In 1810 Jacob moved his family by cart drawn by yoke of cattle from Washington County, Pennsylvania to Harrison County Ohio near New Rumley. They reared their large family in Ohio. In 1839 they cmae with their family across Indiana and Illinois adn located about two miles north and east of Mt. Zion, Van Buren County, Iowa. Jacob's politics were stricty democratic. He voted a straight ticket from Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan. He was very ingenious in making things. He made a mill to crush oil out of walnuts and every year made enough oil to fry crulls. Both Jacob and his wife spoke fluent German. They also had musical talent and could read and sing old fashioned buckwheat notes.

Christina was a great weaver and could weave cloth from wool, flax, and hemp.