Johann (Hans) Jacob Reiser was born November 10, 1822 in Strahleg, Fischenthal, Zurich, Switzerland. He was the eldest surviving son of Heinrich Reiser and Susanna Ottiker. During the 1860's, he emigrated to Utah and settled in Providence, Cache, Utah. He died on February 20, 1891.

Johann (Hans) Jacob Reiser was born November 10, 1822 in Strahleg, Fischenthal, Zurich, Switzerland. He was the eldest surviving son of Heinrich Reiser and Susanna Ottiker. On February 27, 1847, he married Elisabeth Reiser. Jacob’s brother Heinrich was first introduced and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A year after his conversion, Jacob and his wife were also baptized. Elizabeth was baptized a few weeks before Jacob on July 4, 1860 and Jacob was baptized on July 18, 1860.

Sometime during the years 1860 and 1864, Jacob, Elizabeth, Heinrich, and possibly a few other family members, emigrated on the ship Hudson. During the journey, Elizabeth passed, on July 17, 1864, and was buried at sea. Jacob and those that were with him arrived in Salt Lake City on October 26, 1864. For a while, Jacob lived with his brother Heinrich in Salt Lake. When he was able to start off on his own, he bought a log home and lot in Providence, Cache Valley, Utah. He paid for it with clothing and other items. While in Providence, he helped make roads, canals, and helped build the first railroad into Cache Valley as well as the co-op store and first ward meeting house.

On November 1866, Jacob married Susanna Morf in Salt Lake City, a forty-three year old divorced single mother. He was age 44. She had a son from a previous marriage who died in December 1866, when a tree fell on him. Like most men of his time, Jacob had a ten-acre lot. He made a living raising chickens, a few cows, and vegetables and fruit from the garden. In 1867, Jacob and Susanna had a baby girl. She would be the only living descendant of Jacob Reiser.

After four and a half years of marriage, Jacob’s second wife died on June 3, 1871, at age 48. The next year he again remarried to Elizabeth Kunz on October 26, 1872. Jacob died on February 20, 1891.