My Genealogy Hound

Rev. Daniel C. Jacokes, M. A., S. T. D., who was well known throughout the State of Michigan for the great and good work he accomplished as a minister of the Gospel and through his connection with the State Board of Corrections and Charities, was a resident of Pontiac for many years and was living in this city at the time of his death.

Daniel C. Jacokes was born in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York, April 15, 1813, and was the eldest of four children born to Samuel and Catherine (Hood) Jacokes, both natives of New York State. Catherine Jacokes was a woman of marked ability and strength of character, and possessed a clear and active mind with strong convictions as to religion and morals. When her oldest son was eight years old, he was consecrated by her to the ministry, as were his two brothers later; with the settled purpose of becoming a clergyman, he marked out by her advice a course of study to continue the following 30 years, at the expiration of which time he was to buy new books on all subjects and review his studies. This he afterward did, twice. It is remarkable that the three sons should have followed with such exactness the course laid out by their mother.

Rev. D. C. Jacokes prepared for college at a select school, then for three years attended Geneva College (now Hobart College) at Geneva, New York. In 1828 he made a trip west, spending one year in Michigan, then returned to Geneva, New York, where he was married in 1832. With his wife, he later returned to Michigan and for six years was located at Detroit, then moved to Lodi township, Washtenaw County, where his father had located. There he spent two years at his studies in preparation for the ministry and in 1840 joined the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His first assignment was to the Farmington circuit, in Oakland County, a district covering a wide range, and here he remained a year. He then moved to the Lake Superior region and took charge of the Indian missions, continuing in this interesting work until 1845. His subsequent appointments, for a period of two years, each, follow in order: Grass Lake, Girard, Northville, Mount Clemens, Port Huron, Pontiac, Trenton, and Detroit. On the breaking out of the war, he was appointed chaplain of the 5th Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf., and experienced the hardships of the Peninsula campaign. He resigned after one year and was assigned to the church at Dexter, where he remained three years, then returned to Pontiac and had charge of the church for a like period. In 1868 he was made presiding elder of the Adrian district for a term of four years, and afterward was pastor of the church at Hudson until 1876. Owing to the failure of his wife’s health, he returned to Pontiac where he continued to reside until his death. About the year 1853 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Wesley an University of Middleton, Connecticut, and in 1871 he was made Doctor of Sacred Theology by Ohio Wesleyan University. In September, 1875, Mr. Jacokes was requested by Governor Bagley to accept the position of commissioner of education of Michigan for the educational exhibit at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. Upon becoming convinced of the practicability of the enterprise, he accepted the position and directed his efforts to the task. To detail the plan originated by him would be impossible here; suffice it to say that it gave a full and comprehensive exposition of the educational system of Michigan. He devised a plan for the arrangement, in compact and accessible form, of all the material needed for a study of the educational system of the State. His plan was adopted by the Centennial Board and sent to all States and nations for their guidance in their exhibits. Foreign commissioners spent whole days in examining and copying from the volumes and diagrams displayed. Much of the credit which Michigan received for this splendid exhibit is due to the energy and wisdom of Dr. Jacokes. In 1877, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Health and served as such six years, and also in 1877 was appointed by the Governor of Michigan as agent of the State Board of Corrections and Charities for Oakland County, a position he was filling at the time of his death. From 1878 he was chaplain of the Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac, his culture and great kindness of heart eminently fitting him for the work. He became an active member of the American Public Health Association in 1882.

In 1832, Dr. Jacokes was joined in marriage with Mary Ann Slarrow, who was born in Geneva, Ontario County, New York, by whom he had one son, Hon. James A. Jacokes, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. They also had an adopted daughter, Mrs. William Park of Trenton, Michigan.

Dr. Jacokes spent a long life in the steady pursuit of knowledge and never considered his education completed. He had in addition to his theological studies given considerable attention to the study of astronomy and the sciences, and his research into almost every branch of learning was profound. He had a remarkable constitution, enabling him to do the work of three ordinary men, and he could not remember the time when he had devoted more than a few hours out of the 24 to slumber. He was seen on all except the very coldest winter days, attending to his outdoor duties without overcoat or other additional wraps on. His reputation throughout the state was an enviable one.

Full of charity and thought for others, he had hosts of friends wherever his work led him, while his sound judgment and sterling character won him a place in the front rank of men of refinement and education.