Jacob Weiler Born March 14, 1808 Died March 24, 1896

In 1828 Jacob went to work for Joseph McClure and by 1836 he had saved enough money to buy a farm of 40 acres. In 1838 Elders of the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held services in Chester County where the Weiler family had moved. Jacob became interested and on March 16, 1840 he was baptized in the Mormon Church. In May 1841 he started along with a caravan of 14 wagons for Nauvoo, Ill where the Mormons assembled in hope of building up the Mormon Church there. He built a house and helped to build the temple in Nauvoo. But their enemies made life miserable for them. On June 27, 1844 a mob murdered the prophet Joseph Smith and they were forced to leave. Jacob sold his house and crossed the Mississippi about the first of June 1846 in a boat heavily overloaded with all his earthly possessions. It was like a miracle and he said we thanked God when we were safely across. Their winter camping place was Cutler Park where they arrived about the first of Sept and the whole camp moved into winter quarters. This was a severe winter, there was much sickness and many died. In April 1847 Jacob was chosen to be the one of the pioneers which numbered 144 men and three women with Brigham Young as their leader to go ahead. Quote "I must say that the hardship and privations on that journey were a pleasue to me, we felt willing to brave the dangers and deny ourselves pleasures and comforts of civilation if we might gain a resting place where we could worship God according to the dictates of our conscience." On July 22, 1847 they cut their way into the valley. On July 24 Brigham Young and the rest of the company came. They were obliged to build a fort to winter in on account of the Indians. In the fall of 1848 Brigham Young desired that a plot be made for city and farming lots which was done. After finishing his house in 1848 Jacob turned his attention to farming and was very successful. Oct 21, 1856 he was ordained a High Priest. In the winter of 1857 he was ordained a  Bishop to preside over the third ward of Salt Lake City. In the years 1869, 1880 and 1886 he visited relatives and friends in the east and was cordially received everywhere he went. One June 16, 1895 he requested release from his bishopric as he did not feel able to handle it. One June 16, 1895 he was honorably released and was ordained a patriarch under the heads of President W. Woodruff and President Joseph F. Smith. President Woodruff being the mouth.

Jacob Weiler's Home in Nauvoo, Illinois