Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Warren and Albina (Walton) Jacobs, at-
tended the common schools of Mansfield
until his parents removed to Willimantic.
He continued his studies at the public
schools of Willimantic, continuing in
school until he had reached the age of
sixteen years, when he entered his fath-
er's grocery store as an employee. In a
short while he agreed to take service in
the bookstore of William L. Weaver,
leaving his position in 1856 to become
express messenger for Phillips & Com-
pany, who were the express agents of the
old Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Rail-
road. A year later (on May 25, 1857),
he was advanced to an office position in
Hartford under Daniel Phillips, who had
taken the Hartford agency for the Adams
Express Company. In that capacity Mr.
Jacobs remained until April 1, 1866, when
he became a steamship agent, opening
an office for himself at No. 13 Central
Row, Hartford. The steamship agency
business had been established by Phillips
& Company in 1846, but was much expanded
by Mr. Jacobs, quite an appre-
ciable business being represented in the
railroad tickets sold from year to year.
Concurrently with the operation of the
steamship agency, Mr. Jacobs became
identified, in clerical capacity, with the
Mechanics Savings Bank. His service to
the bank dates back to April 1, 1866, at
which time the assets of the bank were
$178,137.15. A glance at the assets of
the bank at the time of making last re-
port will give clear indication of the development
of the institution in the period
during which Mr. Jacobs has served it.
In 1866 the bank treasurer was Mr.
Haynes L. Porter.
Young Jacobs steadfastly applied himself
to all duties entrusted him at the bank, and
was promoted from position to position
until he became assistant treasurer, July
24, 1867, and on the death of Mr. Porter,
Conn—5—
8
EXCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
February 10, 1873, Mr. Jacobs was, on
February 24, 1873, elected secretary and
treasurer. As such he has continued to
the present, and in point of service he is
the oldest bank official in Hartford.
There are very few banking officials older
than he, and still in high administrative
office, in the State of Connecticut. The
Mechanics Savings Bank now has depos-
its amounting to more than $10,000,000,
and a certain degree of that prosperity is
due to the faithfulness to its interests and
advancement of its treasurer, Mr. Jacobs,
who also has been on its board of trustees
since July 28, 1866.
Mr. Jacobs holds many other offices in
the business, financial and public life of
the City of Hartford ; he has been secretary
and treasurer of the Hartford Hospital
since February 19, 1880; he was
secretary, treasurer and manager of Ce-
dar Hill Cemetery from the time of the
first interment, in 1866, until quite recent-
ly when his son took the offices, and he
became vice-president ; he is now the oldest
director on the board of the First Na-
tional Bank of Hartford and is vice-pres-
ident, he having been a member of the
board continuously since 1876; he has
been director of the Phoenix Insurance
Company of Hartford since 1887; he is
a director of the Capewell Horse Nail
Company and has been so for more than
ten years ; he has been a director of the
Shelby Iron Company of Shelby, Alabama,
since 1886. president from 1888 to
1890 and from 1909 to 1914, holding the
office of vice-president during the interim
of his two presidential terms ;
he has been
actively connected with the Missionary
Society of Connecticut since 1876, when he
was elected treasurer and remained treas-
urer until 1905 when he declined to longer
hold the office, and was then made director
and still holds that office, and since 1876
was held similar positions with the Trus-
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