My Genealogy Hound

Goodman Jacobs, deceased, for many years a prominent merchant of Pontiac and at the time of his death vice-president and a director of the First Commercial Bank, was one of the leading business men of the county, and in his death, which occurred in July, 1903, the city lost one of its most substantial citizens.

Mr. Jacobs was born in the North of Norway, and was 10 years old when his parents brought him to this country and located in the State of Illinois, where he attended the district schools. He later removed to Minnesota, and in 1849 caught the gold fever and made his way across the plains to California. He worked at mining with considerable success, and also did a small banking business, buying gold dust. He remained in the West for a period of 10 years, then came to Michigan in 1859 and located at Pontiac. He bought a farm near the city and worked it a couple of years, then moved to town and engaged in the hardware business on Saginaw street, between Pike and Lawrence streets, as a member of the firm of Norton & Jacobs., He continued in this business for some 15 years when he practically retired from business activity. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, now known as the First Commercial Bank, in 1864, and was one of its first directors. He continued as director of the bank from its inception until his death and was also its vice-president for many years.

Goodman Jacobs married a daughter of James Holden, one of the pioneer citizens of Oakland County. She accompanied her sister to California and it was there she met and was married to Mr. Jacobs, by whom she had two sons: H. L. Jacobs, who is now manager of the Union Buggy Company of Pontiac; and Frank G. Jacobs, cashier of the First Commercial Bank of Pontiac. Our subject was an active Republican in politics, and for a number of years served as alderman. Fraternally, he was an Odd Fellow and filled the various chairs, also belonging to the Encampment. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church and for a number of years was a member of the board of trustees.