Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-25

TO the banks OF the North Branch OF the
Potomac, in Hampshire county, then
Virginia, where he married the widow
Of that Capt. Cresap, whose fame as an
Indian fighter all along the upper Ohio
Valley has decended to US. Upon the
death of his first wife Capt. Jacob mar
ried Susan McDavitt, q niece by marriage
of Sergt. John Champ, the officer selected
by General Washington to attempt the
capture of Benedict Arnold. Four
children were the fruits Of this union,
two OF whom died in infancy. Julia,
one of the survivors, became the wife
of John w. Vanderver, of Missouri,
where she died in 1852, aged tifty-ive
years. The second surviving child was
the subsequent Governor and Judge,
aud the subject OF this sketch. Cap
tain Jacob died in 1889, aged eighty-one
years, and his wife in 1880, aged eighty
five.
Governor Jacob was reared and re-
ceived his early education at Romney,
afterwards studied at Carlisle, Pa, and
graduated at Dickinson College, Pa, in
1s49. He chose the law as his profess
sion, but soon removed to Missouri,
where he was chosen to the Chair OF
Political Economy in the University
of Missouri, at Columbia, and which
occupied his attention from 1853
until 1860. He then engaged In the
practice of law at Columbia, until 1864,
when he returned TO West Virginia,
going to his old home at Romney,
where he soon rose to prominence In
his profession, being for time in part
nershlp with Col. Robert White. A
thorough Democrat, he soon took an
active part IN politics, and in 1868 was
chosen to the House of Delegates from
his native county. He came rapidly to
the front in the Legislature, and In
1870 he received the Democratic nomi-
nation Cor Governor, and was trium-
phantIy elected, being the first Demo-
cratic Governor of the State. One OF
the results of that victory for the Dem
ocracy was the formation and adoption
of new Constitution, aud he was
foremost in that stormy period
of State politics. kenominated
in 1872 by Independent Democrats
and endorsed by the Republicans, he
was again elected Governor, serving IN
til March I, 1877. The Capital mad
been removed from Charleston TO this
city az the beginning of his second term,
and after the termination of his Office
hs remained citizen OF this city, re-
sumlng the practice of his profession,
in which he had attained TO high
rank.
In 1870 he renresanted this conntY in
the House Of Delegates, and In 1881 he
was appointed 10 ell the vacant udge-
ship on the bench of the Circuit Court
for this Circuit, a1d the following year
was elected for the full term next sue
ceeding. On retiring from the bench,
where he renewed his previous reputa-
tion as a profound legal student, be re-
sumed the practice Of law, which he
has since successfully conducted.
Soon after the reorganization
OF the Wheeling Railway Company
Gov. Jacobs was chosen its President,
aud was untiring In the supervision Of
the vast amount Of WORK inseperable
from the rehabilitation OF that extern
sive corporation. st the same time car
rying on an extensive practice. Gov.
Jacob was married in 1853 TO Miss Jane
Baird, daughter Of William Baird. of
Washington, Pa, who, with daughter,
survives him.
The arrangements for the funeral
will probably be made known to-day,
and a call for meeting Of the Bar As
ISOLATION IS also expected to be made
this morDinV