From the "The Village of Harlem: Its People, Homes and Business – 50th
Anniversary Souvenir 1856 to 1906"
"One of the progressive business men and citizen of the village is Mr. C. W. Jacob, who was born in Germany in 1849, where he studied pharmacy and was later employed there in the drug business. He came to Chicago in 1873, where he was engaged in the drug business for twenty-four years, owning during this time several of the best drug stores in the city. Foreseeing the advantages offered by Harlem for a first-class druggist, he opened in 1897 a drug store on Madison St., near Des Plaines Ave. His business increased rapidly, and he found it necessary to enlarge his quarters. He built, in 1905, his handsome store building at 109 Madison St., where he is now located, and carries as complete line of drugs and its accessories as can be found in any city. His thorough education and long experience in the business make him a most efficient compounder of medicines. Any community is blest by a careful and efficient druggist.
"Mr. Jacob is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, and always stands for the advancement of the village. His family takes an active interest in the social affairs of the village, and he is a member of several organizations. He was married in 1880 to Miss Anna Fischer, an excellent lady. They have three children -- Alice, Herman F. and Lisette. He is ably assisted in his pharmacy by his son, Herman F., a graduate of the Chicago College of Pharmacy, a branch of the University of Illinois. At the same institution his father took a post graduate course over thirty years ago. Mr. Herman F. Jacob is an intelligent and industrious young druggist, and no doubt the Jacob Pharmacy will long be the drug center of Harlem."