My Genealogy Hound

JACOB RAPINE, a well known farmer of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born at the old homestead, near Barren Hill, July 29, 1825. He is the son of Nicholas and Annie (Wampole) Rapine.

Jacob Rapine, grandfather, was educated in the common schools of that day, and on leaving school engaged in the occupation of farming, which he followed all his life. He was twice married, his son Nicholas being a child of his first wife.

Nicholas Rapine, father of Jacob, was born on the homestead in 1805. He was the son of Jacob Rapine, a native of the same vicinity. Nicholas was educated in neighborhood schools, which were very deficient in their methods at that time. After leaving school he entered upon the occupation of farming, to which he had been trained in his boyhood, and followed it through life. In politics he was a Democrat, and a strong advocate of the interests of his party. He attended the Lutheran church at Barren Hill. The children of Nicholas and Annie Wampole Rapine: Charles, Jackson, Jeremiah, Mary A., Elmira, Mary and Jacob, the last named the subject of this sketch.

Jacob Rapine was educated at the Barren Hill school, alternating attendance there with the work of the farm during the period of boyhood. Engaging in the pursuit of agriculture on leaving school, he continued it through life, until of recent years, when he lived a retired life. In politics he has followed the tendencies he inherited from his forefathers, and has been a Democrat. He has held several minor township offices, but has not been in any sense an office-seeker. In religious faith, Mr. Rapine is a Lutheran. He has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married March 1, 1853, was Miss Sarah Decker, a daughter of Peter Decker, a farmer of Whitemarsh township. Their children were: Howard, born July 24, 1854; Nicholas, born March 26, 1857; George, born July 13, 1860; Harry, born June 30, 1864; Harvey, born June 16, 1868. Mrs. Rapine died in 1888. The second wife of Mr. Rapine was a widow, Mrs. Ritter, of Plymouth township, by whom he has had no children.