Born in Siefersheim, German, Jacob emigrated to Lyons, New York, with his parents in 1840. He originally worked as a farmer and a cooper before beginning to preach at age 18 under the tutelage of Rev. Joseph Harlacher. Jacob married Margaret Hailer (1831-1918) and they had two living children, Rev. Louis Henry (1857-1945) and Catherine (b.1852).