Seasongood was born to a Jewish family in Burgkunstadt, Bavaria[2] where he studied to be a weaver's apprentice.
[3] In 1837, he immigrated to the United States arriving in New York City with a sum of $75.
[2] He used his money to peddle goods and after two months, moved to Cincinnati.
[2] While en route in Chillicothe, Ohio,[1] he met Philip Heidelbach, a fellow Jew from Bavaria with a similar immigrant story.
In 1969, Jacob and his nephews Lewis and Alfred partnered with Elias Moch to form the dry goods retailer J.