Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1063 - 1064

R. Q. SNYDER, one of the early pioneers of Sedgwick County, pre-empted the quarter‑section of land which he now occupies in Rockford Township, in February, 1870. Here since that time he has wisely continued, and given his time and attention to the building up of a homestead, and judging from present appearances he has succeeded in an admirable manner. His land lies on sections 8 and 17, and after bringing it all to a state of good cultivation and erecting suitable buildings, he planted an orchard of apple trees and the finer fruits, and now gives his attention largely to the raising of good grades of stock. Mr. Snyder looked upon this portion of the country during its early settlement by white men, and has watched with the deepest interest its development and prosperity.

             Monroe County, Ky., was the early home of our subject, where he was born at the modest homestead of his parents on the 9th of August, 1850. The latter, William and Jane (Martin) Snyder, were also natives of the Blue Grass State, and of German ancestry. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject emigrated from the Fatherland during the Colonial days and settled in Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. The grandfather when a young man removed into Kentucky, and there reared his family, there also passing from his earthly labors.

             William Snyder, the father of our subject, received a limited education, and carried on farming in his native State until 1852. Then resolving upon a change of location, he migrated across the Mississippi into Mercer County, Mo., where he lived with his family eight years. He then removed to Saline County, this State, where he carried on farming as before, and with his excellent wife spent the remainder of his days. His decease occurring in April, 1863, and that of the mother in January, 1878. The parental household included twelve children, six of whom are living and residents of Kansas.

             Young Snyder continued a member of his father's household until 1870, and about the time of starting out in life for himself was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hunter, the wedding taking place in Wichita on the 29th of January, 1877. Mrs. Snyder is the daughter of Nelson and Sarah (Pruitt) Hunter, natives of Indiana, and was born in Iowa, Dec. 30, 1854, her parents having removed to Appanoose County, that State, during the early days of their married life. She received her education in the common schools, and became familiar with the various duties of the housewife in the country home. From Iowa Mr. and Mrs. Hunter came to this county in 1874, four years after the arrival of our subject.

             The children of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, all of whom continue under the home roof, were born as follows: Robert H., Feb. 27, 1878; George M., Dec. 14, 1879; Edward D., Jan. 4, 1881; Ada H., Feb. 18, 1884, and Susan, Feb. 19, 1887. Mr. Snyder takes an active interest in politics, and is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F., El Paso Lodge, at Derby. Each year finds him making some headway, and his homestead in all its appointments presents the picture of an estate which has been conducted with most excellent judgment, and is one of the most valuable of its kind in Rockford Township. A lithographic view is shown on another page of Mr. Snyder's home.

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