JOHN SCHNEBLY
A
history of Lucas county would indeed be incomplete without
extended mention of John Schnebly, who had resided here for
many years previous to his death, which occurred June 17,
1913, when he had passed his eightieth birthday. He came to this
county in 1857, settling in Jackson township, where he made
his home until his death.
Not only was he an interested witness of the changes
that transformed the raw prairie into fertile fields but a
helpful and cooperant factor in the transformation. Since he has passed
away there is but one person left in the township who voted at
the first election held here.
The reminiscences of Mr. Schnebly, covering the period
when he first landed here by stage coach, in Chariton, in
1857, until the time of his demise, were of great historical
value. A deep
reader and a student of conditions and human nature, his mind
became a storehouse of facts in relation to the advancement
and development of this section and he possessed the faculty
of interesting and vivid description, which made his stories
of pioneerdom the more valuable. He became one of the substantial men of
the locality, owning at the time of his death a valuable farm
of three hundred and twenty acres in Jackson township, located
on sections 17, 18, 20 and 22, under high cultivation and well
improved. A man
of public spirit, he moreover, played an important role in the
public life of his community and was ever in the front ranks
with those who promoted worthy public projects.
John
Schnebly was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on December
16, 1832, and when only four years of age was brought by his
parents to Medina county, Ohio, where they settled in 1836 and
remained until 1852. Here
he attended the common schools and also followed farming. His parents were
Daniel and Rosana (Eversole) Schnebly, both natives of Bedford
county, Pennsylvania, where the former was born in November,
1809, and the latter in 1808.
The father died in January, 1863, in Medina county,
Ohio, his first wife having long preceded him, on December 29,
1838. They were
among the pioneer families of that state and were highly
respected and regarded in the community in which they made
their home. Of
this union were born: John,
of this review; Henry, who was born June 25, 1834, and resides
in Tennessee; Abraham, born July 11, 1836, who died on May 10,
1837; and Mrs. Elizabeth Hewitt, who was born April 24, 1838,
and died in Lucas on January 18, 1874. After the death of
his first wife the father was again married, his second union
being with Miss Amelia Williams, who was born February 25,
1811, and died November 8, 1892, at the age of eighty-one
years. Of this
union were born: Alice,
December 24, 1839, a resident of Michigan; Bower, who was born
May 17, 1841, and was killed in the battle of Winchester, in
Sheridan’s campaign, on June 13, 1863; Hortense, born May 14,
1843, who has also passed away; Daniel, born in February,
1845, who died in Brownsville, Texas; Hiram, born January 16,
1847, a resident of York, Nebraska; Lewis Cass, born July 1,
1848, who died March 15, 1910; and William Riley, born June 7,
1850, who resides at Oxnard, Ventura county, California. Of these children
the two eldest, including our subject, were born in Bedford
county, Pennsylvania, and the younger in Ohio.
Having
made Medina county, Ohio, his home until 1852, John Schnebly
of this review went to California by way of the Isthmus route
and, rowing down the Chagres river, proceeded thence by
steamer to San Francisco, where he remained for four years. His California
venture was attended with varying success and at the end of
that period he returned to Ohio but only visited a short time,
after which he set out on an overland trip to Lucas county in
1857, settling in Jackson township, of which he was a resident
until his death. There
were no railroads at the time, and all the land was unbroken
prairie when he landed at Chariton by stage coach. This now prosperous
and flourishing city was then a mere hamlet and Mr. Schnebly
was truly entitled to the appellation of pioneer, for he
witnessed the transformation of this stretch of wild land into
one of the greatest agricultural countries. He talked very
interestingly of his travels, which took him all over the
American continent, and possessed the rare faculty of
portraying interestingly the many scenes and incidents which
he saw and experienced.
Giving his entire attention to reaching the goal of
independence, he set out with unswerving industry to cultivate
his land and as the years passed prosperity rewarded his
labors and he owned a highly cultivated, well improved farm of
three hundred and twenty acres in Jackson township, on
sections 17, 18, 20 and 22, equipped with all modern machinery
and implements and improved with barns, outbuildings and a
substantial residence. He
raised a high-grade of live stock and along every line success
attended his efforts. He
lived to the venerable age of eighty, dying June 17, 1913. His remains were
buried in Jackson township cemetery. In his death the county lost one of its
oldest and most honored pioneers and there are many who feel
his loss keenly.
On
October 12, 1858, Mr. Schnebly was united in marriage to Miss
Mary E. Dunlap, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on
December 18, 1838, and died in Jackson township, Lucas county,
Iowa, October 7, 1868. Of
this union three children were born: Mrs. Clara Cochran, born November 8,
1859, who makes her home with our subject; Mrs. Evaline
Elizabeth Reid, born September 9, 1861, who resides at Wonder,
Nevada; and Cynthia, born April 15, 1865, dying but a few
months later—on August 20th of the same year. On March 1, 1870,
Mr. Schnebly was again married, his second union being with
Miss Mary A. Pim, a native of Morrow county, Ohio, where she
was born February 21, 1848.
In the acquirement of her education she attended the
common schools in the neighborhood of her home, the course
consisting of three months during the year. Her parents were
Samuel W. and Mary Jane (Jumper) Pim, pioneers of Lucas
county, who came here in 1854.
Her father was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, May 11,
1822, and died in Jackson township, this county, February 16,
1882, her mother also being a native of Pennsylvania, born
December 16, 1826, and still resides in Chariton. Mr. Schnebly and
Mr. Pim were the first ones to establish a public-school
system in Jackson township and high credit should be given
them on that account. Mr.
and Mrs. Pim were the parents of nine children: William Henry, a
resident of Jackson township; Mrs. Schnebly, the wife of our
subject; Mrs. Esther Jane Carpenter, of Herman, Nebraska;
Salora Saline, who passed away at the age of eight years;
Preston Penrose, residing in Oklahoma; Mrs. Rachel Rebecca
Reed, of Canada; Candace Clementine, deceased; Mrs. Elma Ellen
Walker, also deceased; and Mrs. Ola Amelia Morgan, who resides
with her mother in Chariton, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Schnebly became the parents
of three children, all of whom were born in Jackson township,
Lucas county, as follows:
Mrs. Rosana Jane Heston, born December 21, 1870,
residing in Jackson township; Mrs. Berdella Spencer, born
March 22, 1873, who died May 9, 1897; and Mrs. Mary Zoffka,
born October 5, 1876, a resident of Sac county, Iowa. All of these
children enjoyed the advantages of an excellent education and
qualified to teach in the schools of Lucas county.
Broad and liberal-minded and thoroughly progressive, John Schnebly ever took a deep interest in all matters affecting the public welfare and efficiently served as justice of the peace, constable and township trustee, while his stalwart championship of the cause of education found expression in his service as school director. Politically he was a democrat and readily understood the important issues that effect the government, interesting himself in public affairs not as an office seeker but as an American citizen of right-minded citizenship. Mrs. Schnebly, who is highly esteemed and respected wherever known and gifted with many sweet womanly qualities and of rare accomplishments, is a devout member of the Baptist church of Lucas, to the work of which she gives her earnest material and moral support. Mrs. Schnebly was connected with the Masons, being a member of Good Shepherd Lodge, No. 414 A. F. & A. M., of Lucas, and exemplified in his everyday life of the beneficent principles of the order. Every force that has gone out to make this one of the greatest sections of the United States along moral, intellectual or material lines, every effort to uphold its standards received the indorsement of John Schnebly, who in return for his public spirit received the unqualified admiration and esteem of many who were glad and proud to call him friend. Although a man of over eighty years of age, he was active until a short time before his death and brought to the work of the world that interest which is rare in one of so many years and often gave of his rich store of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. The years proved the worth of his labors and his life reflected credit upon Lucas county for he was richly endowed with those qualities which make men esteemed and his wise use of time, talents and opportunities resulted in a success which befitted his labors and his qualities. Those who knew him keep in memory the record of his life and character and feel that it is an inspiration to nobler life.