Adolph L Jacobson- Wheelwright and Carpenter.
Friday, June 24, 2022
Adolph L. Jacobson was born in 1865 in Senjen, Norway, which is in Sunnhordeland on an island. On November 1, 1893, at the age of 28, he emigrated to the United States aboard the ship Juno headed for Hull, England. After crossing the U.K. by train to the port of Liverpool, he boarded the White Star Line’s steamer Teutonic, whose destination was New York.
In the 1900 U.S. census, Adolph, and his Norwegian wife Dena, were renting a house at 215 S. Garfield Street, in Stoughton’s 2nd Ward. He listed his occupation as a “carpenter.” However, in the 1910 census, his occupation is listed as a “wheelwright” and the city directory of that year listed his employer as the Mandt Wagon Works. This census also listed an adopted daughter, named Alice, as a member of the household.
Dena and Adolph ran a boarding house for many years out of their home.
The Mandt Wagon Division of the Moline Plow Company closed for good in 1927. The 1930 Census listed Adolph (now age 65) and Dena as the only occupants of the home and his occupation is listed as an “assembler” in a trailer factory. (Possibly at the Stoughton Company.)
Adolph passed away in 1942 at the age of 78 and Dena (Oldina) passed away in 1952 at the age of 85. Both are buried in the Eastside Lutheran Cemetery in Stoughton.
As a carpenter first and then a wheelwright, Adolph L. Jacobson always owned a tool chest. Livsreise is exhibiting just a small sample of specialized wheelwright tools and general carpentry tools from this large collection of his tools donated by his great-grandson, David Kvamme. Stop by and see it all in person and read the rest of his story! This exhibit is a natural tie- in to the T.G. Mandt story already on display at Livsreise as well Stoughton’s 175th anniversary year!
Category: Exhibits