Julius Nicolai Jacobsen
Encyclopedia
Julius Nicolai Jacobsen was a Norwegian businessperson and politician. Based in Græsvig
, a settlement built around his sawmill Græsvig Brug, he founded the company J. N. Jacobsen & Co. which was successful during his lifetime.
He was born in Strømsø
as the son of a sexton. He moved to Fredrikstad
(then Fredriksstad) in 1848, working for merchant Peter Gellertsen. He then became a self-made businessman, settling at the property Lykkeberg which he bought in 1855. Having amassed a large property at Græsvig
in Onsøe
outside of Fredrikstad through transactions in 1856 and 1859, he founded a sawmill Græsvig Brug on 1 January 1860, the same day as national sawmill privilege
s limiting private enterprise were abolished. The sawmill was a catalyst of growth, spurring a significant immigration to the district. For the children of workers at the sawmill, a school was founded in 1862. Later followed a gospel hall in 1866 and a chapel in 1884. The company was renamed J. N. Jacobsen & Co. in 1863, his brother entering as a business partner.
Jacobsen served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament during the term 1877–1879, representing the constituency of Fredriksstad. He was also a member of the city council's executive committee from 1868 to 1894, and served as deputy mayor for some time.
In 1858 he married Olivia Bredesen, born in 1841 in Sør-Odal
. Jacobsen subsequently ordered the erection of a new house at Lykkeberg, drawn in Gothic style
by the nationally known architect Paul Due
. The house was finished in 1875. However, Olivia died in 1879 after giving birth to their eighth child. A local urban legend has it that she haunts the house
.
Jacobsen was proclaimed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1882 and Commander of the same order in 1894. The city council named a street in Fredrikstad after him in 1894, while he was still alive. Following his death later that year, J. N. Jacobsen & Co. was transformed to a limited company
. His brother took over the leadership, together with Julius' son-in-law J. C. Juel. The youngest son Andreas Julius Jacobsen was involved from 1907.
Facing the economic hardships of the time, J. N. Jacobsen & Co. went bankrupt in 1926, under the leadership of Andreas Julius Jacobsen. The assets were seized, and even the house at Lykkeberg was sold, the buyer being Fredrikstad municipality who used it as their seat of administration.
His daughter Elna (1870–1958) was married to sports official Johan Sverre
between 1893 and 1917.
Gressvik
Gressvik is a village located in the municipality of Fredrikstad, Norway.The river named Seut separates Gressvik from the city of Fredrikstad. Gressvik stretches from Ørebekk in the north, to Rød/Viker in the south....
, a settlement built around his sawmill Græsvig Brug, he founded the company J. N. Jacobsen & Co. which was successful during his lifetime.
He was born in Strømsø
Strømsø
Strømsø is a brough of Drammen, in Buskerud county, Norway. Strømsø is located at the southern side of the river Drammenselva. Until about 1600, Stømsø was an island surrounded by the Drammenselva, but was later made landfast. In 1728 Strømsø was granted rights as a trade center by the king, and...
as the son of a sexton. He moved to Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
(then Fredriksstad) in 1848, working for merchant Peter Gellertsen. He then became a self-made businessman, settling at the property Lykkeberg which he bought in 1855. Having amassed a large property at Græsvig
Gressvik
Gressvik is a village located in the municipality of Fredrikstad, Norway.The river named Seut separates Gressvik from the city of Fredrikstad. Gressvik stretches from Ørebekk in the north, to Rød/Viker in the south....
in Onsøe
Onsøy
Onsøy is a peninsula and a former municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre was Gressvik.-History:The parish of Onsø was established as a municipality January 1, 1838...
outside of Fredrikstad through transactions in 1856 and 1859, he founded a sawmill Græsvig Brug on 1 January 1860, the same day as national sawmill privilege
Privilege
A privilege is a special entitlement to immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. It can be revoked in certain circumstances. In modern democratic states, a privilege is conditional and granted only after birth...
s limiting private enterprise were abolished. The sawmill was a catalyst of growth, spurring a significant immigration to the district. For the children of workers at the sawmill, a school was founded in 1862. Later followed a gospel hall in 1866 and a chapel in 1884. The company was renamed J. N. Jacobsen & Co. in 1863, his brother entering as a business partner.
Jacobsen served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament during the term 1877–1879, representing the constituency of Fredriksstad. He was also a member of the city council's executive committee from 1868 to 1894, and served as deputy mayor for some time.
In 1858 he married Olivia Bredesen, born in 1841 in Sør-Odal
Sør-Odal
Sør-Odal is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Odalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Skarnes....
. Jacobsen subsequently ordered the erection of a new house at Lykkeberg, drawn in Gothic style
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
by the nationally known architect Paul Due
Paul Due
Paul Due was a Norwegian architect and significant contributor to the stations built by the Norwegian State Railways.-Biography:...
. The house was finished in 1875. However, Olivia died in 1879 after giving birth to their eighth child. A local urban legend has it that she haunts the house
Haunted house
A haunted house is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property...
.
Jacobsen was proclaimed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1882 and Commander of the same order in 1894. The city council named a street in Fredrikstad after him in 1894, while he was still alive. Following his death later that year, J. N. Jacobsen & Co. was transformed to a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
. His brother took over the leadership, together with Julius' son-in-law J. C. Juel. The youngest son Andreas Julius Jacobsen was involved from 1907.
Facing the economic hardships of the time, J. N. Jacobsen & Co. went bankrupt in 1926, under the leadership of Andreas Julius Jacobsen. The assets were seized, and even the house at Lykkeberg was sold, the buyer being Fredrikstad municipality who used it as their seat of administration.
His daughter Elna (1870–1958) was married to sports official Johan Sverre
Johan Sverre (sports official)
Johan Tidemann Sverre was a Norwegian military officer and sports official.-Personal life:He was born in Fredrikstad as a son of Erik Olsen and Josefine Andrea Nicolaysen , and brother of Ole Sverre...
between 1893 and 1917.