Jacob Alfson was born in Solum, Telemark, Norway. He was the son of Alf Olson Hvalestranden and Ingeborg Iversdatter. He had nine siblings. On March 28, 1858 at Spring Prairie Lutheran church in DeForest, Dane County, Wisconsin he married the widowed Marte Simensdatter Hanson Mehren who had three sons, Andrew, Martin and John Hanson Mehren. A year later on June 1, 1859, Jacob and his step-son, Andrew Hanson Mehren, were killed by lightning, along with one other man, Ransom Flemming. They had been working in a field, along with a fourth man, Anon Anderson, who was also struck but survived. After Jacob's death, his oldest brother, Ole Alfson immigrated from Norway to take ownership of Jacob's farm in Mount Morris. Ole was married to Hendrikka Olsdatter Moe and had six children.

Jacob Alfsen's Death in Newspaper-1859
01 Jun 1859

Mount Morris, Waushara, Wisconsin

Dear Mr. Mitchell: This has been a sad day in Mt. Morris. The mortal remains of Ransom Flemming, Jacob Alfson and Andrew Hanson, three most worthy and respected citizens of our town, who were struck by lightning on Wednesday last, while in the full strength and vigor of manhood, were today consigned to their final resting place – the grave. The funerals were attended by a large concourse of people, embracing nearly the entire population of the town, and the manifestation of sympathy in behalf of the friends, who have been affiliated with this sudden bereavement, was universal. From a personal inspection of the premises where this distressing event occurred, and from Mr. Anon Anderson, the survivor of the party, I have gathered the following particulars: The four individuals above named, were all of them some distance from their respective homes on Wednesday last, and at about two o'clock, saw a shower of rain rapidly approaching, they sought shelter in an unoccupied house nearby. The door of the house being locked they took refuge in a shed or woodhouse attached to the end of the house in the form of a lean-to. The roof of the shed having been removed excepting a small portion on one end, they were obliged, in order to avoid the rain, to take positions in the extreme end, and were standing side by side with their backs against the wall, when the fatal stroke came. The electric fluid first entered at the gable end of the house diagonally through an aperture of about a foot square in the siding, and struck a post or stud inside, scorching it slightly and shivering it into fragments. It passed down the stud to the beam below, and then took a course outside of the house and into the shed, directly to three scythes that were hanging up in the corner of the shed, and from thence down upon the individuals above named, striking them all to the ground, and killing instantly the three first named. The greater portion of the charge fell upon Mr. Hanson, who was standing directly under the scythes, making a large wound upon the top of his head, passing down his back, scorching his clothes, and leaving its mark upon the skin. Mr. Flemming and Mr. Alfson standing next to him also had several wounds about their heads, while Mr. Anderson, who was the farthest from the scythes, has a slight wound upon his right arm, but has nearly recovered from the shock he received. Mr. Anderson thinks that about one hour had elapsed when his consciousness returned, as the shower had passed away and the sun was shining brightly. Upon his recovery he found himself lying upon his back, with his head directly upon the spot occupied by his feet while standing, and Mr. Alfson's head lying across his chest. Mt. Morris, June 3rd (1859) J.L.H. The Journal, W. H. Mitchell, Editor, Wautoma, Waushara County, Wisconsin, Wednesday, June 8, 1859