Biographical Sketch (1881):3079 "Jacob Focht, section 36, P. O. Morton's Mills; Mr. Focht was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1835; he moved with his parents at the age of three years to Auglaize County, Ohio, remaining there until 1856, when he moved to his present home in Pilot Grove township, Montgomery County, Iowa. He enlisted September 12, 1861, in Company F, 106th regiment, of Pennsylvania volunteers; was in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness; and wounded at Spotsylvania, May 12 1864; was taken to different hospitals but was most of the time at New York; was mustered out September 10, 1864, at Philadelphia; returned to Auglaize County, Ohio, and was married April 23, 1865, to Miss Sylvania Gilmore, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, May 17, 1838. They have two children: William A., born February 24, 1866; Lawrence, born September 9, 1868. Mr. Focht was one of the pioneer settlers of this county. During the winter of 1856, Mr. Focht was compelled to go to Savannah, Mo., for groceries, clothing, etc., etc., that being at that time one of the nearest trading points that kept all kinds of supplies, and old settlers will remember it as being one of the coldest winters they have experienced in Iowa; snow on the ground from the first of December until March, of 1857; goods were sledded from Ottumwa to Omaha. Mr. Focht bought a land warrant from a revolutionary soldier and entered his present homestead of 160 acres; Mr. F. has good improvements on his farm, good dwelling house and other buildings; he also has one of the best barns in the county; he has a beautiful grove of three acres, and an orchard of one hundred and thirty trees of choice fruit, now bearing. Mr. F. is seeding his farm down with a view of going into stock raising more extensively. He is a member of the Masonic order, also of the Lutheran church. Mr. F. has been honored with about all the offices in the township."

1835 Birth:2147, p. 13. Recorded at St. Paul's or Old "White" Church at Ringtown, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania as Jacob, born 9 March 1835 and baptised 26 April 1835 to parents Adam Vogt and Susanna, sponsored by Jacob and Susanna Rapp.

1850 U.S. Census:2774 Jacob Focht enumerated in the household of his father Adam Focht in Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a male, age 15, born in Pennsylvania. Mother Susan Focht, age 59 and born in Pennsylvania, also resided in the household.

1860 U.S. Census:2776 On 30 July 1850 Jacob Focht was enumerated in the household of his widowed mother Susan Focht in Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a male, age 25, laborer, born in Pennsylvania. Also enumerated was Matilda Focht, granddaughter of Susan Focht, as a female age 20, born in Ohio. Matilda was also enumerated on 14 July 1860 with her father Samuel Focht2789 and step-mother Louisa Justice. Jacob's brother Daniel Focht,2777 his wife Maria, and three young children were enumerated in an adjacent household.

Jacob Focht may have been enumerated a second time on 2 June 1860 in Douglas Township, Montgomery County, Iowa as a 24 year old farmer, on the farm of Robert Wallace, an Irish immigrant. This Jacob Focht owned both real estate and personal property and was born in Pennsylvania. (1860, Iowa, Montgomery County, p. 452B, line 40)

1865 Marriage:2792 Jacob Focht married Sylvania Gilmore on 23 April 1865 in Auglaize County, Ohio.

1870 U.S. Census:2793
Montgomery County, Iowa (Frankfort Township)
Enumerated 21 July 1870
Jacob Focht •• 35, male, white, farmer, real estate value $4,000, personal property value $1,435, born in Pennsylvania, over 21
Sylvania •• 33, female, white, house keeper, born in Ohio
Wm. A. •• 4, male, white, at home, born in Iowa
Lawrence •• 1, male, white, at home, born in Iowa

1880 U.S. Census:2794
Montgomery County, Iowa (Pilot Grove Township)
Enumerated 29 June 1880
Jacob Focht •• white, male, 45, married, farmer, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Pennsylvania
Sylvania •• white, female, 42,wife, married, keeping house, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio
William A. •• white, male, 14, son, single, at home, attended school within the year, born in Iowa, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio
Lawrence •• white, male, 11, son, single, at home, attended school within the year, born in Iowa, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio

1900 U.S. Census:2795
Montgomery County, Iowa (Red Oak Township)
Enumeration date not given
805 Washington Road
Jacob Focht •• head, white, male, born March 1835, age 65, married 35 years, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Pennsylvania, capitalist, can read, write, and speak English, own home free of mortgage
Sylvania •• wife, white, female, born May 1838, age 62, married 35 years, two children still living, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio, can read, write, and speak English