Jacob was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania on February 15, 1761. He was probably born in Whitehall Township (once part of Bucks, then Northampton County) north of the present City of Allentown.
In 1772, while only 11 years of age and in company with father mother and siblings, he moved westward across the mountains to a wilderness area to the south of the present City of Greensburg in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Upon maturity he acquired (via land warrant) 196 acres within Hempfield Township which probably had been part of his father's original homestead.
He served during the American Revolution as a Private in Christopher Truby's Company of Westmoreland County Rangers.
He appears on a county tax listing taken in 1789 within Hempfield Township. He also appears there in the new nations first census (taken in 1790) as the head of his own household.
About 1779 or 1780 he married Sibilla MECHLING. Sibilla was born in what was then Northampton County Pennsylvania on February 26, 1762. She was the daughter of Dewalt (Theobald) MECHLING (II) and Sibilla KOEHLER. To read about the immigrant ancestor of Sibilla Mechling click <here>.
He represented his area of the county in the Pennsylvania State Legislature for several terms. He was a Whig by politic.
According to the literature about him, he became a very well known and highly respected man, was very literate, and owned an extensive personal library.
Sibilla died on November 27, 1844 at age 82 years, 9 months in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Jacob died on February 6, 1845 at age 84, less 9 days in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at The Old German Cemetery in Greensburg, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The grave and tombstone were later moved to Hillview Cemetery in south Greensburg.
To see what remains of that tombstone, click <<here>>.
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Jacob and Sibilla had the following children:
1. Michael RUGH was born on February 11, 1781 and died on Monday, January 26, 1835.
2. Elizabetha RUGH was born in the old Sewickley Settlement, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on October 1, 1782.
3. Jacob (Jon Jacob) RUGH Jr. (1784-1869) <<Go there>> *
4. Benjamin RUGH Sr. was born on February 24, 1787 and died on April 6, 1848.
5. Magdalena RUGH was born in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1789.
6. Daniel RUGH was born on October 23, 1791 and died on March 16, 1860.
7. Hanna RUGH was born in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on February 5, 1794. On March 30, 1794 she was baptized at Greensburg Lutheran Church in Greensburg Pennsylvania. Baptismal sponsors listed were her parents. At age 14 (on May 10, 1807) she was confirmed (as a Lutheran) at the same church. Years later, in 1881, she was interviewed in Greensburg by family history researcher James C. Rugh. Mr. Rugh recorded: "at the time she was 88 years old, very intelligent, and in full possession of her mental faculties". She related to James Rugh that her great-grandfather had come from Holland to Lehigh County, Pennsylvania and that her grandfather (Michael Rugh) had married Anna Francina Markle, a daughter of Christopher Markle and Anna Germina Wertz, "also of Holland". She reported that they had located in Westmoreland County in 1772 on a tract of land, much of which subsequently became part of the site of the City of Greensburg. She died possibly in 1884 or 1886. About 1812 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania she married Peter ROW (ROWE). Peter ROW (ROWE) was born in 1793.
8. Susanna RUGH was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1796. On June 31, 1811 at age 15 she was confirmed at Greensburg Lutheran Church in Greensburg. She died on July 21, 1820. About 1816 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania she married Jacob ZEHNER (SEANOR). Jacob ZEHNER (SEANOR) was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on January 10, 1787. He was a farmer within Hempfield Township. He is the son of Michael ZEHNER and Barbara .
9. Sarah RUGH was born on July 26, 1798 and died in 1888.
10. John (Johannes M.) RUGH Sr. was born on June 24, 1800 and died on August 23, 1858.
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