Michael Snyder

As printed in 1901

MICHAEL SNYDER.

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 Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.