norway, immigrated to the United States in 1865. After initially settling in LaSalle County, Illinois, he moved to Livingston County. In 1882, he relocated to Aurora County, South Dakota, where he acquired and developed 1,280 acres of land in Palatine Township. Jacobson focused on agriculture, cultivating 400 acres and raising Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, as well as swine. A dedicated public servant and Republican, he served on the township board and school district. Married to Isabelle Johnson on January 14, 1885, the couple had five children: Grace O., Clara J., Jessie E., Martha T., and James E.
James T. Jacobson was born in Norway, on the 25th of September, 1854, being a son of Ole T. and Gurena Jacobson, who were born and reared in Norway, the father being a farmer by vocation. They emigrated to America in 1895 and passed the closing years of their lives in the state of Illinois. The subject secured his early educational training in his native land and was a lad of about eleven years at the time of his arrival in the United States, in 1865. He remained in LaSalle County, Illinois, about two months and then removed to Livingston County, that state, where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he came to South Dakota and settled in Aurora County, where he took up homestead, tree, and pre-emption claims, in Palatine township, eventually perfecting his title to the tract of four hundred and eighty acres which he had thus secured from the government. He is now the owner of twelve hundred and eighty acres of land in the county and has been signally prospered in his temporal affairs, having been an assiduous worker and having gained success through his earnest and well-directed endeavor. About four hundred acres of his land are under cultivation, and all of his estate is well fenced, the remainder being used for range purposes in connection with his livestock enterprise. He raises shorthorn and Hereford cattle and an excellent grade of swine, of which latter he ships about a carload each year, while his average herd of cattle numbers about one hundred head. Mr. Jacobson has made excellent improvements on his place, including a good residence and other substantial buildings properly adapted to the uses to which they are applied, while he has about twenty acres of cottonwood and ash trees, which were planted by himself and which are now well matured, adding materially to the attractions of his fine ranch. He is a man of marked public spirit and has ever shown a deep interest in all that concerns the welfare of the community. He is a staunch Republican in his political proclivities and has served as a member of the township board, while he has also held office in his school district, being an earnest supporter of the cause of education and having given his children the best possible advantages in the line. He and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church and are folk who have the high regard of all who know them, while he is recognized as one of the substantial farmers and business men of the county.
On the 14th of January, 1885, Mr. Jacobson was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Johnson, who was born in Livingston County, Illinois, being a daughter of John and Caroline (Mitchell) Johnson, who were born and reared in Norway, whence they came to America and settled in Illinois in an early day. He and his wife became the parents of seven children, of whom five are living. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson have five children, all of whom still remain beneath the parental roof, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Grace O., Clara J., Jessie E., Martha T., and James E.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.