In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1843, Washington county
From A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa .. (1903)
WILLIAM SNAKENBERG.
William Snakenberg, one of the prominent and highly respected farmers of German township, Keokuk county, Iowa, was born in Washington county, Iowa, November 5, 1843, and is the third child and third son of Detrich and Mary A. (Seaba) Snakenberg. He was about one year old when he was brought to Keokuk county, and he was reared and educated in German township. He occupied himself in farm work until the time of his enlistment for Civil war service in 1864, when he became a member of Company E, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining until the close of the war, although sickness compelled him to remain the greater part of the time in the hospital. After his honorable discharge, he returned to his home and resumed farming. In 1892 he built the comfortable residence in which he resides on the farm of eighty-five acres, and has increased the value of his property by judicious and careful methods of cultivation.
In 1893 Mr. Snakenberg was married to Miss Emma Boss, who was born in Lafayette township, Keokuk county. One son, Iren Vernon Paul, has been born to this union. Both our subject and wife are valued members of the German Methodist church and are highly respected residents of German township.
As printed in A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa .. (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1903. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.