For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 703
SAMUEL B. SNYDER....A brave soldier of the Civil war and a patriotic and progressive citizen in times of peace, Samuel B, Snyder, of Cedar township, may justly be regarded as worthy of a place among the respected men of Iowa. He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, February 7, 1844, and is a son of Jacob J. and Catherine ( Beardshear ) Snyder, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. The parents were married in Montgomery county, Ohio, and remained in the Buckeye state for several years. Coming west in March, 1853, they settled in Muscatine county, Iowa, and established their home upon a farm of eighty acres which Mr. Snyder purchased in Seventy-six township. After fifteen years of active labor the father retired but still continued to live upon the homestead, where he departed this life November 25, 1882. The mother passed away October 5, 1893. Mr. Snyder was very successful as a farmer and acquired five hundred and sixty acres of land, four hundred and eighty acres of which he divided among his children, giving each of them a fair start in life. Eighty acres of his land he disposed of by sale. There were nine children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob J. Snyder, two of whom are now living, namely : Samuel B., our subject ; and Joseph M., of Panoma, Guthrie county, Iowa. Those deceased are : Caroline, William, Mary, John, Abraham, George and Anna.Samuel B. Snyder was reared upon the home farm and remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he responded to the call of Abraham Lincoln on the 12th of August, 1862, and enlisted in Company F, Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He went with his regiment to the front and participated in many important battles and movements of the war. He was present at the battles of Raymond, Jackson, and Black River, Mississippi, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg and the Red River Expedition, later being with his regiment in the battles of Tupelo and Nashville, the latter being one of the important engagements of the war. He performed his duties faithfully to the end and was honorably discharged from service June 13, 1865. After a short visit to Muscatine county he spent one year in Ohio and then returned to this county, where he took charge of a part of his father's farm, of which he later became the owner. In 1885 he disposed of this property and purchased land in Cedar township, being now the owner of two hundred and sixty acres, which he has improved and converted into one of the most valuable landed possessions of its size in the county. Being a man of energy and good judgment he early attained a position as one of the leaders in the community and although he is now living retired his advice is frequently sought by many firends and acquaintances.
On the 25th of December, 1867, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Sarah B. Jones, of Ohio, a daughter of Henry and Thereas ( Wagner ) Jones. The parents were married in Ohio and spent their lives in the Buckeye state. The family included eight children : Edith, now living in California ; Laura, also of California ; Clara and Charlotte, both of Ohio ; Walter, of Muscatine county ; Elizabeth, who died at twelve years of age ; John W., who died in the Klondike, April 5, 1905 ; and Sarah B. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder was brightened by the birth of three children. Bertha E., born December 11, 1868, was educated in the common schools and is the wife of J. F. Hankins, of Cedar township. Jacob H., was born January 13, 1874, and now lives in Muscatine county.
Leo E. Snyder, the youngest of the family, was born in Muscatine county, June 17, 1882. He remained at home until nineteen years of age and then worked for the farmers of the neighborhood for one year. Upon arriving at manhood he began farming on the homestead, where he has since remained, being in charge of one hundred acres which he has cultivated thoroughly, gaining highly satisfactory results. On October 28, 1902, he was united in marriage to Miss S. Ellen Coder, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, a daughter of John and Eliza ( Fry ) Coder. Her father is a native of Ohio and her mother of Pennsylvania. They were married in Muscatine county and are now living retired. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coder six children were born, namely : Brunetta, Roa, Chester, William, Lillie, and S. Ellen. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder : Hazel Marie, born March 28, 1905 ; Harold J., December 27, 1908 ; and Ethel Brunette born March 22, 1911. The mother of these children, who was a graduate of the high school of Letts, and taught school for three years previous to her marriage, died April 11, 1911. She was a consistent member of the Christian church, to which her husband also belongs and both were active workers in behalf of the church and the community in which they lived.
The beloved wife of Samuel B. Snyder was summoned from earthly scenes May 24, 1904. The loss of his companion was the greatest affliction Mr. Snyder has ever known but he is a sincere believer in the Christian religion and has been sustained by the promises of divine writ. He is a faithful member of the Christian church and has for many years served as deacon and trustee, at the present time being superintendent of the Sunday school of Cedar township. Politically he gives his adherence to the republican party and served for six years as constable, also filling the offices of township trustee and member of the school board. He affiliates with the Grand Army of the Republic and no man is more highly respected in Muscatine county than the subject of this review.
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