Jacob Schenck (May 17, 1819- January 14, 1895) was an early settler and a farmer in Ada Township. He was born in Potter, Yates County, New York to John and Maria Schenck. In 1845, Jacob Schenck purchased 200 acres in Ada Township. According to plat maps, about 200 acres in Section 22 of Ada Township were owned by the Schenck family through the 1920s. The family property was located near Conservation and Dogwood, north of Ada.

Jacob married Sarah Falston in 1842. They had one son, William, who died at age 18. Sarah died in 1854. In 1855, Jacob married Catherine Brown and they had three children: John Martin, Libbie and Fred E.

J. Martin moved to Cascade Township and owned the New York Dairy farm. Fred stayed in Ada Township and was involved with the Old Settler's Association of Ada. Their yearly summer picnics were held on his property in the Village of Ada, called Schenck's Grove.

Sherman Coryell donated the material in the collection. His wife, Blanche McNaughton Coryell, was Libbie's daughter.

John (October 28, 1791-February 9, 1861) and Maria (March 9, 1799-1888) followed Jacob to Ada. The 1850 census shows them living in Yates County, New York. In 1854 they purchased property in Ada Township. William was a carpenter and practiced his trade in New York and Michigan.

Jacob's brother, William Schenck (February 29, 1829-July 1902), also moved to Ada Township from New York. William worked on the farm with his parents until he was 17, then entered into an apprenticeship in carpentry. He came to Ada Township in the 1850s and bought a 40 acre farm in Section 36.

William married Sarah Densmore in 1849. Their daughter, Emma, was born in 1850. Sarah died in 1857 and Emma in 1870. William and his second wife, Sarah R. Price, had three children. Charles D.L. was born in 1858, Elmer E. in 1860 and Carrie in 1863. Carrie married William Crowe (the son of George Crowe, another Ada Township pioneer).