The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-02-17
PHILIP JACOB LONG IN EMPLOY
OF northwestern.
Fifty-One Years and Now He Will
Retire on a Pension; Came to
Mankato and Assisted in Cap
ture of Younger Brothers.; Has
Encountered Many Hardships in
His Career as Roadmaster.

From Saturdays Daily.
PhiliplI III. Jacobs, roadmaster for
the Minnesota division of the Chi
cago and Northwestern road, who
is to retire on pension March
l, is known to the railroad men of
this city,. During his service of fifty
one years he has met many men
in railroad work.
Mr. Jacobs was born on farm
near Richfield. Wis, February IS,
1871. AS he grew up the farm life
did not appeal to him and in 1860
he secured position on the Mil
waukee road as laborer at Rich
field. He remained there six years
when he entered the service of the
Winona and st. Paul railway as a
track laying foreman. Mr. Jacobs
followed this work at several differ
ent stations along the line until
1876. He then was in charge of
work trains and at times being extra
conductor .
Aided in Capture of Youngers.
-,
when he pulled into Mankato, that
he saw the Younger and James boys
just after they had made their his
tOric raid on the bank at Mortified.
When the cali for help to capture
the bandits was made, he took an
active part in running them to the
ground.
Mr.. Jacobs tells many interesting
stories about his experience with the
snow during the winter that fol
lowed He says that the telegraph,
poles were often far beneath the
drifts. IF Messrs. Cook and Peary
could have been with us then and
watched us in our search for the
pole and had to live on what the
boys termed "Sanborn's pie" (pork
and beans) ] have every reason to
believe that they would have beat
it back to civilization i'm short or
DER" he is quoted in having said
recently.
/ In 1882 Mr.. Jacobs became road
master here, which position he has
held since
Co-Employcs Honor Him.
/ On the 18th of the present month
! the section foremen and many of
T Mr. Jacobs friends will give a ban
quet in honor of his SEVENTEEN birth
/ anniversary. AT this time Mr.. ia
cobs will be presented with a hand
some fullincd overcoat as a remem
brance from eo-workers with whom
/ he has been associated SO long
The venerable railroader has nc
! definite plans for the future, IL
though he states that never agai,
Will he engage in any permanent oc
cupation. He has worked long and
now he feels as though he is en-
! titled to his well-earned rest lie
will spend much Of his time 1T home
7 with his wife and daughters. Mr.
Jacobs has four daughters, two mar
fled and two single, the latter al
home with him.
At his home. 426 Wilson street
WinOna, Mr. Jacobs last night tool
a reporter with him i'm a menta
Journey back over the pioneer day!
OF railroading in the great north
west. IF | should have to live owe
again. said he, 81 would hesitate t,
re-enter railroading, even though i
meant many of the hardships nov
unknown to that business Withal
1t has been a pleasant half centur,
spent along the rails, the ties an,
the spikes. have made man,
friends among the men with whom
| have worked and come i'm dali,
contact. For this reason it may b.
difficult to fill in my time"