Snyder, Joseph V.

SNYDER, PORT, YEGGE, GILLES, FRANK, HOLLY, GARROWICK, NONNENMACHER, MCCARN, BLOOME, STEPHENS, MULHOLLAND

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 2/14/2003 at 15:57:27

JOSEPH V. SNYDER 

Prominent among the progressive and up--to-date young farmers of Bloomfield township is the subject of this sketch, who was born in that township on the 14th of February, 1872. His father, Joseph Snyder, is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was the only child born to John and Margaret (Port) Snyder. Margaret Snyder died in 1858, after having been married only three years, and in 1848 the grandfather of our subject was married, and by this union there were three children, namely: Lena, wife of M. M. Yegge, of DeWitt, Iowa; Kate, wife of John Gilles, who lives on a farm southwest of Grand Mound, in Olive township, this county; and Paulina, wife of Philip Frank, of Noel, Scott county.

In 1852 John Snyder brought his family to America, taking passage on a sailing vessel at Hull, England, and reaching the harbor of New York after a very stormy voyage of forty-seven days. He first located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained until 1854, and then came to Clinton county, Iowa, purchasing a farm southwest of Grand Mound, where he made his home for about thirty-five years. He died November 23, 1893, and was buried in the Berlin township cemetery. His widow died June 2, 1901, and is buried at DeWitt.

The father of our subject attended school in Muscatine, Iowa, for a short time, and later was a student in the district schools of Clinton county until thirteen years of age, after which he devoted his entire time and attention to the work of the home farm until he attained his majority. On the 26th of February, 1867, at DeWitt, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Anne Yegge, who was born in Sissln, Canton Argan, Switzerland, February 4, 1847, and also came to America in 1852 with her parents, J. Frederick and Frances Yegge, natives of the same country. They landed on the shores of this county in May of that year, and after spending nine months in Canton, Ohio, proceeded to Hillsdale, Michigan, where they made their home for five years. At the end of that time they came to DeWitt, Clinton county, Iowa, where Mr. Yegge died December 7, 1876. His wife had passed away August 19, 1861, and both were laid to rest in the DeWitt cemetery. Unto them were born the following children: Vincent was married in Michigan to Frederica Holly, and in 1854 came to DeWitt, Iowa, where he died June 1, 1898, and where his widow still resides. John F. was also married in Michigan to Adelaide Garrowick, and now resides in Carroll, Iowa. Frances is the wife of A. Nonnenmacher, of DeWitt. Joseph was married in Lyons, Iowa, to Mary McCarn, and removed to Boone, Iowa. He served through the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company H, and died from disease contracted in the army. Andrew died in Atchison, Kansas, at the age of twenty-one years. Adelaide is the wife of A. Bloome, of DeWitt. Marvus M. wedded Magdalena Snyder and resides in DeWitt. He also served in the Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Company H, until the close of the war, and was wounded in the battle of Arkansas Post. He died June 23, 1901, at the age of sixty years. C. Martin served four years in the First Colorado Cavalry and was with Sherman on the march to the sea. He married Lydia Ann Stephens and lives in Alpina, South Dakota. John K. married Elizabeth Mulholland and makes his home in Boone, Iowa. Anna is the mother of our subject.

In 1867 Joseph Snyder, the father of our subject, removed to Bloomfield township and operated a rented farm until 1870, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 31 and 32, which he and his son now carry on. Our subject was educated in the district schools of Bloomfield township, and at the age of thirteen also attended a boarding school at Springbrook, Iowa, for one term, and St. Ambrose College, at Davenport, for the same length of time. Since leaving school he has assisted in the operation of the home farm, and now practically has charge of the same. This farm is one of the best of its size in the township, and is improved with good and substantial buildings. Mr. Snyder raises a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs for market, and makes a scientific study of farming, being considered one of the most progressive, energetic and enterprising young agriculturists of his community. He has been an efficient member of the school board for three terms and is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, with which his father also affiliates. Both are members of St. Patrick’s Catholic church of Delmar, and our subject belongs to Camp No. 982, M. W. A., of that place. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.