San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 847-848
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/18/2010
MRS. MARY CECELIA JACOBSEN
A native daughter who is giving of her best efforts towards building up and developing her county, Mrs. Mary Cecelia Jacobsen was born on the Selby ranch near Redwood City, San Mateo County, a daughter of Edmund and Sarah (McSorley) Elligott, born in Limerick, Ireland, and New York respectively. Her father came to Minnesota as a lad and when sixteen came to California via Panama. For a time he followed mining and then coming to San Jose he was married to Sarah McSorley. Her parents, James and Mary (Martin) McSorley, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, had come to Oneida County, New York, where the daughter, Sarah, was born and there the father died. The mother then in 1862 came via Panama with the children and she spent the remainder of her days in San Juan. Of the six children in the McSorley family there is only one, Dan McSorley, now living and he resides on his ranch adjoining Mrs. Jacobsen.
Mr. Elligott was foreman of the Selby ranch in San Mateo County, later for Alex. Grogan at Palo Alto. He removed to San Juan, San Benito County, and purchased a sixty acre ranch; engaging in fruit raising. Selling out, he purchased a wheat ranch, a part of the Curran ranch at Gilroy, and when he sold that he moved to Petaluma, where he followed farming and dairying. He came to Stockton in 1880 and in 1881 he purchased 119½ acres and later 27½ more from John Tretheway, and on his 177 acre ranch he farmed until his death, March 5, 1908. The mother had passed away October 21, 1895.
Mary Cecelia, their only child, completed her education in the Petaluma high school, coming to Stockton in 1880. She was married in St. Mary's Church October 3, 1893, to Jacob Jacobsen, a native of Denmark, born December 18, 1860, whose father, Louis, was a farmer, and there Mr. Jacobsen was reared and educated. When eighteen years of age he came to New York State, later removing to Kansas, whence he came to California. Mr. Jacobsen inherited the Elligott ranch and after their marriage they engaged in farming the place.
The Jacobsen ranch is devoted to grain, hay and fruits, some of the acreage being devoted to raising table grapes. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen's union has been blessed with two children: Louis E., a graduate of St. Mary's College and Heald's Business College, is now engaged in viticulture and in buying and shipping grapes, as well as managing his mother's ranch. Edmund D. entered service in the World War, June 3, 1918, and was sent to the recruiting barracks at Angel Island and afterwards to Camp Johnston, Fla., and then transferred to Newport News and at Camp Hill served in 312th Remount Squadron. Three weeks later he was sent to Brest, France, where he continued in the service in remount work. During his seven months of service in France he was in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and upon the termination of hostilities his regiment was sent into Germany as a part of the Army of Occupation, and his particular company was stationed about seventeen kilometers west of Coblenz. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive he received a slight shrapnel wound from which later blood poisoning set in and it took three months' treatment in the hospital before the infection was eradicated. Returning to the United States, he received his honorable discharge at Mitchell Field, Long Island, as private, first class. After his discharge he returned to Stockton and for two years was employed with the Holt Manufacturing Company and then he entered his present position with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He was married September 17, 1919, to Miss Blanche Duncan, a daughter of Chas. H. and Ethel (Tupper) Duncan, of Linden, and they have a lovely daughter, Meredith, who is the pride of Grandmother Jacobsen. For some years Mrs. Jacobsen was a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Loyal Order of Moose. In national politics she is a Republican.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2011; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.