Jacob's father, Johan Rickenbacher (1728-1782) was born in Zeglingen, Switzerland. Johan's father Heinrich immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1740, and died within a year after establishing his family in Lancaster County. Johan purchased two plantations in Caernarvon Township (near Morgantown) in southern Berks County in the 1750s, and lived there until his death in 1782.

Johan's son Jacob and his widow Anna were forced to sell the plantations in 1784 because they were not able to make the payments due to the war-wracked economy following the 'Glorious Revolution'. Jacob and his wife Barbara Hertzler entered into an indenture arrangement with the new owner John Hertzler. By 1800, Jacob and Barbara had left and moved to Bern Township, where they and their descendents remained.