SNIDER, George - 1890 Bio (1821-1906)

SNIDER, SHY, ALTMAN, KISTLER, HERMAN, ISET, STEEL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/28/2007 at 15:16:51

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 236-238

George SNIDER is one of the pioneers of Jefferson County and a prominent farmer of Black Hawk Township, residing on section 6. The home of this worthy gentleman is one of the finest in the township. A commodious and tasty frame residence, surrounded by good barns and other necessary outbuildings sheltering fine stock, and the whole encircled by waving fields of grain, all indicate to the passer-by that the owner is a man of thrift and industry and his neighbors will tell a similar story of his unceasing labor and enterprise.

Mr. SNIDER was born in Bavaria, on Christmas Day, of 1821, and is a son of John and Phœbe SNIDER. His father, who was also a farmer by occupation, emigrated with his family to America in 1829. Making a location in Westmoreland County, Pa., he purchased a farm which continued to be his home for some twenty-one years, when in 1851, he again took up the line of march and made his way to Jefferson County, Iowa. With his son George, who had previously located in the county, he found a home, but about a month after his arrival he was called to the final home, dying on the 17th of May, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife, who survived him about thirty years, died in March, 1880, and her remains were then placed by the side of him who had gone before. John SNIDER and his wife were parents of four children -- Jacobennia, deceased wife of Charles SHY; John, Jr., also deceased; George, of this sketch, and Lizzie, who became the wife of Andrew ALTMAN, and died in Kansas. Mr. SNIDER and his family were faithful members of the Lutheran Church. He took great interest in church work and did what he could for the promotion of the cause. In politics, he was a firm supporter of the Democratic party. A worthy citizen, a kind friend and neighbor, and a generous and noble-hearted man, the entire community mourned his death.

Upon George SNIDER devolves the duty of perpetuating the family history as father, mother, brother and sisters have all been called hime, leaving him the only survivor of a once happy and united family circle. The advantages which he received in his youth were limited, especially as regards education, for the only schooling he obtained was in the old country prior to his emigration to America, which occurred when he was a lad of eight years. However, since coming to this country he has mastered the English language and, being a lover of books, has devoted much time to reading, thus acquiring a fund of information which many having better advantages might well envy. He was brought up to the labor of the farm and remained at home with his parents until twenty-five years of age, when he assumed the management of the old homestead and continued in charge of affairs until 1851, when he decided to cast his lot with the early settlers of Jefferson County. On reaching his destination he made purchase of eighty acres of land, paying $400 for the same. Only twenty acres of the entire amount had been broken and a log house constituted the improvements. A wonderful transformation has since been wrought and the once barren prairie is now a rich and fertile farm furnished with good buildings, the latest improved machinery, and stocked with an excellent grade of horses and cattle. He gives special attention to the raising of horses, keeping on hand a number of good work horses. He also buys colts which he raises and then puts on the market. The competence which now places Mr. SNIDER in a comfortable position and surrounds him with all that goes to make life worth the living, was not acquired in a day, however, but is the result of patient toil, perseverance and industry. He not only began life in the West with little capital but had to endure many of the hardships and disadvantages of pioneer life. The little log cabin, which was the first home of himself and wife in Iowa, was not furnished with many luxuries; a goods box constituted the table, the other furniture was of a like primitive character; they had to journey several miles to mill and market and often the roads were almost impassible, but nevertheless, Mr. SNIDER declares those were among his happiest days. He was a great hunter and the woods furnished ample opportunity to indulge his liking for that sport. Other pleasures added to the enjoyment of pioneer life and, as the years rolled along, the financial resources were increased so that many comforts took the place of what were before inconveniences.

On the 11th of January, 1842, Mr. SNIDER was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann KISTLER, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania. By their union were born eleven children -- Mary, born June 8, 1846, is the wife of Abe HERMAN, of Black Hawk Township, Jefferson County; John, born September 27, 1851, is a resident farmer of Black Hawk Township; Sophia, born November 23, 1853, is the wife of Frank HERMAN, of the same township; Lydia A., born April 14, 1856, is the wife of James ISET, of Kansas; Charles, born February 11, 1858, is his father's assistant on the home farm; Sarah Jane, born October 25, 1862, is the wife of Albert STEEL, of Richland, Keokuk County; William A., born July 27, 1867, married Miss Nora KISTLER, is a farmer and miner and resides near the old homestead; Martin Luther, born June 16, 1870, is also a miner, and George W., born August 17, 1872, is at home.

Mr. SNIDER and his family are faithful members of the Lutheran Church and he is always ready to give of his means for the support of the work; yet he does not confine his generosity to his own church alone, but gives liberally to all churches in the neighborhood and to every enterprise worthy of the support of honorable citizens. He cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk and is a stanch Democrat in politics. He formerly took an active part in political affairs, being well posted on all questions pertaining to the same, but has somewhat retired from that work. He was a member of the Grange during the existence of that society and is a member of the Old Settlers Society.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.