William S. Jacobsen
Encyclopedia
William Sebastian Jacobsen (January 15, 1887 - April 10, 1955) was a Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
who served three terms from 1937 to 1942. He was the son of his predecessor, Bernhard M. Jacobsen
who held the same congressional seat for three previous terms.
Born in Clinton, Iowa
, Jacobsen attended the public schools and the Normal College of American Gymnastics Union, in Indianapolis, Indiana
.
He served as director of physical education of the Turner Society and Y.M.C.A., in Clinton, from 1910 to 1915. he was a manager and part owner of his family's department store in Clinton from 1915 to 1927. He then became secretary, treasurer, manager, and organizer of Clinton Thrift Co. from 1927 until after his election to Congress. He also managed business property and farm interests.
He served as delegate to Democratic State Conventions from 1932 to 1944, and the Democratic National Conventions in 1936 and 1944.
In June 1936, Jacobsen's father was a candidate for a fourth term in Congress, and had just won the Democratic primary when he became ill and died. On August 5, 1936, William Jacobsen was chosen by a special nominating convention as his father's replacement on the ballot. He won the general election over Republican Party and Farmer-Labor Party opponents, and was re-elected in 1938 and 1940.
He became the organizer and president of Clinton Broadcasting Corporation, which set up radio station KROS (AM) in 1941.
Because the 1940 census reflected that Iowa was growing more slowly than other states, the state lost one seat in Congress and its legislature was required to reapportion the remaining eight congressional districts in 1941. The redistricting placed Jacobsen in the same district as another incumbent, Republican Henry O. Talle
of the old 4th district
. Both ran for re-election, but Talle defeated
Jacobsen by a 57% - 43% margin. In all, Jacobsen served in Congress from January 3, 1937 to January 3, 1943.
The Congressional service of Bernhard Jacobsen and William Jacobson spanned a period of Democratic influence among Iowa's House delegation. When Bernhard Jacobsen first won in 1930, no Iowa Democrat had won election
to a U.S. House seat for fourteen years. In the last four years of his tenure, Democrats from Iowa in the House delegation outnumbered Republicans by a two-to-one margin. The 1938 election would reverse that trend, leaving William Jacobsen and Vincent Harrington as the only Iowa Democrats in the House. After Jacobsen lost to Talle in the 1942 race (and Harrington withdrew from his race to go to war), another fourteen years would pass before an Iowa Democrat would win election
to a U.S. House seat.
Jacobsen served as a liaison officer for the War Assets Administration
, in Washington, D.C.
, from July 1945 to January 1947. He was later named as postmaster for his hometown of Clinton, a position held by his father, where he served from August 1, 1951, to January 1954.
He died in Dubuque, Iowa
, on April 10, 1955, while attending the funeral of a brother-in law. He was interred in Springdale Cemetery in Clinton.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
who served three terms from 1937 to 1942. He was the son of his predecessor, Bernhard M. Jacobsen
Bernhard M. Jacobsen
Bernhard Martin Jacobsen was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa who served nearly three full terms during the Great Depression. He was the father of William S. Jacobsen, who succeeded him in Congress following his death....
who held the same congressional seat for three previous terms.
Born in Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
, Jacobsen attended the public schools and the Normal College of American Gymnastics Union, in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.
He served as director of physical education of the Turner Society and Y.M.C.A., in Clinton, from 1910 to 1915. he was a manager and part owner of his family's department store in Clinton from 1915 to 1927. He then became secretary, treasurer, manager, and organizer of Clinton Thrift Co. from 1927 until after his election to Congress. He also managed business property and farm interests.
He served as delegate to Democratic State Conventions from 1932 to 1944, and the Democratic National Conventions in 1936 and 1944.
In June 1936, Jacobsen's father was a candidate for a fourth term in Congress, and had just won the Democratic primary when he became ill and died. On August 5, 1936, William Jacobsen was chosen by a special nominating convention as his father's replacement on the ballot. He won the general election over Republican Party and Farmer-Labor Party opponents, and was re-elected in 1938 and 1940.
He became the organizer and president of Clinton Broadcasting Corporation, which set up radio station KROS (AM) in 1941.
Because the 1940 census reflected that Iowa was growing more slowly than other states, the state lost one seat in Congress and its legislature was required to reapportion the remaining eight congressional districts in 1941. The redistricting placed Jacobsen in the same district as another incumbent, Republican Henry O. Talle
Henry O. Talle
Henry Oscar Talle was an economics professor and a ten-term Republican U.S. Representative from eastern Iowa. He served in the United States Congress for twenty years from 1938 until 1958.-Background:...
of the old 4th district
Iowa's 4th congressional district
Iowa's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of the north-central part of the state....
. Both ran for re-election, but Talle defeated
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
Jacobsen by a 57% - 43% margin. In all, Jacobsen served in Congress from January 3, 1937 to January 3, 1943.
The Congressional service of Bernhard Jacobsen and William Jacobson spanned a period of Democratic influence among Iowa's House delegation. When Bernhard Jacobsen first won in 1930, no Iowa Democrat had won election
United States Congressional Delegations from Iowa
These are tables of congressional delegations from Iowa to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
to a U.S. House seat for fourteen years. In the last four years of his tenure, Democrats from Iowa in the House delegation outnumbered Republicans by a two-to-one margin. The 1938 election would reverse that trend, leaving William Jacobsen and Vincent Harrington as the only Iowa Democrats in the House. After Jacobsen lost to Talle in the 1942 race (and Harrington withdrew from his race to go to war), another fourteen years would pass before an Iowa Democrat would win election
United States Congressional Delegations from Iowa
These are tables of congressional delegations from Iowa to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
to a U.S. House seat.
Jacobsen served as a liaison officer for the War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, from July 1945 to January 1947. He was later named as postmaster for his hometown of Clinton, a position held by his father, where he served from August 1, 1951, to January 1954.
He died in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, on April 10, 1955, while attending the funeral of a brother-in law. He was interred in Springdale Cemetery in Clinton.