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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Balthaser JACOBS 

Pages 217-218, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: JACOBS, RECHNER, WALTER] 

    
BALTHASER JACOBS. For varied reasons numbers of foreigners come each year from European countries to make for themselves homes in the United States and here pursue the trade or profession which they learned in their native land. To this class belongs the subject of our present sketch, he having been born in one of the Rhine Provinces, in Germany, November 25, 1827. His parents, Peter and Mary (Rechner) Jacobs, never came to America, the father dying previous to the time of our subject's journey hither and the mother passing away from earthly scenes in the year 1864. The parental family consisted of eight children, all living except John, the firstborn. The survivors are: George, Joseph, Jacob, Balthaser, Antone, Elizabeth and Mary, and all but our subject reside in their native land. 
    
Mr. Jacobs spent his early years on his father's farm and obtained a fair common-school education, also learning the trade of a wagon-maker. He started for America in 1850, and upon reaching the New World spent three weeks in New York City, and then went to Buffalo, where he worked at his trade. At a later date he was a carpenter in the country around Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and in 1855 came to this State, settling in Polo, where for a year he remained doing carpenter's work. 
    
The young man then purchased eighty acres of land which he cultivated until the year 1865, from which time until 1869 he traveled throughout the State. Finally locating in Canton he began gardening on a small scale and has continued the occupation up to the present time, and gradually increased his business until he is now one of the leading nurserymen of the place. He began with three lots, a quarter of an acre, on which he raised the earliest and best potatoes in the market, and now owns eleven lots on Elm Street, with one and a half on White Street, in the heart of the city, and has three greenhouses and two dwelling houses. He does a large gardening business and has the leading trade as a florist; he is also engaged in berry culture. 
    
In May, 1877, Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage with Miss Maria Walter, daughter of Conrad Walter, and a native of Germany. Mrs. Jacobs is an excellent housewife and is devoted to the interests of her family, the circle including four sons--George, Carl, Lewis and John, and a babe unnamed. 
    
Our subject is a Catholic, and his wife belongs to the Unitarian Church. They are religious people, and embrace every passing opportunity to advance the interests and welfare of their neighbors and friends. Mr. Jacobs is well and favorably known in business circles as a thrifty, industrious and honest man who manages his affairs in a most systematic way. As a citizen he is law-abiding, sober and quiet, attending strictly to his own affairs, and for over twenty years he has been regarded as one of the best of the German born citizens of the county.