Thomas Jefferson Snyder

As printed in 1908

THOMAS JEFFERSON SNYDER, owner of the East Side Dairy Farm, which comprises 150 acres of valuable land situated in Coventry Township, belongs to an old pioneer family which settled in this section of Summit County eighty-eight years ago. Mr. Snyder was born in his father’s log cabin, not far distant from his present farm, in Coventry Township. Summit County, Ohio, August 16, 1857, and is a son of George M. and Mary (Rex) Snyder.

George M Snyder was born in 1814, in Pennsylvania, and was five years old when his father, Yost Snyder, brought his family and possessions to Coventry Township, making the long journey through the wilderness with an ox-team. When ho built his log cabin in the woods, Akron was a hamlet of a half dozen rude shanties, and it would have required a vivid imagination to depict in itplace the present busy, beautiful city. The digging of the canal was a great event and George M. Snyder told his children how the whole family walked to Akron to sec the first canal boat on its waters. Yost Snvder and wife lived to old age on this farm and reared a large family of children, George M. being among the older ones. The latter assisted in the clearing of the farm and later learned the mason trade, at which he worked for twenty-two years, during the summers, and during the long, cold and stormy winters be would use the old loom and leave cloth. He acquired land of his own, and possessed the farm in the Snyder allotment, through which Snyder Avenue, Barberton, now extends. He lived to the age of eighty years, and in many ways was a remarkable man. He had enjoyed but few advantages of any kind in his youth and had never learned to either read or write the English language until the Civil War, when, on account of the deep interest he felt in public affairs, he set himself the task of learning to read, his children being his teachers, and became thoroughly informed in this way, although, at his age, it doubtless required great perseverance. He was a stanch Democrat, of the old type.

George M. Snyder-was married (first) to Catherine Harter, who bore him two children: Henry, now residing at Barberton, and George, who is deceased. He married (second) Mary Rex, whom he also survived, and they had fourteen children, namely: Jacob, Daniel, Lewis. Thomas J.. William F., Mary (Mrs. Anderson), Sarah, who married II. Deisen. residing in North Dakota: Inez, who married J. II. Horner; Elvina, who married H. Pontius; Emma, who married William Stott; and four children now deceased. George M. Snyder was married (third) to Lucinda Bachman, but they bad no family.

Thomas J. Snyder remained with his father on the farm on which he was born until 1859. when the family moved to what is now the Snyder allotment. Land then could be bought for $2.50 an acre which later has been valued at $300. During his boyhood the family endured many hardships, their home having few of the comforts or conveniences of the present day. Mr. Snyder remembers lion his mother used to come with, her room and sweep away the heavy snow that had sifted through the wide cracks onto the floor, so that her many children could get out of bed without having a chill, lie attended the old district school whenever farm work permitted. In 1887 lie bought his present farm in Coventry Township, purchasing it from George Fouser, and settled on it in 1891. It was cleared land at the time, but he has spent a large amount of money in making the excellent. improvements, which are to he seen on every side. He practically rebuilt the house, making it both attractive and comfortable, and erected commodious barns and other buildings made necessary on account of his farming operations and dairying. He is assisted in the work of the farm by his sons, and superintend the dairy himself, keeping twenty-four head of cattle, and running a milk wagon to Barberton. He has spent almost his whole life in Coventry Township, and is interested in everything concerning its welfare. With peace and plenty on every side, congenial work, many friends, and the respect. and esteem of his fellow citizens, Mr. Snyder perhaps enjoys life to a greater degree than many of those who spend their time and substance moving in a larger circle.

On October 5, 1877, Mr. Snyder was married to Mary E. Deiter, who was a daughter of Samuel and Lorinda Deiter. They have had ten children, namely: George, who married Cora Croser, and has three children — Love, Celia and Blanche; Lucy, who married 0. Nicodemus. and has three children: Hazel, Park A. and Ethel; Carrie, who is the wife of M. II assem, and the mother of four children: Guy, Helen, Pauline and Clifford; Lillian, who married W. Nicodemus. and has three children: Chester, Roy and Elnora; Thomas R., who married Mary First; William, Nora Belle, Halley Maude, Howard, who died aged fifteen months; and Edna Fern. Mr. Snyder and family belong to the Reformed Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.