James Snyder

As printed in 1888

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

Andrew Snyder went to Virginia, and there married Miss Sarah Baker about 1827. She was a daughter of George and Sarah Baker, who resided on a farm in that county. After a married life of eighteen years in Virginia, during which time eight children were born, the family removed to Iowa, settling in Des Moines County, near Danville, in 1844. The children were Rachel, wife of Oliver Little; James, our subject; Elizabeth, who resides with him: Mary A., who died unmarried; Caroline, who wedded James Crogan; Sarah, wife of Charles Crocker: William W.. who died in childhood, and Lou J., wife of E. A. Miller. Mr. Snyder purchased a half section of land in Des Moines County and erected a log house, which has long since been torn down. Under its roof were born Theo. B., an attorney-at-law in Burlington aa4/the husband of Mary L. Dorgan, and Wilbur, a resiclfent farmer of Pleasant Grove Township, who married Nellie Burns, of Des Moines County-. For third\'- seven happy years the parents lived on their old homestead, when the mother was taken from them, the father living three years longer, when he too died, on the old homestead.

The pioneer life of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder was shared in its fullest sense. The improving of a new farm was not such a hardship for them as for many, they living so near the city of Burlington. Their lands were productive, and their children grew to man and womanhood, bringing gladness and joy to the old homestead. All except one had reached maturity at the time of the mother's death, which occurred in December, 1882. Her remains were interred near the old family mansion in Pleasant Grove Township. She reached the mature age of seventy-four, and her funeral obsequies were held on Christmas Day in 1882. The husband survived until 188.5. and all that was mortal of the pioneer was laid to rest by the side of the wife he had loved so well. The very advanced age of eighty-three had been reached by that patriarch.

who had held in his arms a score and a half of grandchildren, some of whom are now parents. Andrew Snyder was a quiet and good citizen, always a farmer, and his children were early taught habits of thrift and sobriety.

Our subject gi-ew to manhood in Des Moines Count\'. He was united in marriage with Miss Mahala Doty, Nov. 27, 1859, Rev. G. B. Bowman, President of Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa, performing the ceremony at the residence of the bride's mother in Linn County\ Ephraim Doty, the father of Mrs. Snyder, was born in Ohio County, Va., and wedded Mary Snyder in that State. They removed to Highland County, and thence to Williams County, Ohio, where his death occurred in the autumn of 1844. He was the father of twelve children, the eldest of whom were born in Virginia. His widow came to Iowa the same year, locating at Mt. Vernon, Linn County, where she remained until her death, in August, 1881. Her house was the home of all her fatherless children except the eldest, who married in Ohio. We are pleased to give not only* the names, but the wives and husbands of those children, who were pioneers in Southeastern Iowa: Rachel manner Caleb Richart, who died in phiof Kittie A. became the wife of Barney Pettycourt, of Williams County\ Ohio: Abner, husband of Mary A. Barnes, died in Western Nebraska; Mary A. wedded Horatio Wtilker, and resides in Buchanan County, Iowa; Phiebe became the wife of Chauncy Blodgett, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Andrew married Hannah McElroy, and was killed at the battle of Champion Hills, where his bodjwas buried; George W. was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and was buried in the National Cemetery there; Minerva, wife of Joseph S. Cookus, of Crete, Neb.; Mahala, wife of our subject, is a twin sister of Minerva; Ephraim married Emily L. Jenks. and resides in Mt. Vernon, and with Ruah, his sister, formed another pair of twins. She wedded Christian Cordes, of the same village, and Eliz.abfth became the wife of Peter H. H. Kepler, also of Mt. Vernon.

Six years after the marriage of our subject he removed to Henry Countv and purchased a farm, upon which he now lives. Not a tree was standing nor a furrow turned upon this tract, but from the beginning a farm has been made, substantial improvements erected, and for years Mr. Snyder has been recognized as one of the leading farmers of Canaan Township. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are the parents of six children: Virginia A., wife of W. H. Deal, of Scott Township; Rachel F., wife of J. H. Forbes, a resident farmer of Crawford, Neb.; Charles W., James P., Wilbur D. and Howard T., complete the family and are all beneath the paternal roof. Both the daughters were educated at Howe's Academy, and were engaged in teaching in this and Des Moines County prior to their marriage. Since 1865 Mr. Snyder and his family have been honored residents of Canaan Township, and as such we desire to do them justice and give them the credit they deserve for the part taken in the development of this goodly land.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biog (1888). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.