Mayor of Kirksville 1936-1938
married, son of David Jacobs and Amanda Brown, husband of Minnie Brown Jacobs
d. cert 30680
Gail A. Jacobs and Minnie Sherer were married on June 17, 1911, at Kirksville, Missouri. They had 4 known children:
Juanita Jacobs
Claude Jacobs
Kenneth Jacobs
Wilma Jean Jacobs
On June 5, 1917, Gail Jacobs registered for the World War I draft. His address was 316 S. Stanford St., Kirksville, and his occupation was plumber; working for a Mr. Baurm in Kirksville. He had a wife and 3 children at this time
In 1920, the Jacobs family was living in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri, according the the census:
Gale [sic] Jacobs 27, plumber
Minnie Jacobs 25
Juanita Jacobs 7
Claud Jacobs 5
Kenneth Jacobs 3
By the time of the 1930 census, the family had moved back to Kirksville, Missouri, where Gail Jacobs had his own plumbing business:
Gail Jacobs 38, manager, plumbing shop
Minnie Jacobs 36
Juanita Jacobs 18
Claude Jacoms 16
Kenneth Jacobs 14
Wilma J. [Jean] Jacobs 6
In about 1930, Gail Jacobs started Kirksville Plumbing Supply. In the 1940 census, this business was listed at 413 W. Harrison Street in Kirksville. It is still at this location as of this writing in 2014.
1940 Census of Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri:
Gail A. Jacobs 48, Propriator, wholesale plumbing
Minnie M. Jacobs 46
Juanita O. Jacobs 28
Jean Jacobs 16
Gail Jacobs served on the Kirksville City Council prior to be elected Mayor of Kirksville in April, 1936. On the morning of March 30, 1937, Mayor Jacobs got into his car in the garage of his home to go to work. He was left handed and always leaned over to start his car with his left hand. As soon as he turned the key in the ignition, his car exploded, critically injuring him. The car and garage were set on fire. The bomb blew straight back, and it was felt that because he leaned to the right to start his car, this saved his life.
His wife Minnie and two of their children, Kenneth and Jean, were living at home at the time. His family initially thought the water heater or boiler in the house blew up. His wife came out of the house but could not see her husband for the smoke. His son Kenneth who was upstairs, jumped from the second story for fear the whole house was on fire. Their son Claude lived across the street and usually rode to work with his father; however, on this morning Claude had overslept and this saved him from being in the exploding car.
Mayor Jacobs was taken to Stickler Hospital in Kirksville where Dr. R. O. Stickler treated him. His left leg was mangled. Both bones in his right leg were broken. His arms, pelvis, and stomach were also injured, and he had multiple abrasions all over. For a time, he was not expected to live. Dr. Stickler called in surgeons from St. Louis to treat the injuries and amputate the left leg, The family credits them with saving the Mayor's life.
By June, 1937, the Mayor was attending a city council meeting in a wheel chair. He lived another 20 years and died of a heart condition. One of his sons took over the plumbing business. One of the Mayor's daughter-in-laws describes him as "a good man and the nicest father-in-law you could ask for."
The perpetrators of the crime against Mr. Jacobs were never found, and the reason was never determined. The Mayor could think of no one who would want to hurt or kill him. The family had a couple of theories but nothing ever materalized.
(Information taken from newspaper articles and from conversations with a grandson and a daughter-in-law of Mayor Jacobs, by Blytha Ellis, Historian.)
married, son of David Jacobs and Amanda Brown, husband of Minnie Brown Jacobs
d. cert 30680
Gail A. Jacobs and Minnie Sherer were married on June 17, 1911, at Kirksville, Missouri. They had 4 known children:
Juanita Jacobs
Claude Jacobs
Kenneth Jacobs
Wilma Jean Jacobs
On June 5, 1917, Gail Jacobs registered for the World War I draft. His address was 316 S. Stanford St., Kirksville, and his occupation was plumber; working for a Mr. Baurm in Kirksville. He had a wife and 3 children at this time
In 1920, the Jacobs family was living in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri, according the the census:
Gale [sic] Jacobs 27, plumber
Minnie Jacobs 25
Juanita Jacobs 7
Claud Jacobs 5
Kenneth Jacobs 3
By the time of the 1930 census, the family had moved back to Kirksville, Missouri, where Gail Jacobs had his own plumbing business:
Gail Jacobs 38, manager, plumbing shop
Minnie Jacobs 36
Juanita Jacobs 18
Claude Jacoms 16
Kenneth Jacobs 14
Wilma J. [Jean] Jacobs 6
In about 1930, Gail Jacobs started Kirksville Plumbing Supply. In the 1940 census, this business was listed at 413 W. Harrison Street in Kirksville. It is still at this location as of this writing in 2014.
1940 Census of Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri:
Gail A. Jacobs 48, Propriator, wholesale plumbing
Minnie M. Jacobs 46
Juanita O. Jacobs 28
Jean Jacobs 16
Gail Jacobs served on the Kirksville City Council prior to be elected Mayor of Kirksville in April, 1936. On the morning of March 30, 1937, Mayor Jacobs got into his car in the garage of his home to go to work. He was left handed and always leaned over to start his car with his left hand. As soon as he turned the key in the ignition, his car exploded, critically injuring him. The car and garage were set on fire. The bomb blew straight back, and it was felt that because he leaned to the right to start his car, this saved his life.
His wife Minnie and two of their children, Kenneth and Jean, were living at home at the time. His family initially thought the water heater or boiler in the house blew up. His wife came out of the house but could not see her husband for the smoke. His son Kenneth who was upstairs, jumped from the second story for fear the whole house was on fire. Their son Claude lived across the street and usually rode to work with his father; however, on this morning Claude had overslept and this saved him from being in the exploding car.
Mayor Jacobs was taken to Stickler Hospital in Kirksville where Dr. R. O. Stickler treated him. His left leg was mangled. Both bones in his right leg were broken. His arms, pelvis, and stomach were also injured, and he had multiple abrasions all over. For a time, he was not expected to live. Dr. Stickler called in surgeons from St. Louis to treat the injuries and amputate the left leg, The family credits them with saving the Mayor's life.
By June, 1937, the Mayor was attending a city council meeting in a wheel chair. He lived another 20 years and died of a heart condition. One of his sons took over the plumbing business. One of the Mayor's daughter-in-laws describes him as "a good man and the nicest father-in-law you could ask for."
The perpetrators of the crime against Mr. Jacobs were never found, and the reason was never determined. The Mayor could think of no one who would want to hurt or kill him. The family had a couple of theories but nothing ever materalized.
(Information taken from newspaper articles and from conversations with a grandson and a daughter-in-law of Mayor Jacobs, by Blytha Ellis, Historian.)
Mayor of Kirksville 1936-1938
married, son of David Jacobs and Amanda Brown, husband of Minnie Brown Jacobs
d. cert 30680
Gail A. Jacobs and Minnie Sherer were married on June 17, 1911, at Kirksville, Missouri. They had 4 known children:
Juanita Jacobs
Claude Jacobs
Kenneth Jacobs
Wilma Jean Jacobs
On June 5, 1917, Gail Jacobs registered for the World War I draft. His address was 316 S. Stanford St., Kirksville, and his occupation was plumber; working for a Mr. Baurm in Kirksville. He had a wife and 3 children at this time
In 1920, the Jacobs family was living in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri, according the the census:
Gale [sic] Jacobs 27, plumber
Minnie Jacobs 25
Juanita Jacobs 7
Claud Jacobs 5
Kenneth Jacobs 3
By the time of the 1930 census, the family had moved back to Kirksville, Missouri, where Gail Jacobs had his own plumbing business:
Gail Jacobs 38, manager, plumbing shop
Minnie Jacobs 36
Juanita Jacobs 18
Claude Jacoms 16
Kenneth Jacobs 14
Wilma J. [Jean] Jacobs 6
In about 1930, Gail Jacobs started Kirksville Plumbing Supply. In the 1940 census, this business was listed at 413 W. Harrison Street in Kirksville. It is still at this location as of this writing in 2014.
1940 Census of Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri:
Gail A. Jacobs 48, Propriator, wholesale plumbing
Minnie M. Jacobs 46
Juanita O. Jacobs 28
Jean Jacobs 16
Gail Jacobs served on the Kirksville City Council prior to be elected Mayor of Kirksville in April, 1936. On the morning of March 30, 1937, Mayor Jacobs got into his car in the garage of his home to go to work. He was left handed and always leaned over to start his car with his left hand. As soon as he turned the key in the ignition, his car exploded, critically injuring him. The car and garage were set on fire. The bomb blew straight back, and it was felt that because he leaned to the right to start his car, this saved his life.
His wife Minnie and two of their children, Kenneth and Jean, were living at home at the time. His family initially thought the water heater or boiler in the house blew up. His wife came out of the house but could not see her husband for the smoke. His son Kenneth who was upstairs, jumped from the second story for fear the whole house was on fire. Their son Claude lived across the street and usually rode to work with his father; however, on this morning Claude had overslept and this saved him from being in the exploding car.
Mayor Jacobs was taken to Stickler Hospital in Kirksville where Dr. R. O. Stickler treated him. His left leg was mangled. Both bones in his right leg were broken. His arms, pelvis, and stomach were also injured, and he had multiple abrasions all over. For a time, he was not expected to live. Dr. Stickler called in surgeons from St. Louis to treat the injuries and amputate the left leg, The family credits them with saving the Mayor's life.
By June, 1937, the Mayor was attending a city council meeting in a wheel chair. He lived another 20 years and died of a heart condition. One of his sons took over the plumbing business. One of the Mayor's daughter-in-laws describes him as "a good man and the nicest father-in-law you could ask for."
The perpetrators of the crime against Mr. Jacobs were never found, and the reason was never determined. The Mayor could think of no one who would want to hurt or kill him. The family had a couple of theories but nothing ever materalized.
(Information taken from newspaper articles and from conversations with a grandson and a daughter-in-law of Mayor Jacobs, by Blytha Ellis, Historian.)
married, son of David Jacobs and Amanda Brown, husband of Minnie Brown Jacobs
d. cert 30680
Gail A. Jacobs and Minnie Sherer were married on June 17, 1911, at Kirksville, Missouri. They had 4 known children:
Juanita Jacobs
Claude Jacobs
Kenneth Jacobs
Wilma Jean Jacobs
On June 5, 1917, Gail Jacobs registered for the World War I draft. His address was 316 S. Stanford St., Kirksville, and his occupation was plumber; working for a Mr. Baurm in Kirksville. He had a wife and 3 children at this time
In 1920, the Jacobs family was living in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri, according the the census:
Gale [sic] Jacobs 27, plumber
Minnie Jacobs 25
Juanita Jacobs 7
Claud Jacobs 5
Kenneth Jacobs 3
By the time of the 1930 census, the family had moved back to Kirksville, Missouri, where Gail Jacobs had his own plumbing business:
Gail Jacobs 38, manager, plumbing shop
Minnie Jacobs 36
Juanita Jacobs 18
Claude Jacoms 16
Kenneth Jacobs 14
Wilma J. [Jean] Jacobs 6
In about 1930, Gail Jacobs started Kirksville Plumbing Supply. In the 1940 census, this business was listed at 413 W. Harrison Street in Kirksville. It is still at this location as of this writing in 2014.
1940 Census of Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri:
Gail A. Jacobs 48, Propriator, wholesale plumbing
Minnie M. Jacobs 46
Juanita O. Jacobs 28
Jean Jacobs 16
Gail Jacobs served on the Kirksville City Council prior to be elected Mayor of Kirksville in April, 1936. On the morning of March 30, 1937, Mayor Jacobs got into his car in the garage of his home to go to work. He was left handed and always leaned over to start his car with his left hand. As soon as he turned the key in the ignition, his car exploded, critically injuring him. The car and garage were set on fire. The bomb blew straight back, and it was felt that because he leaned to the right to start his car, this saved his life.
His wife Minnie and two of their children, Kenneth and Jean, were living at home at the time. His family initially thought the water heater or boiler in the house blew up. His wife came out of the house but could not see her husband for the smoke. His son Kenneth who was upstairs, jumped from the second story for fear the whole house was on fire. Their son Claude lived across the street and usually rode to work with his father; however, on this morning Claude had overslept and this saved him from being in the exploding car.
Mayor Jacobs was taken to Stickler Hospital in Kirksville where Dr. R. O. Stickler treated him. His left leg was mangled. Both bones in his right leg were broken. His arms, pelvis, and stomach were also injured, and he had multiple abrasions all over. For a time, he was not expected to live. Dr. Stickler called in surgeons from St. Louis to treat the injuries and amputate the left leg, The family credits them with saving the Mayor's life.
By June, 1937, the Mayor was attending a city council meeting in a wheel chair. He lived another 20 years and died of a heart condition. One of his sons took over the plumbing business. One of the Mayor's daughter-in-laws describes him as "a good man and the nicest father-in-law you could ask for."
The perpetrators of the crime against Mr. Jacobs were never found, and the reason was never determined. The Mayor could think of no one who would want to hurt or kill him. The family had a couple of theories but nothing ever materalized.
(Information taken from newspaper articles and from conversations with a grandson and a daughter-in-law of Mayor Jacobs, by Blytha Ellis, Historian.)
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