Jacob Glenn was born in North Carolina in 1800 and later settled in Marion County, Arkansas by 1840when he appeared on the census there. He was in Marion County in 1850, and Searcy county, AR in 1860, 1870, and 1880. He died near Pindall in Searcy County in 1882. He married Mary Ryals, who was born in 1807 in North Carolina and died in 1873 in Searcy County. They are both buried in the Glencoe Cemetery in Searcy County.

Jacob's parents are currently unknown, though he is thought to be part of the Orange County, NC Glenn family.