JACOB B. HALLER is one of the old and greatly respected citizens of German township, Allen county, Ohio, who has seen it transformed from a dense forest into one large fertile field, and has done his part in the way of bringing about this great change.  Mr. Haller was born Jan. 15, 1810, in Lancaster Co., Pa., is the third son and third-born child, and the only one now living of a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Beck) Haller, who were both natives of Lancaster county, Pa., where they both grew to man and womanhood, were there married and resided for a number of years, when they sold their possessions and removed westward, locating for a time at Lancaster, Ohio, and later came still farther west  and located in German township, Allen county, and settled in the almost unbroken forest, where they lived the life of pioneers, experiencing all its hardships and privations  They became the parents of the following named children:  John, Samuel, Jacob B., Catherine and Betsey, now Mrs. Plummer.  Mr. Haller was a mason by trade in early life and the after part of his life was prominently identified as a farmer and stock dealer; he was a democrat in politics and prominent wherever known.  He and his wife both died on their homestead farm in German township and were greatly missed among those with whom they had associated during the stirring scenes of the settlement of this wild country.
     Jacob B. Haller, the subject of this mention, was but a mere lad when his father moved to Lancaster, Ohio, and still quite young when they came to Allen county, where he finished his education in the common schools.  He took an active part in assisting to redeem the home farm from the wilderness and remained under the parental roof until arriving at his majority, when he began business life nearly or quite empty-handed.  Mr. Haller had been taught industry in his youth and knew well its effectiveness in the affairs of life; thus did he willingly put his shoulder to the wheel and began in earnest to make himself a home.  His first purchase of land was eighty acres, now a part of the homestead, farm which he redeemed from the forest and put under a good state of cultivation.  He, like others, who located in Allen county and an early day, erected a round log cabin which formed a shelter for himself and his family for several years, and from the beginning, he prospered and soon added to his first purchase of land, so that the home place now consists of 117 acres.  In 1855 he erected a fine brick residence, which took the place of the first, or his pioneer home, and this is the home that has been known for its generous and hospitable entertainment dispensed for several decades.  Mr. Haller affiliates with the democratic party, and is a stanch adherent to its principles, and by said party was elected to fill the office of county commissioner for two terms in succession, and it can be said that he filled the office with credit to himself and all his constituents.  He has also filled many of the local offices of his township, in each proving himself a safe and conservative official and one with worthy of the trust imposed in him.
     Jacob B. Haller chose for his life-companion, quite early in life,  Miss Leah Myers, who was a native of Cumberland county, Pa., born, July 13, 1815.  The union of Mr. and Mrs. Haller has been blessed by the birth of eleven children, viz: Jacob M., deceased; Christian L., a merchant of New York city; John F., deceased; Mary E., wife of Milton Carter, of Lima, Ohio, who is a machinist by trade; Catherine, wife of Lawrence Holzfoster, who now lives upon the home farm; Sophia, deceased; the other five children all died in infancy.  Mrs. Haller died May 13, 1888, having been a consistent member of the Lutheran church the greater part of her life, and a fond and loving companion as well as mother.  Mr. Haller is one of the prominent members in the Lutheran church and is active in promoting all church interests as well as the education of the young and rising generation, and is one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens in the community where he as resided for over half a century.
     Mr. Holzfoster, the son-in-law and husband of Catherine Haller is a hard-working and industrious citizen now residing on the homestead farm and for the past five years has been in the employ of a refining company at Lima, Ohio.  He was born in Union county, Ohio, June 28, 1862, and is a democrat in politics, while in religion he is a worthy member of the Lutheran church.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical History of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio, Publ. 1896 - Part I - Page 296