Jacob Schultheiss (Sr.) was born in Dennweiler-Frohnbach, Germany, on 06 Sep 1835 to Maria Elizabeth (Helfenstein) and Johann Abraham Schultheiss, III. It seems the geographical boundary lines for counties and districts have changed during the years but an old document defines his place of birth as "community of Dennweiler-Frohnbach, canton of Kusel, district of Kaiserslauntern, in the Palatinate of the Kingdom of Bavaria."

He immigrated to the United States as a young man, shortly before the start of the War Between the States, also known as the Civil War. He settled in the German community on the river at Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio where he worked as a bartender for a hotel, and as a currency exchange clerk.

He fought in the Union Army during the Civil War in an all German/Prussian unit where all the commands were given in High Prussian. He enlisted as a Private but was promoted to Corporal. He was discharged at Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability on June 17, 1864, The cause was heart disease from developing rheumatism due to exposure in camp. It had first manifested while on duty at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky on September 1, 1863 . It must have become progressively worse because he was treated in- hospital at Gallatin from April 1864 to June, 17, 1864 by Dr. Eugene Ringler/Ringley, then discharged. He drew a pension on his military service and his widow received benefits after his death for herself and their two minor children still living when Jacob died. .

Pension Index for Schultheis, Jacob
Date of Filing: July 7, 1879
Class: Invalid, Application No. 296.571
Certificate No 181.649
Class: Widow: Application No. 429.550
Certificate No. 405.856

Jacob Schultheis and "Elizabeth Schueler", were married September 8, 1864, by
Rev. Speidel at Cincinnati, a few months after he was discharged on disability. Also from Germany, her full maiden name was Maria Elizabeth Schuler, but she most often went by Elizabeth. They were the parents of ten children, several of whom died in infancy. They relocated between 1872-1873 to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio where Jacob owned and managed a billiard parlor and saloon on Front Street by the river as long as he was able. He and his family lived over the business. The saloon served beer and wine, but no hard liquor. Jacob and his family were Roman Catholic.

His physical description from his pension file says he was 5 foot four inches tall, fair complexioned, had auburn hair, and gray eyes.