U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacobs, George R. (1843-1924) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 460-462 GEORGE R. JACOBS, one of the enterprising business citizens of Charleston, West Virginia, who is engaged in the manufacture of monumental work, was born at Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia, now West Virginia June 26, 1843. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Jane Elizabeth (St. Leger) Jacobs, and a grandson of Benjamin Jacobs. Benjamin Jacobs, grandfather of our subject, was born at Ellicott's Mills, nine miles from the city of Baltimore, Maryland. He removed to Brooke County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1811 and purchased a large tract of land and became a man of importance. He married PoHy Hostler and they reared a large family of children, all of whom have passed away except Benjamin F. Jacobs, the father of our subject. They were Presbyterians in their religious conviction. Benjamin F. Jacobs for many years engaged extensively in contracting and building and many of the substantial farm buildings which he built are still standing in Brooke County, attesting the quality of his work. Mr. Jacobs also engaged in fanning in Brooke County, and still resides there, aged 87 years. Mrs. Jacobs died in 1883, aged 67 years. They reared a family of 13 children to maturity. George R. Jacobs was educated in the common schools of Brooke County and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm and also worked with him in his building operations. During the Civil War, he was engaged as quartermaster's clerk for nearly four years. After its close he decided to learn the marble cutting trade, and on July 7, 1865, entered upon his apprenticeship. Three years later he went to Augusta, Kentucky, and worked one year, then to Louisville and to Seymour, Indiana. Upon his return to Wellsburg, he was engaged to build the Bishop Campbell monument and after its completion went to Nashville, Tennessee, and again to Augusta, Kentucky. Soon after this Mr. Jacobs married Lucy Figgins, who belonged to a highly respected Kentucky family. They resided in that State until 1872 when Mr. Jacobs removed to Charleston, West Virginia, and the selection of that place of residence has resulted in the city gaining a valuable business industry and Mr. Jacobs, a large and lucrative trade. He is now the leading monument manufacturer, not only locally, but over a wide extent of country, his fine work being shipped all over this State and to Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Jacobs deals extensively in Scotch, Italian and American granite and marble, and his work is not only noted for its fine finish, but also for the beauty and appropriateness of design. Among well known works of his may be mentioned the monuments of Colonel Fife, Dr. Comstock, W, A. Quarrier, H. D. Ruffner, Quincy Dickinson and others. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs have an attractive home and a pleasant social circle in Charleston. The five children born to them are: Frances St. Leger, who married Fred Babcock, a prominent lumber merchant of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is a talented singer and as a teacher of vocal music has a wide reputation; Charles L. is a graduate of the West Virginia University at Morgantown; Leslie is deceased; and Edith and Francis are at home. Fraternally, Mr. Jacobs is a Mason. In politics he is an active Republican but is no office seeker. He is a liberal, public spirited man and a representative citizen of Charleston. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Brooke County, WV #100 FULL-NAME: George Richard Jacobs BIRTH-DATE: June 26, 1843 BIRTH-PLACE: W.Va. DEATH-DATE: January 21, 1924 (at age 80y-6m-25d) DEATH-PLACE: Wellsburg, Brooke County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: married OCCUPATION: none FATHER: Benjamin Jacobs (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Martha Ledger (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Nephritis INFORMANT: Mrs. Lucy J. Perrin (of Wellsburg, W.Va.) BURIAL: Brooke Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Brooke County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/brooke/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------