JOHN W. JACOBS, Buffalo, New York.
John W. Jacobs was born in the town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, New York, on October 27, 1850, being the son of Erastus B. Jacobs, a railroad man all ol his life in the employ of the New York Central. On leaving school Mr. Jacobs very naturally took to the railroad to earn his living, and being quite young he accepted a position as water boy on the old State Line Road, now the Lake Shore. From this position he was advanced to switchman and then to a place in the shops of the same road. In 1869 he was given a position as fireman and served in this capacity three years, in the meantime running as extra engineer. In 1872 he resigned and entered the employ of the Erie. For the first five months he worked in the Erie shops at Buffalo as engine inspector, and then went on the road as fireman. Seven years later, in 1879, he was promoted to engineer, and ran from 1879 to 1886 on the road, and since then has run a day switch engine in the Buffalo yards.

In 1872 Mr. Jacobs was married to Miss Annie M. Ross, who died in January, 1894, and was buried at Buffalo. In April, 1895, Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage to Miss Grace E. Bond. daughter of Martin W. Bond, a lake man of Buffalo. Mr. Jacobs belongs to Lodge No. 241, B. of L. F.; Lodge No. 238, I. 0. 0. F.; the Rebekah, of I. 0. 0. F., and the Foresters of Buffalo. Mrs. Jacobs belongs to the Royal Templars of Temperance of Buffalo and the Rebekah of I. 0. 0. F. They reside in their own home at 123 Sage Avenue, and are highly esteemed by all who have the good fortune to know them.


Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.