Last week on Ancestry.com i stumbled upon a typewritten, 40-page "Snyder Family History" written by a distant cousin in 1960. It goes back a few generations before Jemima and has a lot of great details and personal family stories about Jemima's father (my 4x great-grandfather) John Ernest Snyder. There are a lot of details and some amazing Civil War stories about Jemima's older brother Franklin.
While the bulk of the focus goes down another side branch from mine, this is one of my favorite family history resources I've ever come across. I am very grateful to Dan Swanjord and this labor of love that he never could have imagined would be found by somebody like me in a giant electronic cloud 55 years later.
For the benefit of search engines and any other Snyder descendants out there, I have a link to a pdf of the document below and am pasting my research notes with data on my line that I pulled and will use to update my tree.
If you found this post, I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
Swanjord, Dan, The Snyder Family History, 1960
- 1 John Rollin Pollock
- B 1797 in PA or OH or IN
- D 1890 in Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin
- M Catherine Walters before 1819 (when first child was born, presumably)
- Parents' name was Pollock (Irish spelling)
- Parents came to Monroeville, Allen, Indiana (not sure when) where John was raised (until 1835, this was Randolph County)
- Moved to Richand County, Wisconsin in 1856 with John Ernest Snyder and James Polk where he bought a farm 2 miles West of John
- After Catherine died in 1866, he wanted "his favorite grandson" Franklin to live with him, but he could not because he had his own family
- Gave his farm to John and Sally Householder after Catherine died in 1866 and continued to live there with them
- Was a "favorite of his great-grandchildren"
- Children:
- 1.1 Mary Ann, b 1819
- 1.2 Catherine, b abt 1821
- 1.3 Jemima, b abt 1823
- 1.4 James, b abt 1825
- 2 Catherine Walters (Polk)
- B abt 1797 (Assuming same age as John Polk)
- D abt 1866 in Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin of cancer
- M John Polk before 1819 (when first child was born, presumably)
- 1.1 Mary Ann Polk (Snyder)
- B 1819 in Monroeville, Allen, Indiana
- D
- M 3.1 John Ernest Snyder abt 1840 in Allen County IN
- Moved to Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin with John in 1856
- In 1858, 6 weeks after Emma was born, Mary Ann died when she couldn't breathe due to a goiter
- 1.2 Catherine Polk (Browning)
- B abt 1821 in Monroeville, IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M ? Bowning abt 1841 (assuming 20 when married)
- Lived in Richland County, WIsconsin
- 1.3 Jemima "Mima" Polk (Peckham)
- B abt 1823 in Monroeville, IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M ? Peckham abt 1843 (assuming 20 when married)
- Lived in Richland County, WIsconsin
- 1.4 James "Jimmy" Polk
- B abt 1825 in Monroeville, IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- Lived in Richland County, WIsconsin - moved there in 1856 with John Ernest Snyder
- 3 ? Snyder
- B abt 1796 in PA (Assuming 20 years-old when John was born; assuming PA)
- D
- Children (birth order after John is assumed, except that we know Susan was younger than Catherine)
- 3.1 John Ernest b 1816
- 3.2 Catherine b abt 1818
- 3.3 Andrew b abt 1820
- 3.4 Elizabeth b abt 1822
- 3.5 Susan b abt 1824
- 3.6 George b abt 1826
- 3.7 ? b abt 1828
- Moved to Allen County, IN before 1840
- "Pennsylvania Dutch"
- 4 ? ?
- B abt 1796 in PA (Assuming 20 years-old when John was born; assuming PA)
- M ? Snyder
- 3.1 John Ernest Snyder
- B 16 Mar 1816 in Cumberland County, PA (Assuming same age as Mary Ann Polk)
- D Jul 1905
- M 1.1 Mary Ann Polk about 1840 in Indiana
- M Jane Zimmerlee abt 1860 in Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin
- Was one of John's housekeepers
- Was a widow
- Had 3 children: Calvin, James, and Elizabeth
- Calvin's daughter Orabelle married3.1.1.6 Grant Snyder
- Supposedly named for an ancestor, Mr. Arnst, a shipbuilder from Amsterdam, whose daughter came to "one of the first Dutch colonies" and married a Mr. Bender
- Farmer
- Probably lived in Madison Twp, Indiana
- Moved to Iowa in a covered wagon abt 1845 ("with the two small boys, his wife, and 18-year-old brother, George")
- Moved back to Marshall County, Indiana before 1846 (confirm with census & Jemima's birth record) after trouble with Indians and disease (probably malaria) in Iowa
- Moved to Richland County, Wisconsin in 1856 and bought a farm 1 mile W of Bloom City (called West Branch at the time)
- "Was an intelligent man, yet of moderate education"
- "Uncle Johnny" Was doctor, veterinarian, and "Mr. Fix-it" of the community
- 1878 went to Richland Center to get small pox vaccine and administer the Bloom community
- Children (birth order of Sarah to Mary Ellen is assumed)
- 3.1.1 Franklin b 1842
- 3.1.2 Finley b abt 1844
- 3.1.3 Sarah b abt 1845
- 3.1.4 Jemima b abt 1846 (confirmed 5 Jan 1846)
- 3.1.5 Mathilda b abt 1848
- 3.1.6 Harriet b abt 1850
- 3.1.7 Andrew b abt 1852
- 3.1.8 Mary Ellen b abt 1854
- 3.1.9 John b abt 1856
- 3.1.10 Emma b in 1858
- WITH JANE ZIMMERLEE
- 3.1.11 Enos b abt 1862
- 3.1.12 George b abt 1864
- 3.1.13 William b abt 1866
- 3.1.14 Charles b abt 1868
- 3.1.15 Flora b abt 1870
- 3.2 Catherine "Katie" Snyder (Fisher)
- B abt 1818 in PA, OH, or IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M ? Fisher, abt 1838 probably in IN (assuming 20 when married)
- Lived in Michigan
- "Quite a bit older than Susan"
- Died before her husband and before Susan
- "A fine lady, with such perfect manners, and very nice"
- 3.3 Andrew "Andy" Snyder
- B abt 1820 in PA, OH, or IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D abt 1902 (lived past 80) from pneumonia
- M Lucy before 1858
- M Margaret "Maggie" Bonham after Lucy died
- She had 5 small children, and Andy was like a father to them
- Was living in Woodstock, Wisconsin in 1858
- Raised niece 3.1.10 Emma after Mary Ann Snyder (Polk) died in 1858
- Attended the first recruiters' meeting in Bloom for the Civil War on 12 Sep 1861 and enlisted in Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers with nephew 3.1.1 Franklin Snyder
- Went to Camp Randall, Madison in late Sep 1861
- Assigned to 11th Wisconsin Regiment, Company D on 18 Oct 1861
- (Copy more details about service with Franklin Snyder as a story)
- Discharged from the Army 25 Sep 1862 due to chest wounds received in battle
- Moved back to Woodstock after the war
- Carried 3 bullets in his lungs the rest of his life
- 3.4 Elizabeth "Lib" Snyder (Bogar)
- B abt 1822 in PA, OH, or IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M ? Bogar abt 1842 probably in IN (assuming 20 when married)
- Lived in Chicago
- 3.5 Susan Snyder (Epley)
- B abt 1824 in PA, OH, or IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M ? Epley abt 1844 probably in IN (assuming 20 when married)
- Lived in Michigan
- "Quite a bit younger than Katie" and lived with her and cared for her after ? Epley died
- M ? Fisher after Katie died probably in Michigan
- "A fine lady, with such perfect manners, and very nice"
- 3.6 George Snyder
- B abt 1827 in PA, OH, or IN (was 18 when he went to Iowa with John and Mary Annin abt 1845)
- D abt 1846 near Council Bluffs, Iowa; disappeared while hunting /scouting and presumed killed by Native Americans
- According to another story, he may have had children? See appx. 2
- 3.7 ? Snyder (Wynkoop)
- B abt 1828 in PA, OH, or IN (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M ? Wynkoop abt 1848 (assuming 20 when married)
- (low confidence in date of birth or marriage or birth order)
- Lived in Ohio
- 3.1.1 Franklin Snyder
- B 8 Jan 1842 in Madison Twp, Allen, Indiana ("Flatrock")
- D 24 Jun 1912 due to complications after a stroke
- M 4 Jul 1866 in Rockbridge, Richland, Wisconsin to Maria Mosher (b abt 1848)
- Brown eyes and coal-black hair
- Attended the first recruiters' meeting in Bloom for the Civil War on 12 Sep 1861 and enlisted in Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers with Uncle 3.3 Andy Snyder
- Went to Camp Randall, Madison in late Sep 1861
- Assigned to 11th Wisconsin Regiment, Company D on 18 Oct 1861
- (Copy more details about service as a story)
- 13 Feb 1864 Discharged from the Army, but immediately re-enlisted
- 18 Sep 1865 Returned from the war in Madison with a rank of corporal with 12 men under his command
- 11 Oct 1865 Discharged from the Army
- 1865 received a 160-acre farm 1/4 mile west and 3/4 mile south of John Snyder's farm
- John had invested the money sent home by Franklin during the war to buy the farm for him
- Good timber land
- Raised wheat, oats, barley, and corn
- Had ducks, geese, chickens, cows, pigs, and sheep
- Had a large garden
- Was Postmaster of Bloom (probably abt 1889-93 during the Harrison administration)
- 1890-1895 Had a general store with the post office
- Left the farm to Ernest and Grant to tend when he was older
- Lived with 3.1 John (and Jane) Snyder with Maria until 1867 when the moved into a log cabin on Franklin's property
- 1871 moved into a frame house they built
- Abt 1882 began suffering from locomotor ataxia, which made it more and more difficult for him to walk throughout his life, eventually he was wheelchair-bound
- 1890 "retired" to a house in Richland Center, Wisconsin
- "Not financially rich but happy"
- Member of the Grand Army of the Republic "G.A.R."
- Children
- 3.1.1.1 Mary Jane b 19 Dec 1868
- 3.1.1.2 Lillian Florence b 7 Jul 1870
- 3.1.1.3 Emma Albertie b 11 Aug 1872
- 3.1.1.4 Lora Adell b 29 Jul 1874
- 3.1.1.5 Ernest Albert b 6 Jan 1877
- 3.1.1.6 Ulysses Grant b 21 Jul 1879 (went by Grant; M Orabelle Zimmerlee)
- 3.1.1.7 Charles D Edward b 9 Nov 1880
- 3.1.1.8 Daniel Webster 13 Dec 1883
- 3.1.1.9 Grace 15 Nov 1886 died shortly after birth
- 3.1.1.10 Leila Bessie Hope 29 Jul 1889
- 3.1.2 Finley Snyder
- B abt 1844 probably in Madison Twp, Allen, Indiana ("Flatrock")
- D 12 May 1864 in Baltomore, Maryland of measles
- M
- 30 Mar 1864 in Hartford, Wisconsin, enlisted in the Army, Company D, 38th Wisconsin Regiment (was 20 years old); was made Corporal before he died a few weeks later
- Was very tall (there is a picture of Finley and Franklin in uniform taken in Apr 1864, which was in the possession of "Aunt Lillian" in 1860)
- 3.1.3 Sarah "Sally" Snyder (Householder)
- B abt 1845 in Marshall County, Indiana (date based on assumed return from Iowa and before Jemima who was born in 1846)
- D
- M John Householder abt 1869 (assuming 20 when married)
- John and Sally were given the John Polk farm in Bloom after Catherine died in 1866 where John Polk continued to live
- Also lived in Mauston and Woodstock, Wisconsin
- Children:
- Harry
- Ross
- Mary
- Park
- 3.1.4 Jemima "Mima" Snyder (Myers)
- B 5 Jan 1846 in Marshall County, Indiana
- D
- M "Uncle Wesley" Myers
- Lived on a farm near Bloom, Wisconsin
- Children:
- Mary Ann
- Mahala
- Finley
- Delbert
- Minta
- Ethel
- Sadie
- 3.1.5 Mathilda "Tillie" Snyder (McCann)
- B Abt 1848 in Marshall County, Indiana (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M John McCann
- Lived near Richland Center, and later Kansas and Washington
- Children:
- Ida
- Susan
- Grant
- Pete
- Wesley
- 3.1.6 Harriet "Hat" Snyder (Copenhefer)
- B Abt 1850 in Marshall County, Indiana (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M John Copenhefer (who drowned 27 Feb 1907 at Wood Gulch, near Roosevelt, Washington when a bridge washed out)
- Lived in Dot, Washington
- Moved to Portland, Oregon after John died
- Children:
- Alan
- Harriet (died when she was small)
- 3.1.7 Andrew Snyder
- B Abt 1852 in Marshall County, Indiana (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D
- M Nellie ? in Minnesota
- Lived in Elmore, Minnesota
- Was named after uncle 3.3 Andrew Snyder
- Children:
- Myrtle
- Edith
- Grace
- 3.1.8 Mary Ellen "Nell" Snyder (Hadley / Peterson)
- B Abt 1854 & before 1856 in Marshall County, Indiana (assumed based on birth order given and 2 years between)
- D abt 1920
- M ? Hadley who died of TB shortly after their marriage
- M Peter Peterson in Washington
- Had no children
- 3.1.9 John Snyder
- B 1856 in Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin
- D
- M Amarilla "Ama" Van Fleet
- Lived on a farm in Bloom, Wisconsin until they retired to Richland abt 1900 and lived near Franklin
- Children:
- Perlite
- Sadie
- Ross
- 3.1.10 Emma Snyder (McClure / Harris)
- B 1858 in Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin
- D 1908 while at Aunt Hat's house "out West" (Oregon or Washington)
- M Will McClure of Woodstock, Wisconsin
- M Seymour Harris
- Was raised by 3.3 Andrew Snyder and Lucy after Mary Ann died when Emma was 6 weeks old
- Children with Will McClure
- Laura
- Lou
- Will
- Children with Seymour Harris
- Fern
- Ross
- 3.1.11 Enos Snyder
- B abt 1862 in Bloom, Richland (mother: Jane Zimmerlee; assumed based on birth order and 2 years in between)
- D
- M
- Grew to become a "highly respected citizen of Wisconsin, and Richland County"
- 3.1.12 George Snyder
- B abt 1864 in Bloom, Richland (mother: Jane Zimmerlee; assumed based on birth order and 2 years in between)
- D
- M
- Grew to become a "highly respected citizen of Wisconsin, and Richland County"
- 3.1.13 William Snyder
- B abt 1866 in Bloom, Richland (mother: Jane Zimmerlee; assumed based on birth order and 2 years in between)
- D
- M
- Grew to become a "highly respected citizen of Wisconsin, and Richland County"
- 3.1.14 Charles Snyder
- B abt 1868 in Bloom, Richland (mother: Jane Zimmerlee; assumed based on birth order and 2 years in between)
- D
- M
- Grew to become a "highly respected citizen of Wisconsin, and Richland County"
- 3.1.15 Flora Snyder
- B abt 1870 in Bloom, Richland (mother: Jane Zimmerlee; assumed based on birth order and 2 years in between)
- D abt 1881 in Bloom, Richland, Wisconsin of measles at age 11
