Jacob Vandergriff was one of eight children born to William Foster Vandergriff and his wife Catherine. William was one of the early settlers on Waldens Ridge, having built his house about the time the Cherokees were to move out of the section. Joe Winchester was the first pioneer to settle this area, William Foster Vandergriff was the second, and William Miles was the third. Three of William Foster Vandergriff's sons fought in the Civil War for the Union, Jacob was one of them. Jacob walked to Kentucky to join the Federal Army, and served in Company 1, 3rd Regiment, of the 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, as noted on his marker in Fairmount Cemetery, Signal Mountain, Hamilton County, Tennessee.
Jacob Vandergriff was first known as "Big Jake" Vandergriff because of his huge stature. It was said that Big Jake's hands were large enough to cover the bottom of a kitchen chair. There are many references to Jake's large size, although no specifics are ever given. Jacob was a master hewer of logs, who built a number of log homes on the mountain. These included Grey Lodge for the Kruesi family, Topside for the David Keys and Cross Roads. He is also said to have hewn every log that was used in building the first Court House of Hamilton County, located at Harrison Tennessee. His "Broad Axe" has been displayed at times at the library of the Houston Museum, and appears to be quite worn.
As mentioned above, William Foster Vandergriff was one of the first pioneer settlers on Signal Mountain. Jacob was 5 years old when his father drove an oxcart from North Carolina to Tennesse to settle his family here. He first settled in the Browntown area, then moved to Sawyers on Waldens Ridge (Signal Mountain).
It is said there are many stories about Big Jake Vandergriff. One story in particular tells of how he came to be called "Bear Jake". As the story goes, Big Jake was transporting a load of meal in a bag on his shoulder up Walden's Ridge when he met up with a large bear. One account of the story says Big Jake killed the bear "with his naked hands", while another account says he "clubbed" the bear to death. Either way, I would not want to have been in Big Jake's shoes that day. After this, Big Jake came to be known as "Bear Jake".
Jacob "Bear Jake" Vandergriff was married twice. Jake's first wife was Margaret Brock and his second wife was Rose Ann Hatfield. Rose Ann Hatfield's brother, Absalom Riley Hatfield, Sr., was also one of the early pioneer settlers on Signal Mountain. Jacob had nine children.