Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah June 26, 2020

Among the residents of Carroll county who are now living retired, their present comfortable financial position being the direct result of former activity and enterprise along agricultural lines, is numbered John A. Snyder. A native of Illinois, he was born near Woodstock, McHenry county, on the 4th of March, 1854, a son of Adam and Barbara (Kochensperger) Snyder, both of whom were born in Germany. His paternal grandparents were both natives of the fatherland, where their entire lives were passed. His maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Kochensperger, were also natives of the old country, where the latter’s death occurred. The former came to America and passed away in McHenry county, Illinois, at about the age of sixty-five years. In their family were two sons and three daughters, Michael, Adam, Barbara, Margarette and Magdaliene. Adam Snyder the father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and after arriving in the United States located first in New York, where he followed that occupation for a time. Later he removed to Illinois, casting in his lot with the pioneers of McHenry county, and there passed away in 1863, at the age of forty-five years. His wife survived for some time, her death occurring in April, 1906, when eighty-two years of age. Both were faithful members of the German Evangelical church, and led most exemplary lives, being greatly honored and respected by all who knew them. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom six are yet living, namely: Caroline, the wife of Michael Senger, of Woodstock, Illinois; William, residing at Guthrie, Oklahoma; John, of this review; Helen, who married L. Kline, of Glidden township; Lydia, the wife of Earle Rich, also of this township; and Henry, making his home in Glidden.

On the home farm in McHenry county, Illinois, John A. Snyder was reared to manhood, and during the winter months attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education. The summer months were devoted to the work of the farm, for he was early assigned the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the country lad, and under the wise direction of his father received thorough practical training along agricultural lines. He remained at home until attaining his majority, when he entered business on his own account, wisely choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. In 1879 he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Glidden township, Carroll county, but did not become a resident of this county, however, until 1884. In that year he took up his abode upon his farm and at once began its further development and improvement. Later he added to it another tract of twenty-four and a half acres, and this property still remains in his possession although he has since retired from the actual work of the farm. He now leases his place, the rental from which is proving a substantial source of revenue. In 1896 he withdrew from active life and removed to Glidden, where he purchased a good home and where he is now living in honorable retirement, his goodly competence enabling him to enjoy a life of ease and comfort.

Mr. Snyder was married, on the 26th of February, 1891, to Miss Susie Snavely, who was born near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Christian and Anna (Burkholder) Snavely. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Snyder was Christian Snavely, a native of Pennsylvania, where he carried on agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Susan Miller and both passed away at the age of seventy-five years, the latter’s death occurring in Illinois. They had only one son, Christian Snavely, Jr. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Snyder was Abraham Burkholder, a native of Pennsylvania, who was a Mennonite preacher and also engaged in farming. He and his wife had a large family, including Samuel, David, Abraham, Daniel, Elizabeth, Susie and Maria. The parents of Mrs. Snyder were both natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Illinois in 1865, locating in Ogle county. The father, who was a Mennonite minister, passed away in Shannon, Illinois, in April, 1907, at the age of seventy-four years, but his wife still survives, making her home in that city.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have for many years been active and helpful members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Glidden, of which the former has served as treasurer for fifteen years, while the latter is now treasurer of the Ladies Aid Society. He has ever been an ardent supporter of the principles of the republican party and in local affairs has taken a deep interest, although he has never sought nor desired public office. He is now in the prime of life and enjoys to the fullest measure the confidence and respect entertained for him by all who know him, for his life has ever been in keeping with high standards and characterized by noble purposes.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~