John W. Snider

JOHN W. SNIDER, one of the prosperous farmers of Cherokee County, who owns a finely improved and well cultivated farm, comprising the southeast quarter of section 14, township 33, range 24, in Crawford township, has been a resident here since 1869. Mr. Snider was born in Cayuga County, New York September 2, 1825, and is a son of Daniel and Annie (Dean) Snider.

The parents of Mr. Snider removed to Wyandot County, Ohio in 1835, where the father died aged 92 years. and the mother, aged 45 years. Daniel Snider was a harnessmaker by trade, but was engaged mainly in farming. The subject of this sketch had one brother and three sisters, viz.: Mrs. Lovina Parrigo, who resides at Donovan, Iroquois County, Illinois; Mrs Sally Ann Owens, who came to Cherokee County about 1869, and died in Shawnee township in 1895; Mrs. Ruth Van Osdell, who is a resident of Wyandot County, Ohio; and Aaron, who died in 1894, in Wyandot County, Ohio.

John W. Snider was reared in Ohio, where he obtained his schooling and learned the trade of harness-making. This he never followed as a business, preferring agricultural pursuits. During the Civil War, he was in the service for a time, giving loyal support to the government. He is one of the old settlers of the county, having, come here in 1868, and located on his present farm in 1870, in School District No. 71. He took up a claim which was deeded to him by the railroad company in 1880. His fine improvements include a comfortable and attractive residence, good, substantial buildings, fencing and orchards, and he feels that he could not have made a much better selection of a home than this.

Mr. Snider was first married, in Ohio, in 1847, to Katie Ann Van Osdale, who died in Ohio in 1857, leaving three children, namely: Isaac Luther, who is a railroad conductor, residing at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lucy Ann, wife of James Adkins, who resides at Columbus, Kansas; and Edwin, who lives with his father. Mr. Snider's second marriage was to Annie Ross, who died in Cherokee County, in 1888, leaving a daughter,—Idolia,—who married Melvin Watkins, and died in Cherokee County. Mr. Snider was married, third, to Mrs. Mary Jane Parsell, who was born in New York in 1827 and removed to Ohio in 1834, Where, in 1848, she was married to S. S. Parsell, who died in 1890. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parsell, three are now living. namely: Mrs. Nancy Robinson, a resident of Crestline; Mrs. Phoebe Owens, a resident of Shawnee township; and Mrs. Clara Barrett, of Joplin, Missouri. Mrs. Snider buried six children of her first marriage.

Politically Mr. Snider is a Democrat, firmly adhering to the principles of the party. Since the fall of 1857, he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, having joined it in Wyandot County, Ohio, from which place he brought a demit to Prudence Lodge, No. 100, A. F. & A. M., at Columbus, of which lodge he is now a valued member. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has served many years as a class leader, both here and in his old home in Ohio. He is a very highly respected citizen, and a man of sterling character.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 3/11/97.