From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 575-576

Jacob Shenk, one of the prominent citizens of Steuben County, is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born July 1, 1807, a son of Rudolph and Catherine (Smith) Shenk, natives of Pennsylvania, his father born in 1779, and his mother in 1783. Their family consisted of seven children -- Christian, Jacob, Anna, Elizabeth, Rudolph, Catherine and Henry. In 1828 they moved to Erie County, Pa., locating in what is now the city of Erie, on property that bacame very valuable, where the mother died in 1846, and the father in 1863. Jacob, the second son and the subject of our sketch, removed with his parents to Erie County and remained there till 1855, when he came to Indiana, and lived in Lagrange County twelve years. Then moved to Williams County, Ohio, and three years later to Steuben County and settled one mile north of Fremont, and subsequently bought the farm which he now owns, consisting of 156 acres of choice land, valued at $50 and acre, with a good residence and farm buildings. In 1881 he moved to Fremont, where he is living retired, having given up the active pursuits of farm life. He was married in 1835 to Maria Wolf, who died in June, 1850. Their children were -- Elizabeth, Catherine A., Charlotte, Henry, Washington I., Rudolph, Margaret and Maria. In September, 1851, he married Caroline Fissler, a native of Germany, born June 29, 1829, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Fissler, her father born in 1800, and her mother in 1801. When she was four years of age her parents moved to America and settled in Erie County, Pa., where her father died in 1847, and her mother in 1862. They had a family of eleven children -- Jacob, Angelina, Anna, Carrie, William, Catherine, Samuel, Sarah, Martha, and two who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Shenk have been born four children -- Sarah C., Charles E., Ella M. and Ada V. Mrs. Shenk is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Mr. Shenk in politics is a Democrat.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com