****The the sketch of Jacob in the newspaper article is strictly from the IMAGINATION of the artist. No likeness of Jacob exists. *****

Jacob was the son of Henry Sprenkle. His father's permission was required for him to marry in 1804, so he was under 21 at that time. He was likely born 1784-1786, most likely in VA as his father first appears in VA tax records in 1782.

Jacob disappears from records after 1841, suggesting he died around that time, surely before 1850.

Jacob married at least three times:

(1) Mary "Polly" Sheltman on 25 Jan 1804 in Rockingham Co., VA (His father Henry signed the marriage permission.)

(2) Susan Mullins (or Sallers)

(3) Elizabeth Dehart on 22 May 1841 in Carter Co., KY

Jacob & Polly had at least 9 children: Lucinda (Green); Napoleon Bonaparte; Elijah; Malinda (Fugate); Augustus; Ira Goff; Franklin A.; John M.; & Hurley Smith.

Jacob & Susan appear to have had about 11 children: a daughter and son whose names are unknown at this time; John French Marquis de LaFayette; Catherine (Enis); Samuel Jefferson; Henry Clay; Commodore Elisha; Martha Ann (Hull); Julia (Kitchen); Mary Ann (Clark); & Alexander Campbell.

Jacob was tried for manufacturing counterfeit silver coins in 1841. He was acquitted. The story is told that after he heard the verdict, he turned to his attorney and paid him with some of the silver coins. Sprinkle researchers affectionately refer to Jacob as the "Silver Dollar Man."

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The newspaper article comes from 14 May 1897 issue of "The Lecompton [KS] Press." Clearly the sketch of Jacob is strictly from the IMAGINATION of the artist. No likeness of Jacob exists. Additionally, the article has a number of INACCURACIES. For instance, the headline stating Jacob was an Ohio farmer is incorrect; the article clearly shows the events occurred in Kentucky. And Jacob's wife was not Nancy; she was Susan. The actual court documents do not agree with many of the statements in the article. Additionally, we have no evidence as to when Jacob died, and we have nothing to substantiate the author's claim that Jacob headed out to California. And surely he didn't make a great many of these coins, as he was not wealthy and when he disappeared, he left his younger children penniless and they were taken in by other families. But the article is fun to read. Just don't take what you read as the truth. It is more fiction than fact.