Big Bend Genealogical Society
Passes Away at Marfa Home
The Big Bend sentinel Newspaper-Marfa May 29, 1930
Rev. James Ripley Jacobs was the son of Reverend Ferdinand Jacobs, D.D. and his wife Nannie Annie Ripley Davis of Charleston S.C. He was born at Milledgeville, Georgia on August 1, 1848 and died at his home in Marfa, Texas on May 23, 1930 at the age of 81 years. He came out of an unbroken line of ministers from the early colonial period of our history, the first of the American line having been educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, Endland and coming to the Massachusetts Colonies in 1632. At least two of these preachers were generals of the Colonial Armies, and another of the family died fighting in the Texas Revolution.
As a boy of 15, Mr. Jacobs served in the Confederate Army and his two sons served in the World War. After the Civil War and his graduation from Davidson's College, he came to Texas with his college friend Dr. Josephus Johnson some 50 years ago when he disembarked from a sail boat in Corpus Christi.
Then he married Nannie Cahterine Caldwell, daughter of the Presbyterian Minister who he had succeeded. As a peacemaker and church builder, he traveled many miles for the Presbyterian. During his period of active ministry, he built churches in Marco, Vernon, Alice, Uvalde, and Marfa. he had pastorates in Hillsboro and San Antonio as well.
His wife Nannie Cahterine and three children survive him: Major J. R. Jacobs of Manilus, New York; H. S. Hacobs of Marion, Ohio; Bessie Caldwell Jacobs. Two sisters survive him-Mrs. Henry Sperry and Mrs. Charles Little of Nashville, Tennessee.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday evening at 5'oclock in the Methodist Church of Marfa.
The Big Bend Sentinel Newspaper-Marfa May 30, 1940
Critically ill several days, Mrs. Nannie Caldwell Jacobs died yesterday afternoon at 2:30 at the family home.
Mrs. Jacobs was born September 9, 1856.
Funeral services will be held at the home this (Friday) afternoon at two o'clock with the Rev. M. A. Buhler pastor of the First Christian Church in charge.
Mrs. Jacobs was the widow of the late Rev. J. R. Jacobs, pastor of the Presbyterian Church here for a number of years.
Besides the daughter, Miss Elizabeth Caldwell Jacobs of Marfa, Mrs. Jacobs is survived by two sons-Major J. R. Jacobs and H. S. Hacobs. The former is a resident of Manlius, N.Y. and the younger son lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There are three brothers-O. S. Caldwell, P.B. Caldwell, Walter Caldwell.