Jacob Piper
Jacob Piper was born June 27, 1817, in Germany, and came to America in 1831. He worked on a farm in Pennsylvania two years, and then learned the wagon-making trade. In 1836 he came to Dayton, Ohio, but after two years returned to Germany, and passed one winter, when he came to Sidney, and opened a wagon shop. In 1882 he entered the grocery trade. He was a director of the gas works nine years. He was twice a member of city council, and twice a cemetery director, holding the latter office at present. He has also been a leading spirit in the Methodist Church (German), and actually built the church with his own funds, and gave the congregation all the time desired to compensate him. In December, 1838, he married Miss Catharine B. Shine, and has reared six children, viz., Elizabeth, William, Mary, Jacob, Samuel, and Ella. Mr. Piper came to Sidney early enough to find a village of about eleven hundred inhabitants, and lived to see it become quite an active little city.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883