In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886)
W. E. SNYDER, dealer in dry goods, etc., Findlay, was born in West Greenville, Penn., January 4, 1836, son of Simon A. and Elizabeth (Couldi'on) Snyder, natives of Snyder County, Penn., so named after the Snyders, who were prominent pioneers there. In 1849 Simon Snyder settled in
Union Township, this county, where his six sons grew to manhood, all of whom became worthy merchants except Eli A. Snyder, M. D., who died in Kansas City, Mo.; Elijah is a grocer in Havana, Ill.; Augustus C. is a dry goods merchant in Santa Cruz, Cal.; Delos D. is in dry goods business in Minneapolis, Kas.; E. D. is a druggist in Kansas City, Mo. Our subject received a good schooling, and at fourteen became apprenticed to merchandising in the store of Henderson & Patterson, at Findlay. At twenty he embarked in business at McComb, with B. B. Barney (now of Toledo); in 1865 he came and established the present store, the " Old White Corner," with Mr. Barney, whose interest he purchased in 1872, since when he has carried on business alone (meanwhile continuing his store at McComb. ) He was married in Findlay to Sallie H., daughter of Frederick and Helen (Gilruth) Dudxiit, pioneers in Hancock County. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one son and one daughter: Reginald C. and Bernice Fredrika. Mr. Snyder is a self-made man. Beginning upon a small clerical salary he managed to save and eventually started in business. Here, by dint of steady purpose, persistent industry, coupled with able management, he accumulated property rapidly, and eventually placed himself in the lead of his business. From 1875 to 1881 he had, jointly with Gov. Foster, and his brother, D. D. Snyder, at Fostoria, a lucrative mercantile interest. Besides his extensive commercial trade he is also in possession of some very valuable farm property, consisting of three good farms, and owns besides a handsome residence and some of the most desirable business property in Findlay. He is a member of Shawnee Commandery of Knights Templar. Mr. Snyder has always been averse to holding public office, but has given a cordial support and taken active interest in partisan politics. He is a public-spirited and prosperous business man, a liberal citizen, contributing to all worthy objects. In personal appearance he is of medium stature, of good physique and of vigorous disposition. He is of a versatile nature, which has probably aided him in drawing around him an extensive and lucrative trade. In politics he is a Republican.
As printed in History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM E. SNYDER, one of the most prominent and best known men in Hancock County, a retired dry goods merchant and a large stockholder in the Glass Block Department Store of Findlay, Ohio, resides in a beautiful home at No. 321 West Sandusky Street. Mr. Snyder was in the dry goods business in Findlay from 1865 until 1890, conducting a store at the old White Corner, where the Buckeye Bank building now stands, and until a recent date held large interests in the Snyder Brothers Dry Goods Company of Richmond, Indiana, and in the D. D. Snyder Company of Minneapolis, Kansas. He was born at Greenville, Mercer County, Pa., January 4, 1836, a son of Simon A. and Elizabeth (Couldron) Snyder, who settled in Hancock County in 1848, coming overland in wagons from Pennsylvania, as there was but one railroad in the State of Ohio at that time. Simon A. Snyder was a carpenter, cabinetmaker and bridgebuilder and lived for many years on a farm in Union Township, but late in life moved to Findlay, where his death occurred.
William E. Snyder was twelve years of age when the family came from Pennsylvania and he well remembers many thrilling incidents of the overland journey, and at that time saw his first railroad train. He resided on the home farm for about two years, and when fourteen years of age came to Findlay to become a clerk for the Henderson-Patterson Dry Goods Company, of which the J. S. Patterson Dry Goods Company is the successor. Incidentally it may be remarked that Mr. J. S. Patterson, who is still in the dry goods business in Findlay was the only “boss” Mr. Snyder ever had, as, after working for the Henderson-Patterson Company for about six years, and when but twenty years of age, Mr. Snyder formed a partnership with B. B. Barney in a general store at Mc- Comb, Hancock County, under the firm name of Barney-Snyder Company. This store was one of the pioneer department stores, selling almost everything imaginable. In 1865 Mr. Barney and Mr. Snyder opened up the old White Corner dry goods store in Findlay, and later on, with Charles Foster, who was then governor of Ohio, and a brother, D. D. Snyder, he conducted a store at Fostoria, Ohio, and for several years continued to be interested in all three establishments. In 1870 Mr. Snyder bought out the interests of Mr. Barney, and continued to conduct the store at Findlay under the firm name of W. E. Snyder Company.
Mr. Snyder was married to Sarah H. Duduit, a native of Hancock County, whose father, Frederick Duduit, was born in Southern Ohio, near the Ohio River, and was a member of the well known Duduit family, natives of France who are prominently mentioned in all histories of this State. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had two children: Reginald C., who married Miss Alice Mack, daughter of the well known Sandusky editor, has one child, Alice, and lives in Coshocton, Ohio, being proprietor of the Coshocton Age; and Bernice Fredericka, living at home.
Mr. Snyder was the owner of the hotel building known as the Joy House, formerly the property of ex-Senator Joy, at the corner of Main and West Sandusky Streets, which has been remodeled and converted into the Glass Block Department Store, and it was mainly through Mr. Snyder's efforts that this establishment was located in Findlay. He is the owner of a great deal of real estate, among which may be mentioned the Tavern Hotel building. He is prominent in Masonry, having attained to the 32nd degree, and now holds the office of Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 227, F. & A. M. of Findlay. Personally, Mr. Snyder is a very congenial gentleman, numbering his friends by the hundreds, and, although retired from active business affairs, is still regarded as one of Findlay’s most prominent and public-spirited citizens.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Frederick Duduit (b. 1807)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.