Jacob Meyer was born to Laurens and Gertruida (Steinmetz) Meyer in the village of Schirrhein in the Alsace region of France. While at the time of Jacob's birth, and for over one hundred years beforehand, Alsace had been part of France, the inhabitants of Schirrhein were primarily German speaking Catholics of Swiss heritage, and Jacob knew German as his first language. He was the oldest of the seven children born to his father and mother, who also included Andreas, Catherina, Lorenz, Johannes, Anton, and Joseph. Jacob married his first wife, Elisabeth Staebler, on February 26, 1810. They would have three children together: Elizabeth, Catherine, and Reine, who died as a baby. Elisabeth died on September 11, 1816, and Jacob would remarry Madeleine Buchs on March 12, 1817. Together they would have nine children together: Joseph, Jacob, Heinrich, Madeleine, Albin, Julia Ann, Ignatius, Eva, and Mary Ann. Joseph and Madeleine would die as infants in France. His second wife would die in 1834 in Schirrhein.

Throughout this time, Jacob was a small scale farmer on the outskirts of the village. Through this work, he saved up enough to afford the passage to America for him and nine of his children along with his son in law George Blust in 1838. The family journeyed to the port of Le Havre and would take the ship Lyons to New York. The family would eventually settle in Seneca County, Ohio, in the same vicinity as other Alsatian immigrants. Jacob would continue farming for another 10 years until his death in 1848. His surviving children would all marry and have children. His descendants would successfully integrate into American society in Ohio and Indiana.

Children by Elisabeth Staebler:

1. Elizabeth Catherine (1811 - abt. 1850) - married George Blust, had issue

2. Catherine Gertrude (1813 - abt. 1850) - married Andrew Aman, had issue

3. Reine Elisabeth (1816 - 1816) - died as an infant

Children by Madeleine Buchs:

1. Joseph Jacques (1818 - 1818) - died as an infant

2. Jacob Sebastian (1819 - 1899) - married Regena Zircher, had issue

3. Heinrich Joseph (1821 - 1893) - married Gertrude Zircher, had issue

4. Madeleine Marie Anne (1824 - 1824) - died as an infant

5. Albin Andrew (1825 - 1908) - married Theresia Zonker, had issue

6. Julia Ann Rosa (1827 - 1910) - married Nicholas Fox, had issue

7. Ignatius Claude (1829 - 1914) - married Magdalena Borck, had issue

8. Eva Magdalena (1830 - 1908) - unwed, no issue

9. Mary Ann Eva (1833 - 1902) - married August Fox, had issue