Henry Miller Snyder

As printed in 1906

HENRY MILLER SNYDER

AtmtK UeH0X AMD B L in 1842, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife passed away in 1844. He was ever loyal to the interests of his country. Both he and his wife w'ere members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom Henry Miller, better known as Miller Snyder, was the eldest. He was indebted to the schools of his native state for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. His youth was spent in Virginia. In 1836 he came to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, after a brief residence in Illinois, where he had been connected with the stage line and also in the grocery business. He was for many years the leading groceryman in Mount Pleasant, his location being in the north side of the square. He voted with the Whig party, and was very much interested in the welfare and progress of his party, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to the office of county treasurer and collector of taxes. He filled both offices up to the time of his death, and he was ever known as a loyal and progressive citizen, whose labor was a tangible factor in the development of this section of the state.

On the 27th of July, 1837, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Susan A. Ellis, of the state of Kentucky, daughter of Henry and Susan Ellis. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were the parents of eight children: Oscar H. Snyder, jeweler, of Fairfield, Iowa. George '. Snyder, mail clerk; C. I. Snyder, an accountant, and a soldier in the Civil war, both of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Elizabeth, widow of Frank Hatton, Washington, D. C. Francis A. Snyder, an editor, who died in 1871. Stewart, who died in childhood. Newton M, Snyder, a newspaper man who is now in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Mary I. Snyder, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, both of whom, together with George W., still reside in the old home place.

Mr. Snyder was for many years a prominent and valued resident of Henry county. For some time he was in feeble health and on the 21st of June, 1854, he passed away. He was a charter member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges and one of the first Methodists in Henry county, and these membership relations indicated the character of the man, for he was true to the teachings and tenets of the fraternal orders and of the church as well.

In the early days of Iowa's development, trouble seemed about to break out between this state and Missouri and the troops were called for. Mr. Snyder was commissioned a lieutenant in one of the companies and his commission is in possession of his son Oscar. It is old and faded, but is of value to the family, being a cherished heirloom.

He was a pure and uncorrupted public official. His gifts and services to the Methodist church were many and his home was at all times open for the reception of those who possessed the same faith. His wife, too, was a member of the Methodist church, while Mary I. and three brothers are Christian Scientists.

Mrs. Snyder possessed a retiring nature but a sweet and gentle disposition and manifested those splendid traits of character which ever mark the true wife and mother. The poor and needy also found in her a friend, and she often ministered to those who needed assistance. She passed on, on Jnly 20, 1894.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were typical pioneer people, living for each other, their children, and what good they could do to friends and neighbors. No citizens of the community occupied a higher place in the regard of their fellow townsmen than did Mr. and Mrs. Snyder. They were kind, benevolent, and friendly to all and no better man ever lived in Henry county than Henry M. Snyder.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.