The Snyder Families of Linn County, Iowa

THOMAS G. SNYDER, who lives on section 20, Monroe Township, is one of the pioneers in this county, having come here April 16, 1854. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, in December, 1824, and is a son of Harmon and Elizabeth (Garmon) Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania. When he was at the tender age of nine months his mother died and one of his aunts took him to Blair County. Pa., where his grandparents cared for him until he was nine years old. Harmon Snyder was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 28, 1790, and died in that State in 1847. His first wife, the mother of our subject. was born in 1793. and died in 1824. They were the parents of six children: Polly, one who died in infancy; Sarah, Samuel, John, and Thomas, our subject. Samuel and Thomas are the only members of the family now living. In 1828 Harmon Snyder was again married, his second wife being Miss Nancy Clossom, by whom he had eight children, namely, Christian, who died in 1880; David, Eliza, William, Henry, Lewis. Benjainan F. and Ellen.

Our subject married Miss Esther Stifner, May is, 1840,. She was a native of Pennsylvania, born Aug. 3. 1826, and died July is. 1876, having become the mother of ten children, namely: Henry A., born

Dec. 25, 1847; Elias, June 28, l 85 1; Nancy J., Aug. 2 1. 1849; Joseph G.. Aug. 7. 1853; Anna M.. July 14, 1855; Alice. Aug. '.I, 1858; John, July 13, 1859; Sarah J.. Sept. 22. 1863; James F., June 27, 1866; and one who died in infancy.

Nov. 8, 1877, Mr. Snyder was again married, his second wife being Mrs. Catherine Miller, widow of Elder D. Miller, Pastor of Pine Creek German Baptist Church, near Polo, Ogle Co., Ill., who died

March 22. 1873. By this last marriage, Mr. Snyder became the father of two children: Thomas II.. born Nov. 24, 1878, and Frederick, July 20,' 1882. Mrs. Snyder was the daughter of Jacob and Frances (Heisy) Kurtz, natives of Lancaster County, Pa. Her father was born in 1802, and died in October, 1866; her mother was born in 1812, and died in November, 1882. They were the parents of five daughters and one son: Sarah, Mary, Catharine, Annie, Jacob and Susan, all of whom are now living except Mary. Catharine married David Miller, March 8, 1859. He was a native of Maryland, and was educated to the ministry at Clear Spring, in that State. He occupied his first pulpit in 1857, and continued to preach until his death, as above recorded. Mr. Miller was the father of five children — Katie, Jacob, Emmert, Annie and Charlie, all of whom are now living.

Mr. Snyder has 200 acres of land, well cultivated, and a good dwelling-house. His home surroundings are all of the pleasantest character. Mr. Snyder was the first member of the German Baptist

Church in this county, and was a Deacon in that church when he came to the county. Elder J. O.

Waters, of Pennsylvania, came to the county in 1850, and was the second member of the church here. At, or near that time, several other members came from the East, and a love feast was held at Mr. Snyder's house, or in his barn, when Mr. Snyder was elected to the ministry of the first degree, and has occupied the pulpit ever since. The church now has a membership of nearly 100, and has erected two church buildings, one. of which is 10x60 feet.

Mr. Snyder is a Republican in politics, though he takes li" prominent part in political affairs. An incident of his early life at his grandfather's house is recorded here. His sister Polly, who was some

XTXSTLX I aOEL I eleven years his senior, was also living with her grandparents. About four o'clock in the afternoon of one day in the fall of 1 833, the family were aroused by a loud report, as if some heavy object had fallen on the floor above. The grandmother directed Thomas to go to the garret, and ascertain what had taken place. Herdid so, and found nothing unusual. Later, his curiosity caused young Thomas to return to the second story, about sundown, and as he entered the stairway, or reached the top of the stairs, he saw a white pigeon sitting on one of the wind w-sills, inside. How he got there Thomas did not know, as all the windows of the house were closed. He set to work to catch the bird, but as he approached it, it flew away and alighted on another window near by. The boy again placed his hand over it, but found nothing, for the bird had disappeared, whither he never knew. His sister, that evening, went upstairs to arrange the room by candle-light, and while there saw, or thought she saw, her grandmother's head and cap through a door-way near by. At this hour the grandmother was well and hearty, but before the clock struck eleven that night, she was dead. Mr. Snyder thinks the appearance of the bird was a premonition of his grandmother's death.

Mr. Snyder was not only a pioneer in church affairs, but is a leader in them. By his blameless life, he illustrates the precepts of the Great Teacher, and exercises an important influence upon the community. He is a helper in every good work, and when his final record shall be written, it will be recorded that the world is the better for his having lived.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Abraham Snyder, deceased, is not only deserving of prominent mention because of the active part he took in the early development and progress of Linn county but also because of his participation in the Civil war. He was born in Ohio on the 27th of January, 1836, a son of George "W. and Elizabeth (Diveley) Snyder, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but at an early day removed to Ohio, where they continued to make their home until their demise.

In the city of his nativity Abraham Snyder was reared and educated and when a young man engaged in teaching school. In 1855 he came to Iowa, taking up his above in Linn county. Here he purchased land and to its improvement and cultivation devoted his attention until the dark days of the Rebellion. Feeling that his country needed his services, he enlisted for three years in Company A, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and participated in several hardfought battles and was also with Sherman on his march to the sea. His term of enlistment having expired, he was honorably discharged and mustered out at Davenport. Returning to Linn county, he settled on the farm where his family still reside and continued to engage in its operation up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 29th of May, 1900. His remains were interred in the Center Point cemetery and in his passing the community realized that it had lost a valued and useful citizen. On his return from the war in 18G5 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church and continued an active member of the same up to the time of his death.

On the 27th of March, 1859. Mr. Snyder had married Miss Mary B. Chamberlain, who was born in Linn county on the 18th of March, 1841, a representative of an old and honored family, her parents being William and Rachel (Davis) Chamberlain, who were married in this county. Her father, who was a native of Massachusetts, came to this comity in 1835 and three years later her mother, who was born in Ohio, also located here. They continued to make their home in Linn county throughout, the remainder of their lives, although Mrs. Chamberlain spent her last years with a son and daughter in Des Moines, where she passed away June 22, 1909. Mrs. Snyder's brothers were the originators of the Chamberlain Medicine Company and were natives of Linn county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were born the following children: Simon W., who is now operating the home farm; Lawson E., a resident of South Dakota; Ulysses A., deceased; Ida, who died in infancy; Eva, who commenced teaching at the age of seventeen years and continued to follow that profession until her death at the age of thirty-nine; Minnie, who was employed as a teacher in the public schools for some time and later held a position as stenographer in the office of Mr. Bealer at Cedar Rapids for nine years; Edwin, who died in infancy; Arthur J., who is now a resident of Australia, where his sister Minnie is visiting at the present time; and Davis C, who is at home. Several of the family have engaged in teaching school, including besides those already mentioned Lawson E., Ulysses A. and Arhtur J. /

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The sons are both members of Center Point Lodge. Xo. 142. A. F. & A. M., (a which work Simon W. Snyder has taken a very active and prominent part, I.vine filled all of the chairs. He is also a member of Center Point Lodge. Xo.. -" Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled every office in that lodge, while both sons and the mother are connected with the Eastern Star Chapter Xo. 3*.K). at Center Point, and she is also identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. For many years the family has been one of the most prominent in the community where they reside and they have borne a very active part in its upbuilding and prosperity.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The subject of this review is one of the most prosperous farmers, as well as one of the most influential and prominent citizens of Linn township, his home being on section 31. He was born in Alsace, near Weisenberg, Germany, October 3. 1833, and remained at the place of his birth until seven years of age, when he came to America with his parents, martin and Barbara (Haas) Snyder, who settled in Stark county, Ohio, in 1841. Throughout life the father followed the occupation of a miller. After residing in Stark county for some years he removed to Ashland county. Ohio, where he made his home until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-two years. He was a prosperous and progressive man of his day. Our subject was only twelve years of age when his mother died at their home in Stark county, and the father subsequently married again, his second union being with Miss Barbara Muchler, by whom he had four sons and five daughters, who are still living, and three deceased. The oldest of these is Mrs. Henry Plattner. of Mt. Vernon, Iowa. The second wife died in December, 1898, and was buried on Christmas day.

!\michael Snyder is the oldest of the seven children born of his father's first marriage, the others being Caroline, wife of Jacob Schaffer, of Cedar Rapids; Eva. widow of Thomas Earnhart. of Ligonier, Indiana;

Margaret, wife of William Eardley, of Wolf Lake, Indiana; George, a farmer of California; Julia, wife of Andrew Getz, of Vallejo, California, who is a tinner by trade, and is now working for the United States navy; and Martin, who died in infancy.

Reared in Stark county, Ohio, iMichael Snyder obtained rather a limited education in its public schools, Iiut by reading and study at home he acquired a good practical knowledge of men and affairs. In 1854, at the age of twenty years, he left the Buckeye state and came to Linn county, Iowa, where he has since made his home. For thirteen years he was engaged in the sawmill business in Linn township, and then located on the farm which he still occupies, having purchased two hundred acres of partially improved land on section 31, the same township. He erected thereon a comfortable and commodious residence, large and substantial barns and other outbuildings, and has placed the land under excellent cultivation. He has added to his landed possessions from time to time luitil lie nnw has fnur hundred and seventy-eight acres of land, divided into three farms on sections 29, 30 and 31. Linn township, and has a good set of farm buildings on each. In connection with general farming he has engaged in the raising of horses, cattle and hogs of a high grade, and now has one hundred head of stock upon his place.

On the 3d of June, 1856, in Pioneer township. Cedar county, Iowa, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage with Miss Martha Owens, a native of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Guthrie) Owens. The mother died in that state when Mrs. Snyder was quite small. After residing in Pennsylvania for many years Mr. Owens came to Iowa in

1 85 1, and located in Pioneer township, Cedar county, where he made his line until his death, which occurred about 1870, when he was sixty-four years of age. Mrs. Snyder was the oldest of his eight children, of whom two sons and four daughters are still living.

Unto our subject and his wife were born ten children, namely: (1) Mary Elizabeth, born in Linn county, married John Lerette and died in May, 1897. She had eight children: Charles E.; Nettie M., wife of Oliver Duncan; Clyde; William, deceased; Frederick; Jay; Martha; and an infant son, deceased. (2) Maggie C. is the wife of Wyatt B. Cantrall, a retired farmer of Sanborn, Iowa, and they had one child. Jay, who died in infancy. (3) Joshua JNI. died at the age of fifteen months. (4) George W. died on the home farm at the age of twenty-eight years. (5) Sarah Ellen is the wife of James Thomas White, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bertram township, this county, and they have two children, Harry J. and Roy Thomas. (6) Martha Alelissa died at the age of three months. (7) Henry N., twin brother of Martha Melissa, resides on one of his father's farms in Linn township. He married May Simons, of Mt. Vernon, a daughter of John L. Simons, and to them were born four children: Gracie, deceased; Lloyd; Pearl; and Willard. (8) Hattie B. died at the age of two months, (9) Joseph Franklin married Edith Mason, of Lisbon, a daughter of Thomas Mason, and resides at home with his parents. They Iiave one child, Ruth Fay, lion July 6, 1891. (10) Jessie May died at the age of nine months.

Mr. Snyder is a supporter of the Methodist church, and always affiliates with the Democratic party. He has held nearly all the township offices at various times with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is now serving as president of the Linn Township Mutual Insurance Association, which company he assisted in organizing twenty-nine years ago, and he has been a director of the same nearly ever since. This company insures only farm property and has done a successful and e.extensive Inisiness. Mr. Snyder has always been found true to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and well deserves to lie classified among the most useful and valued citizens of his adopted county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The subject of this review is successfully engaged in farming on section 36, Otter Creek township, where he owns eighty acres of rich farming land under a high state of cultivation. He is a native of France, born in the province of Alsace, November 18, 1834, and is a son of George and Madeline (Schilein) Snyder, who spent their entire lives in that country. In their family were eight children, five of whom came to the United States and are now living in different parts of the country.

Jacob Snyder passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land. With the hope of bettering his financial cmdition in America, he crossed the Atlantic and landed in New York city at the age of nineteen years, h'nr aliout three years he w I ired in the Empire state and then came to Iowa, locating in Scott county, where he was engaged in farming upon rented land for some time. In 1860 he came to Linn county, and purchased his present farm in Otter Creek township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has devoted his energies ever since. In connection with general farming he is also engaged in stock raising to some extent.

At the age of twenty-nine, Mr. Snyder was married in Davenport, Iowa, to Miss Annie M. Sclniff. liy whom he had seven children, all still living, namely: George, a painter by trade residing in Marion, Iowa; Philip, a well drilled and tanner of Ottum- \va, Iowa; Henry, who married Lilly White and is working in an elevator in Alburnett; Lizzie, wife of August Wolff, a farmer of Murray, Iowa; Anna, wife of Oscar Smith, of the same place; Emma, wife of Jeff Williams, a farmer of Pomerou, Wasliington; and Jacob, who assists his father in the work of the home farm. Mrs. Snyder, who was a consistent Christian, a devoted wife and loving mother, died in December, 1894, and was buried in Otter Creek township. For his second wife our subject married Miss Julia Hunt, who died in 1897, and was also laid to rest in Otter Creek township. On the 13th of December, 1897, Mr. Snyder was again married, his third union being with Mrs. Sarah A. ( Hewett ) Humphrey, widow of Myron Hiunphrey. By her former maria.ge she had three children, namely: Carrie lay. now the wife of Jacob Biber, a farmer of Maine township, this county; John, a farmer of Montana; and Eva, wife of Judson Benson, a farmer of Alontana.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.