RICKABAUGH, Dr. Jacob.--Adam Rickabaugh, an emigrant from Switzerland, on
the Rhine, settled in Chester County before 1767, for in that year the
records show that he purchased 125 acres of land in Tredyffrin township
from David Jones. In 1771, in connection with Christian Zook, he bought of
John Beaton 200 acres in Charlestown, and in 1804, 53 acres of John and
Richard Penn. Besides this last tract, located in Tredyffrin, he bought
several others. During the Revolution, on Washington's retreating from the
Brandywine he passed by Adam Rickabaugh's farm, where his soldiers were
fed. Adam's son, David, the youngest of fourteen children, married
Elizabeth young, daughter of Peter Young, who came to this country about
the time Adam Rickabaugh arrived. To David and Elizabeth Rickabaugh were
born six children,--four sons and two daughters,--of whom the third son and
fifth child was Dr. Jacob Rickabaugh, born Feb. 6, 1815, on the farm he now
owns. David died in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife in her
eighty-second. She belonged to the German Reform and he to the Mennonite
Church. Adam and David Rickabaugh were farmers and men of splendid
physique. Dr. Jacob Rickabaugh spent his boyhood on the farm and went to
the neighboring subscription schools. He also attended the famous
classical school presided over by Prof. Joshua Jones, an eminent educator
in this day and author of a standard work on grammar. He read medicine
with Dr. James Francis Latta, of Tredyffrin, and attended lectures at
medical Department of Pennsylvania College, of Philadelphia, at which
institutions he was graduated in March, 1842. He now located at his old
home in Tredyffrin, where he has since remained in active practice,
succeeding his old preceptor, Dr. Latta, who died just previous to his
graduation. His practice has been large, successful. and remunerative.
He married Anna S., daughter of J.S. Pound, of Walworth, Wayne Co., N.Y., by
whom he has three surviving children,--David Walter, Mary Elizabeth, and
Sarah Emma. One, Anna Catharine, died in her second year. Originally
a Democrat, he has been an ardent Republican since the Kansas-Lecompton
troubles of President Buchanan's administration. His medical preceptor,
Dr. Latta, was an eminent physician, and son of Rev. William Latta, D.D.,
pastor for half a century of the Great Valley Presbyterian Church, which
Dr. Rickabaugh's family attends, and to which, as well as to that of the
Mennonites, the doctor is a liberal contributor. He has a pleasant home
with beautiful surroundings.