RINGWALT, Jacob, from Wurtemberg, landed at Philadelphia, Sept. 28, 1753, and settled in Lancaster County. By his wife, Barbara Wagner, he had three sons, Jacob, Martin, and George, the latter dying at nineteen years of age, about 1777. Jacob married Catharine, daughter of Adam Diller, and they were the parents of fourteen sons and four daughters, of whom a son, Samuel, was born at New Holland, Lancaster Co., July 14, 1799, and died at Downingtown, Chester Co., Mary 13, 1875. He in early life took a prominent part in the affairs of Lancaster, his native county, where he filled many positions of trust and responsibility, and also served as deputy sheriff and brigade inspector. His duties in this connection brought him prominently before the public, who highly esteemed him for the genial courtesy of his manner and the integrity of his character. In 1840 he removed to Chester County, which continued to be his residence, save when his duties as brigade quartermaster under the gallant Meade called him to the field in defense of his country.
With Hon. John Hickman and other distinguished men of Chester County, Col. Ringwalt took a prominent part in protesting against the outrage attempted to be perpetrated by the passage of the Lecompton bill. He was a patriot in the fullest sense of the term, a valued and respected citizen, and a successful practical farmer. Col. John Forney, writing of him, referred to "his deep interest in scientific agriculture, his devotion to his State and country, and especially his experience in the war, when in his sixtieth year he entered the Union army and served honorable in a most responsible position. He was a type of the best condition of a Pennsylvania farmer. Down to the day of his death his fondness for books and society, his earnest devotion to the development of his town and country, and his advanced views in everything relating to the improvement and cultivation of the soil, were actively maintained."*
He was married three times: first, on March 9, 1824, to Sarah
McCausland, daughter of Maj. William McCausland, of Leacock, by whom he had
one child that died in infancy; second, to Louisa Luther, by whom he had
four children,--John Luther (born Oct. 18, 1828), George Bryan Porter,
Louisa Catharine, and Samuel; third, to Anna Parke, by whom he had Thomas
Parke (died in infancy), Jacob Parke, Jane Edge, and Abiah Parke. John L.
and George B.P. are residents of Philadelphia, and the former is well known
in literary circles, being sometime one of the editors of the 'Press.'
*From "Memorial of the Diller Family."