Jacob came to American with his family while a small child. He met and married Mary Ann Carr, an 18 year old French girl. Mary Ann had traveled to American alson with considerable unhappiness in her heart. A quarrell had taken place with her father becuase of a forbidden trip to a protestant church. After the knowledge of her deed had been found out, the father; of strong Roman Catholic belief; punished her severely. Mary did not feel the punishment was justified, so she disassociated with her family and sailed to American where Jacob and her life began together.
Jacob was a small energetic, fast moving man. His occupation was glassblower and a farmer. After Jacob and Mary Ann's marriage, they began moving westward having children along the way. We do not know the reason for this move westward. It had been said tha the elder Jacob disowned his son because of his marriage to Mary Ann. Also, the lust for gold may be been the reason or perhaps, rich farm land was the answer. We will never know. We do know that Jacob and Mary Ann settled near LaRue, Ohio around 1856 and lived there until after the middle 1860's. Jacob then sold the farm, his beautiful set of horses and rigs, and moved to Illinois. Jacob III and bride Mary Pickering, also went to Illinois. After settling at Martinsville, Illinois, they started raising hogs. Disease struck the hogs causing Jacob complete bankruptcy. Jacob was growing old by then and with this failure settleing upon him, he passed away at Martinsville, Illinois, in 1879. Mary Ann did not return to Ohio until the year 1881. Again tragedy struck. Mary Ann contracted typhoid fever during the trip and with the gelp of sons, George and John, succeeded in reaching the log home of daughter Rhoda at LaRue, Ohio. Shortly after Mary Ann's arrival, Rhoda gave birth to baby, Mabel. Mary Ann and baby Mabel are buried side by side after sharing the same disease. Nov. 25, 1881