1. Home
  2. Pedigree Charts
  3. Bio List
  4. Name Index

Jacob J STAUFFACHER (b 1841)

Jacob J Stauffacher was the second child and first son of Jacob Stauffacher and Elsbeth Speich. He was born in Matt (Glarus) Switzerland on 17 Jan 1841. His parents brought him with two other children to New Glarus (Green) Wisconsin sometime between 1845 and 1847. The Planting of the Swiss Colony at New Glarus, Wisconsin by John Luchsinger suggests a date as early as 1845. Jacob himself provided a date of 1846 in the 1900 Census and a date of 1847 in the 1910 Census.

Jacob's parents had settled in Sylvester (Green) WI by 1850. Jacob and Elizabeth appeared in the 1850 US Census with five of their children, three of the eldest born in Switzerland. Dorothea was the first child in the family to be born in Wisconsin and she was reported to be age 4 in 1850, so the family's immigration was almost certainly between 1845 and 1846.

Jacob was still at home with his parents in 1860. His elder sister Afra does not appear with the household. She would have been age 22. Jacob was age 19. He was reported to have been in school that year and he was not yet given an occupation. Five siblings born since 1850 appeared in the household, Angelisa (age 10), Peter (age 8), Levy (age 6), Georg[e] (age 4) and Elizabeth (age 2).

At the age of 21, on 14 Aug 1862, Jacob enlisted as a private in Company B of the 31st Wisconsin Volunteers. He was discharged on 20 Jun 1865 after two years, ten months, and six days of service. Shortly after his discharge, Jacob married Susanna Zwickey on 19 Oct 1865 in Green County, Wisconsin. He was age 24. Susanna was about age 21.

The 1870 US Census found Jacob and Susanna living in Sylvester (Green) Wisconsin in the late summer of the year. Jacob was farming. The couple already had two daughters, Elizabeth, age 2, and Susan, age 1. A boy named John Hobby was living with them and attending school.

The couple were still in Sylvester, probably in the same house, in 1880. The family had grown to inlcude four more children, though it appears the enumerator has recorded Fred twice. In addition to Elizabeth, now age 11, and Susan, now age 10, there is Freddie (line 43) age 8, Fred (line 44) age 7, Emma age 3, and Willie age 1. A boy named Lenard Gigas, age 13, a farm worker born in Switzerland, was also a member of the household. Elizabeh, Susan, and both Freds were reported to be at school.

The 1895 Wisconsin Census found the family still in Sylvester with a household of 3 males and 3 females. Although the record does not name the members of the household, I would guess that the three males would be (1) father Jacob, (2) William, age 16 and (3) perhaps a farm hand; the three females would be (1) mother Susanna, (2) daughter Emma, age 18, and (3) daughter Dora, age 13. Elizabeth had married August Prien in 1888. Susan had married Edward Wenger in 1890. Fred had married Lydia Wenger in January of the same year.

In the early summer of 1900, the 1900 US Census found the family still in Sylvester. Jacob, now age 60, was still farming. Only three children were still at home, (1) Emma, age23, (2) William, age 21, and (3) Dora, age 18. Susan's nephew Freddie Zwicky, age 12 and born in Wisconsin, was living with them and in school. Emma was described as a housekeeper and William as a farm laborer. Jacob gave the year of his immigration as 1846 but the record does not show that he had been naturalized.

By 1910, Jacob and Susanna had moved into the town of Monroe. Jacob, at age 69, was retired and living on his own income. In this 1910 US Census record, he gave the date of his immigration as 1847 but he also indicated that he had filed papers to begin the process of naturalization. There is a record on Ancestry.com that indicates a Jacob Stauffacher of the Green County, Wisconsin circuit was naturalized on 08 Sep 1908. It is possible this was our Jacob, but there is nothing in the record to confirm that.

Jacob died at the age of 70, on 23 May 1911, almost certainly in Monroe. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe (Green) Wisconsin. His wife Susanna lived on until 1916.

Sources:

Jacob's birth: All of this information on Jacob's birth is taken from the Find A Grave Memorial for Jacob's father Jacob Stauffacher (b 1817). The brief history of father Jacob's life and family prepared by Linda Schiesser appears reliable. It provides names and places of birth and marriage of Jacob's father and mother. The couple were married in Matt, Canton Glarus, Switzerland. It seems entirely reasonable to presume that Jacob J, their second child was born in Matt. Jacob's date of birth is taken from the Find A Grave Memorial for Jacob himself. The date is consistent with the year engraved on the gravestone but it does not agree with the year provided to the census enumerator in 1900. The date provided on that occasion, 1840, was almost certainly provided by one of Jacob's children. The fact that no month was provided makes me think it was not reliable.

Find a Grave Memorial 13662396 for Jacob Stauffacher (b 1817) . Note: This is Jacob's father and not Jacob himself.

1850 US Census, Household of Jacob Stauffacher (b c1817): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1850; Census Place: Mount Pleasant, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: 999; Page: 254a. Content: The 1850 US Census of Town of Sylvester (Green) Wisconsin on 24 Aug 1850 shows dwelling (98/102) with a household composed of (1) Jacob Slafwaker [sic], age 35, male, farmer, real estate valued at $400, born Switzerland, (2) Elizabeth Slafwaker, age 30, female, born Switzerland, (3) Offa Slafwaker, age 12, male [sic], born Switzerland, (4) Jacob Slafwaker, age 10, male, born Switzerland, (5) Henry Slafwaker, age 8, male, born Switzerland, (6) Dorotha [sic] Slafwaker, age 4, female, born Wisconsin, (7) John Slafwaker, age 2, male, born Wisconsin. Note: The enumerator has incorrectly identified the eldest child as male with the name Offa. It was Afra, a female.

1860 US Census, Household of Jacob Stauffacher (b c1817): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1860; Census Place: Sylvester, Green, Wisconsin; Page: 287; Family History Library Film: 805411. Content: The 1860 US Census of Sylvester (Green) WI, on 18 Aug 1860 shows dwelling (2061/72) with a household composed of (1) Jacob Stauffacher (b c1817), age 43, male, white, farmer, (4000/1000), born Switzerland, (2) Eliz Stauffacher, age 39, female, white, born Switzerland, attended school [sic], (3) Jacob Stauffacher, age 19, male, white, born Switzerland, attended school, (4) Henry Stauffacher, age 17, male, white, born Switzerland, attended school, (5) Dorothy Stauffacher, age 14, female, white, born WI, attended school, (6) John Stauffacher, age 12, male, white, born WI, attended school, (7) Angelisa Stauffacher, age 10, female, white, born WI, attended school, (8) Peter Stauffacher, age 8, male, white, born WI, attended school, (9) Levy Stauffacher, age 6, male, white, born WI, attended school, (10) Georg Stauffacher, age 4, male, white, born WI, (11) Elizabeth Stauffacher, age 2, female, white, born WI.

1865 Wisconsin Marriage Registration for Jacob Stauffacher and Susanna Zwicke: Citation: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Records, 1820-2004 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data:Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Wi Marriage Records Pre-1907 Content: The record shows that Jacob Stauffacher (son of Jacob Stauffacher and Elsbeth Stauffacher, farmer, resident of Sylvester, born Glarus, Switzerland) married Susanna Zevicke (dau of Frederic Zwickey and Rosina Zwicke) on 19 Oct 1865 in Sylvester (Green), WI. Registered 28 Oct 1865.

1870 US Census, Household of Jacob Stauffacher (b c1841): Citation: Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Sylvester, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1715; Page: 267B; Family History Library Film: 553214. Content: The 1870 US Census of Sylvester (Green) WI on 29 Aug 1870 shows HH (31/31) with (1) Jacob Stauffacher, age 29, male, white, farmer, (real: $3000/personal: $1700), born Switzerland, father/mother of foreign birth, citizen, (2) Susan Stauffacher, age 29, female, white, keeping house, born Switzerland, father/mother of foreign birth, (3) Elizabeth Stauffacher, age 2, female, white, born WI, father/mother of foreign birth, (4) Susan Stauffacher, age 1, female, white, born WI, father/mother of foreign birth, (5) John Hobby, age 8, male, born WI, attended school.

1880 US Census, Household of Jacob Stauffacher (b 1841): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1880 United States Federal Census. Year: 1880; Census Place: Sylvester, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: 1428; Page: 213B; Enumeration District: 145. Content: The 1880 US Census of Sylvester (Green) WI on 16 Jun 1880 shows HH (180/185) with (1) Jacob Stauffacher, white, male, age 38, married, farmer, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland, (2) Susan Stauffacher, white, female, age 38, wife, married, keeping house, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland, (3) Elizabeth Stauffacher, white, female, age 12, daughter, single, at school, , born WI, parents born Switzerland, (4) Susan Stauffacher, white, female, age 10, daughter, at school, born WI, parents born Switzerland, (5) Freddie Stauffacher, white male, age 8, son, at school, born WI, parents born Switzerland, (6) Frank Stauffacher, white male, age 7, son, at school, born WI, parents born Switzerland, (7) Emma Stauffacher, white, female, age 3, daughter, born WI, parents born Switzerland, (8) Willie Stauffacher, white, male, age 1, son, born WI, parents born Switzerland, (9) Lenard Gigas, white, male, age 13, working on farm, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland.

1888 Wisconsin Marriage Record for J August Prien Jr and Libbie R Stauffacher: Citation: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Records, 1820-2004 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data:Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Wi Marriage Records Pre-1907. Content: The record shows that J August Prien, Jr (son of J August Prien and Albertina Johnke, farmer, resident in Sylvester (Green) Wisconsin) married Libbie R Stauffacher (dau of Jacob J Stauffacher and Susanna Zwicke, born Sylvester (Green) Wisconsin) in Sylvester (Green) Wisconsin on 02 Feb 1888 in a ceremony of the Church C of Evang association (sic). Witnesses were Henry Prien and Miss Susan Stauffacher. Marriage was registered on 10 Feb 1888.

1890 Wisconsin marriage registration for Edward Wenger and Susie Stauffacher: Citation: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Records, 1820-2004 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data:Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Madison, Wisconsin. Content: The record shows that Edward Wenger (son of Christian Wenger and Catherine Kundert, farmer, resident of Monroe, born Monroe (Green) WI) married Susie Stauffacher (dau of Jacob J Stauffacher and Susie Zweifel (sic), born in Sylvester (Green) WI) at the bride's home in Green County, Wisconsin on 16 Jan 1890. Witnesses were John Wenger and Libbie Prien. Registered on 24 Mar 1891.

1890 US Census Veterans Schedule, Jacob J Stauffacher (b 1841): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Series Number: M123; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Record Group Number: 15; Census Year: 1890. Content: The record shows that Jacob J Stauffacher, a private in Company B, 31st Wis[consin] Vol[unteers], enlisted on 14 Aug 1862 and was discharged on 20 Jun 1865 with length of service 2 years, 10 months, 6 days.

1895 Wisconsin Marriage Record for Fred Stauffacher and Lydia Wenger: Citation: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Records, 1820-2004 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data:Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Wi Marriage Records Pre-1907. Content: The record shows that Fred Stauffacher (son of Jacob Stauffacher and Susan Swickey, farmer, born in and resident of Sylverster (Green) Wisconsin) married Lydia Wenger (dau of Christian Wenger and Cristina Kundert, born in Monroe (Green) Wisconsin) on 24 Jan 1895 in Monroe (Green) Wisconsin in a religious cermony witnessed by Frank Stuaffacher and Bertha Wenger. Registered on 28 Jan 1895.

1895 Wisconsin Census, Sylvester (Green) Wisconsin: Citation: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1895. Content: The record shows the household of J J Stauffacher composed of 3 males, 3 females, 4 born in the US.

1900 US Census, Household of Jacob Stauffacher (b 1841): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Year: 1900; Census Place: Sylvester, Green, Wisconsin; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0130; FHL microfilm: 1241789. Content: The 1900 US Census of Sylvester (Green) WI on 20 Jun 1900 shows HH (159/161) with (1) Jacob Stauffacher, head, male, born 1840, age 60, married 35 yrs, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland, immigration in 1846, in US 33 yrs, farmer, owns farm mortgage free, (2) Susan Stauffacher, wife, female, born 1847, age 62, married 35 yrs, 10 children, 7 living, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland, immigration in 1846, (3) Emma Stauffacher, female, born Jan 1877, age 23, single, born WI, parents born Switzerland, housekeeper, (4) Wm Stauffacher, son, male, born Oct 1878, age 21, single, born WI, parents born Switzerland, farm laborer, (6) Dora Stauffacher, daughter, male [sic], born Jul 1882, age 18, single, born WI, parents born Switzerland, (7) Freddie Zwickey, nephew, male, born Apr 1888, age 12, born WI, parents born Switzerland, at school. All can read, write and speak English.

1905 Wisconsin Census, Household of Jacob J Stauffacher (b 1841): Citation: Ancestry.com.. Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1905. Content: The 1905 Wisconsin Census of Monroe (Green) Wisconsin on 01 Jun 1905 shows family 703 with household composed of (1) Jacob J Stauffacher, head, male, age 65, married, born Switzerland, occupation of landlord, and (2) Susan Stauffacher, female, age 61, married, born Switzerland. The house is owned mortgage free.

1910 US Census, Household of Jacob J Stauffacher (b 1841): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Year: 1910; Census Place: Monroe Ward 1, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1704; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0011; FHL microfilm: 1375717. Content: The 1910 Census of Monroe (Green) WI on 03 May 1910 shows dwelling (212/212) on 1620 Dalman, owned and mortgage free, shows a household composed of (1) Jacob J Stauffacher, head, 69, first marriage, married 44 years, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland, immigration 1847, PA, own income, (2) Susan, wife, 66, first marriage, married 44 yrs, 10 children, 6 living, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland immigration 1847.

Civil War Pension Record for Jacob J Stauffacher (b 1841): Citation: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; NAI Number: T288; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-2007; Record Group Number: 15; Series Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Series Number: T288; Roll: 450. Content: The record names Jacob Stauffacher, his widow, Susan Stauffacher, his service in B 31 Wis Inf. There are two application filing dates: (1) Invalid, 04 Oct 1890 and (2) Widow, 19 Jun 1911. The record states that Jacob died on 25 May 1911.

Find a Grave Memorial 59769007 for Jacob J Stauffacher (b 1841).