From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Polly Oliver.

Pages 807-808


SAMUEL SPRIGG JACOB, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ohio 
county West Virginia, has always been a resident of this county.  His 
was born on a farm June 23,1838, and is the oldest son of John J and 
Mahala W (Ridgley) Jacob. 

Zachariah Jacob, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in England 
and come to America prior to 1760.  He was probably of Jewish 
parentage.  He located at Annapolis, Maryland.  He and wife Susannah 
reared the following children: Samuel Ezekiel; William: Susannah; John 
J.; and Gabriel.

Gaberiel Jacob, grandfather of our subject, was born July 1, 1759 and 
died March 20, 1822; married Ruth Hurst, of Washington county, 
Maryland, and they had the following children: John J.; Joseph; 
Zachariah and Susan (twins); Ezekiel; and Samuel.

John J. Jacob's, oldest son of Gabriel and Ruth (Hurst) Jacob, was born 
December 25, 1790 and died October 15, 1848.  He first married 
Elizabeth Mitchell, a daughter of Alexander Mitchell, who was a 
prosperous farmer.  Mr. and Mrs. Jacob became parents of the following 
children: Gabrel; Alexander M.; Anne Susan; Ruth and Sarah.  For his 
second wife he married Mahala W. Ridgley and had the following 
children: Samuel Sprigg, subject of this sketch; A Ridgley; John J. and 
Drusilla R., who married Abram Mc Colloch, brother of Mrs. S. S. Jacob.

Samuel S. Jacob attended a subscription school in the country, as it 
was before the days of public schools.  After the death of his father 
in 1848, he removed to Wheeling with his mother and there attended 
Linsly Institute for three years, after which he took a course of two 
years (1854-55, 1855-56) in Morgantown Academy.  He persuaded his 
mother in 1857 or 1858 to return to the country, where he has since are 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

In 1868, Mr. Jacob was joined in marriage with Mary L. McColloch, a 
daughter of Samuel McCulloch, and the following children blessed their 
union: Clarence; Samuel S., Jr.; Mary Lillian; Frank H.; Mahala R.; and 
John J.  The members of Mr. Jacob's family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, except the subject of this sketch, and his youngest 
son, John J.  He is a Democrat in politics.