BIO: JOHN JACOBS, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 750-751 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ JOHN JACOBS, late a retired farmer and blacksmith, who found rest and comfort in a pleasant home after a long life of hard work, was one of the substantial men of Cumberland county, upon whose reputation there is found no stain. His ancestors originally settled in York county, but his grandfather moved from there to what is now Perry county, and died near Shermansdale. John Jacobs, Sr., was born in York county, and in childhood accompanied his parents to Perry county. Like the children of the pioneers in general his education was limited so far as books were concerned, but when it came to work there was no limit placed. He learned the trade of blacksmithalong the old Trindle road in Cumberland county. For seven years he lived in a rented house on the farm now owned and occupied by Jacob Ziegler, and there he carried on his trade. Accumulating some little money by hard toil and much economy, he was able to purchase seven acres at the cross roads in Middlesex township, now known as Jacobs Corners. That was his home until his death, which occurred some years before the Civil war, when he was aged about seventy-five years. His wife, Catherine Kell, of Perry county, survived him several years. They were members of the Lutheran Church at Carlisle Springs. Mr. Jacobs was a Democrat. Of their children several died when young, but of the four who grew to maturity, Sarah, who married Jacob Humer, died in Middlesex township, at the age of seventy-six; William married Annie Hoover, and died in Silver Spring township; John Jacobs (2); and Samuel married Elizabeth Berstline, and lives in Middlesex township. John Jacobs, the second of the name, and the subject proper of this sketch, was born on what is now the Jacob Ziegler farm in Middlesex township Nov. 13, 1822. He was just seven years old when his father bought the old home at the Crossroads, His recollections of his school days went back to the primitive educational facilities of a new country, when all the schools were subscription schools, and the teacher for the most part firm believers in the theory of Solomon about the use of the rod. When but a boy Mr. Jacobs began work in his father's blacksmith shop, and when his father determined to retire he was so thoroughly instructed as to be able to carry on the shop himself. After his marriage in 1853 he bought thirty-eight acres of land, and built his late home. Naturally indus- CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 751 trious he prospered, and with economy and the help of his good wife, he was able to purchase in a comparatively short time another fifty acres, where he built another house in which he lived for some two years, then returning to his late home. He continued to carry on his trade of blacksmith until 1898, when he felt it was time for him to rest, having passed by several years then the Psalmist's allotted three score years and ten, and he lived in retirement up to the time of his death. On May 17, 1853, Mr. Jacobs was married to Sarah Catherine Garman, who was born at Hanover, Pa., Sept. 30, 1833, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Baringer) Garman. At the time of his marriage John Garman was a post fence builder, but he then located one mile from Harrisburg, later buying the George Nevinger farm in Silver Spring township, where he carried on farming until his death about 1862, when he was aged eighty-one years. Elizabeth (Baringer) Garman was the daughter of Jacob Baringer. To John and Elizabeth Garman were born the following family: John, who died in Frankford township, married Mrs. Sarah Finkenbinder; Elizabeth is the wife of Mathew Shefler, and lives in Kansas; Polly married Samuel Shoop, and died in Harrisburg; Hettie married first Daniel Henshaw, second David Shenk, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Sponser, of Silver Spring township; Samuel married Elizabeth Vogelsang, and died in Greencastle, Pa.; Jane Ann married John Ward, and died near Plainfield, Pa.; Benjamin married Susan Albright, and died on the home farm; Sarah Catherine became Mrs. Jacobs; and Michael married first Mrs. Susan (Albright) Garman (widow of his brother Benjamin), and second Caroline Daron. To John Jacobs and his wife four children were born: Sadie Catherine, now Mrs. David Orris, of near Kingston; John W. P., who married Rebecca Lesher, and is deceased; George B. Mc., who married Clara Keller, and lives in Shiremanstown, this county; and Francis Abner, who married Sarah Ann Devinney, and lives near Good Hope. The family have all been reared in the Lutheran faith, and they are living lives that reflect credit on their home teachings. Mr. Jacobs was always an unwavering Democrat in his political views, and was highly respected in the community that knew him so well. He passed the evening of his life surrounded by the comfort wrought by his own hands.