Jerome B. SNYDER, MD

SNYDER, ROLLINS, BROWN, HURT, MILLER, SWEET

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/22/2010 at 11:11:38

February 28, 1844 -- September 29, 1906

Jerome B. Snyder, M.D. Chicago Medical College, 1864; a veteran of the Civil War; for two years a member of the city council, and for seven years president of the board of education of Polo, Illinois; United States examining surgeon for four years; a member of the Ogle County Medical Society, died at his home in Rowan, Iowa, September 29, after a long illness, from cancer of the stomach, aged 62.

Journal - American Medical Association
October 20, 1906

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DR. JEROME B. SNYDER is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Polo, Illinois, and has that love for and devotion to his profession which has brought to him success and won him a place among the ablest representatives of the medical fraternity in Ogle county. He was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, February 28, 1844, a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Rollins) Snyder. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life in Rensselaer county, where he died at the age of seventy-seven years. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. The mother died at the age of sixty five years. To them were born eleven children, all of whom reached years of maturity and married, but two sons and one daughter are now deceased.

In "the county of his nativity, the Doctor remained until fifteen years of age and then came to Illinois, making his home with a brother in Earl, La Salle county. He continued to attend school during the winter months until seventeen, and later worked in the office of his brother, who was a prominent attorney and banker of that place, but was clerking in a store at the outbreak of the Civil war. Responding to his country's call for aid, he enlisted at Earl, in 1861, in Company I, Fourth Illinois Cavalry under Colonel Dickny, was mustered in at Ottawa, and was first sent to Cairo, Illinois, where the regiment made their headquarters for two or three months, during which they engaged some in scouting in Kentucky. Dr. Snyder participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh, was wounded in the last engagemen, and sent to the hospital, where he was discharged three months later on account of physical disabilities. Returning to Illinois, he read medicine with Dr. Hinkley, at Leland, for one year, and later attended the Chicago Medical College, continuing his reading during the summer months under the direction of Dr. D. M. Vosburg. In the spring of 1864 he was admitted to practice, and first located at Grand Detour, where he remained for five years. During the following five years he was engaged in practice at Woosung, and in 1874 came to Polo where he was not long in building up a large and lucrative practice, which he still enjoys. He has given special attention to surgery and has met with most excellent success in his chosen calling.

At Earl, Illinois, Dr. Snyder was married in 1867, to Miss Maria M. Brown, a native of that place and a daughter of Allen and Sarah (Hurt) Brown. The father, who came to this state from Massachusetts, died at the age of seventy-seven years, but the mother is still living at the age of eighty-five years and continues to make her home in Earl. To the Doctor and his wife have been born five children, namely: Maria, who died in infancy; Frank, a resident of Galt, Iowa, who married Minnie Miller, and has one son, Rex; Gerald, also a resident of Galt, Iowa, who married Philo Sweet and has one son, Gerald; Leone, who is a graduate of the Polo schools and is now a student in Stemmans Musical College, Dixon; and Ina, a pupil in the Polo schools.

Since attaining his majority Dr. Snyder has been identified with the Democratic party, was a member of the city council of Polo for two years, president of the board of education seven years, and assistant supervisor while living in Woosung. He was United States examining surgeon four years under President Cleveland's administration, and is a member of the Ogle County Medical Association. The place he has won in the medical profession is accorded him in recognition of his skill and ability, and the place which he occupies in the social world is a tribute to that genuine worth and true nobleness of character which are universally recognized and honored.

Biographical Record of Ogle County, Illinois, 1899, page 404.