Jakob (original spelling) was the sixth child of 15 born to Christian Tobler and Anna Buehler in Schoenengrund, Canton Appenzell, Ausser-Rhoden, Switzerland. Schoenengrund was a village with 36 houses and a mechanical spinning factory where cotton towels, muslin, and other textiles were produced. Jakob was trained as a weaver. He came in contact with Mormon missionaries in the summer of 1856. Heinrich Hug, of Zurich, taught Jakob the restored gospel along with his wife of 5 years (Anna Katherina Preisig of Schwhellbrunn). They were both baptized and confirm August 10, 1856 in the village of Schwanden, 8 miles west of Schoenengrund. They were members of a small branch of the church in Herisau, consisting of 20 members. They were active in the church for 4 1/2 years. Jakob reported that he received the testimony of a "joyous heart" at the time of his baptism. At that time the civil authorities in Appenzell sent some of the mormon brethren out of their native towns to stop them from preaching. The elders from Zurich and Appenzell took refuge in the Bern conference. Neither Jakob nor Katherina had any luck interesting their own families in the gospel however, Jakob baptized 17 and confirmed another 16 prior to his immigration to the United States of America. They left Switzerland May 3, 1861 and by May 16 they were in Liverpool, England and joined 947 saints mostly from Scandinavia aboard the "Monarch of the Sea" . Prior to departure they attended a conference conducted by Amasa Lyman, Charles Rich and George Q. Cannon. A bishop and a marshall were appointed for the Swiss ward onboard ship. The company clerk reported, "I do not think any company that ever crossed the ocean could have felt a happier or more united spirit especially considering the diversity of nations represented there being 10 languages being spoken on board." They arrived in New York, June 19, 1861 and arrived in Florence, Nebraska, July 1. Katherina died with many others of cholera there at Winter Quarters. Jakob joined the Sextus E. Johnson Company of 50-60 wagons. They arrived in Salt Lake City September 27. Less than two weeks later Jakob heard his name read at General Conference as one called to go to Santa Clara, Utah. Jakob on hearing this went to Millcreek, found Barbara Staheli, 2 years younger than himself, and had joined the church in Canton Thurgau in 1860. They married prior to leaving for Fort Santa Clara under the leadership of Daniel Bonelli. They arrived November 28, 1861. In January 1862 the fort, most of the homes and much valuable land was swept away by floods. They lived in dugouts until more substantial housing could be built. By 1866 life in Santa Clara had a acquired a rosier hue. Jakob and Barbara had two daughters and Jakob married Barbara Hafen, the widow of Ignatz Willi. For the next several years his family grew substantially and the "Clara" settlement grew prosperous. In 1874 they joined the United Order and were baptized a third time having been baptized again upon arriving in Santa Clara. In less than 3 years the United Order had dissolved and Edward Bunker the bishop of Santa Clara moved to Bunkerville, Nevada to try again. Jakob was ordained a high priest by Henry Eyring and was set apart as counselor to Bishop Marius Ensign. He also served as ward clerk for over 30 years and concurrently as counselor to two bishops. October 1881 he married Rosina Reber Staheli by whom he raised a family of 3 boys and 3 girls. He was concerned that he would not live long enough to raise this last family properly. By 1899 he had 21 children and 21 grandchildren. His sermons in church varied in content from dancing too close in the waltz to the rearing of children to the law of tithing and strict record keeping. in 1901 he bore testimony, " I thank God that I have remained firm through all the struggles that this people has passed through. We as parents should be examples for good to our children and teach them the principles of the gospel. We have a great posterity and they are jewels in the crown of eternal life." Jakob was an earnest advocate of the word of wisdom. He died at age 85 of "old age/senile disability". He is remembered as a kindly man who made all welcome in his home. He had good health until his later years when he walked with a cane.