William Sebastian Jacobsen

January 15, 1887 (age 68)

Clinton, Iowa, Clinton County, United States of America

He served as director of physical education of the Turner Society and Young Men's Christian Association, 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 Company 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. On August 5, 1936, William Jacobsen was chosen by a special nominating convention as his father"s replacement on the ballot. He became the organizer and president of Clinton Broadcasting Corporation, which set up radio station KROS (Department of Administration and Management) 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. 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. Jacobsen served as a liaison officer for the War Assets Administration, in Washington, District of Columbia, 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.

William Sebastian Jacobsen

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Background

He was the son of his predecessor, Bernhard M. Jacobsen who held the same congressional seat for three previous terms.

Education

Born in Clinton, Iowa, Jacobsen attended the public schools and the Normal College of American Gymnastics Union, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Career

He served as director of physical education of the Turner Society and Young Men's Christian Association, 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 Company 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.

On August 5, 1936, William Jacobsen was chosen by a special nominating convention as his father"s replacement on the ballot. He became the organizer and president of Clinton Broadcasting Corporation, which set up radio station KROS (Department of Administration and Management) 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. 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.

Jacobsen served as a liaison officer for the War Assets Administration, in Washington, District of Columbia, 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.

Achievements

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. He won the general election over Republican Party and Farmer-Labor Party opponents, and was re-elected in 1938 and 1940. When Bernhard Jacobsen first won in 1930, no Iowa Democrat had won election to a United States. House seat for fourteen years. 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 United States. House seat.

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