History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 207

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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EBENEZER HAZARD SNOWDEN, retired clergyman, Forty Fort borough, was born June 27, 1799, at Princeton, N. J., and is a son of Samuel Finley and Susan (Breese) Snowden, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and of Scotch and English origin, respectively. Our subject is the third in a family of ten children. He was educated in a select school at New Hartford, N. Y., Hamilton College and Princeton Theological Seminary. He was admitted to practice law in the supreme court of New York, at Utica, in 1821, and was licensed at Newtown, L. I., in 1825, and ordained at New York City in 1826. His first charge was at St. Augustine, Fla., where he remained three years; was then pastor at Brownsville, near Sacket's Harbor, three years. He then came to Kingston, where he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, eight years; thence went to Warren, Bradford Co., Pa., as pastor for two years, after which he moved to Plymouth, and established a church, remaining five years, after which he went to Larksville, where he founded a church known as the "Snowden Memorial Church," and was there five years. He then moved to Forty Fort, where he now resides, his home being known as "Snowden Cottage." Our subject was married May 15, 1826, to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Waters and Mary (Alison) Smith, natives of New York, and of English descent. This happy union was blessed with six children, four of whom are now living, viz. : Mary C., wife of John Metcalf, a farmer of Huntington township, Luzerne county; Susan B., married to Desha Patton, of Cleveland, Tenn .; James G., married to Maria Smith, and residing at Castalia; Matilda B., married to James M. Williamson, a merchant of Oakland, Cal. The mother of these dying, Mr. Snowden married, for his second wife, Caroline Adams, daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca (Snediker) Adams, of Newburgh, N. Y .; she died in January, 1892. Mr. Snowden is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre; in politics he is a Republican.

ADNEY SNYDER, farmer, P. O. Meeker, was born (May 28, 1848), reared and edu- cated in Dallas. He is a son of William and Mary Ann (Flemming) Snyder, the former born near Frenchtown, N. J., the latter in Luzerne county. William is a son of Christopher, also a native of New Jersey, who moved to this county about 1828, locating in Dallas township on a farm of unimproved land, where he lived for a number of years, clearing, improving and building. He finally moved back to New Jersey, where he married his second wife, and then moved back to Dallas town- ship again, where he remained the rest of his life. He died in 1882 at the age of ninety years. He was a hard-working man, honest and upright to a fault; his family consisted of five sons and one daughter. William, his son, began life in Dallas township as a farmer, with very little to work with. Each had an ox, out of which they made a team, with which they plowed, logged, and did all their hauling His farm consisted of 115 acres of land, which he cleared, and on which he built, until his home is a place to be coveted. He is at present, at the age of seventy-two, a resident of Dallas, and a prosperous man. His wife, Mary Ann, is also living, at the age of seventy. He is a man of influence, and has held several offices in his own township with credit. He reared a family of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and six of whom are now living. Adney is the fifth, and in his early life worked at the carpenter's trade, and at one period followed it for four years, after which he worked at various vocations. At the age of twenty-two, on May 12, 1870, he married, at Wyoming, Miss Esther, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth Warden. By this marriage there were eleven children, eight of whom are

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now living: Edith M., George W., Olive K., Mary E., Leafie M., Clara E., Charles A. and Frank L. Mrs. Esther A. (Warden) Snyder was born in Dallas, October 1, 1848. Mr. Snyder lived in Wilkes-Barre for six years, then moved back to Dallas, township, where he remained seven years; and in 1883 bought a farm in Lehman township, on which he moved and is now living; it consists of 107 acres, formerly owned by D. Gordon. Mr. Snyder is a thorough farmer, well posted in · agricultural pursuits and well up with the times. His surroundings show him to be a prosperous and industrious farmer. He has been honored with the election to the office of assessor for two terms. He is a member of the Sr. O. U. A. M .; politically he is a Democrat.

ALBERT C. SNYDER, physician and surgeon, White Haven borough, was born in Carbon county, Pa., May 30, 1854, a son of David and Lucinda (Cramer) Snyder, natives of Carbon and Columbia counties, respectively, of German origin, the former of whom was a blacksmith and lumberman, and died June 6, 1885. His family consisted of five children, three of whom are now living, our subject being third in order of birth. Albert C. Snyder was educated in the common schools, also at the Wyoming Seminary, and in the spring of 1874 began the study of medicine with M. G. Lesh, M. D., of East Stroudsbury, Pa., and March 12, 1877, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He then opened an office at Lizard Creek, Carbon Co., Pa., where he remained one year, at the end of which time he moved to White Haven. Mr. Snyder was married, June 11, 1876, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Levi and Julia (Meercum) Harleman, of Carbon county, Pa., and to this union were born four children: Myrtle E., born June 30, 1878; Joletta A., born January 8, 1880; Lee D., born February 11, 1882; and Lloyd, horn June 21, 1882. The fam- ily attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Snyder is a member of the I. O. O. F., P. O. S. of A., the Luzerne County Medical Society, and the Lehigh Valley Medical Society. He has been president of the town council for three years; is one of the sound men of his borough, enjoys a large practice, and is a good Republican.

ELIAS SNYDER, proprietor of the Empire Mills, Nescopeck, was born in Union township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., May 9, 1825, a son of Michael and Mary (Gotshall) Snyder. The father was a native of Berks county, Pa., a wheelwright by trade, and died in Schuylkill county. Our subject was reared in Schuylkill county, began life as a lumberman, later built a gristmill in Catawissa Valley, and afterward operated mills in Beaver Valley, Muncy, Orangeville, Numidia, and in 1880 purchased the Empire Mills in Nescopeck, which he has since successfully conducted. In 1855 he married Catherine, daughter of George and Rebecca (Klingaman) Faust, of Rush township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and they have five children: Linda J. (Mrs. Dr. W. E. Grover), Samuel W., George M., Ella R. (Mrs. J. M. Nuss) and William H. Snyder, D. D. S. Mr. Snyder is a member of the M. E. Church; in politics he is a Republican, and has served as school director of Nescopeck six years.

GEORGE SNYDER, retired, P. O. Larksville, was born in Kingston borough, June 27, 1804, a son of Peter and Margaret (Nace) Snyder, both born in New Jersey, the former, March 2, 1729, the latter, October 17, 1732. They were industrious farm- ers, and removed to this county about 1805, locating in Plymouth township, and after a few years removed to Larksville, where they purchased a valuable lot of coal land containing 100 acres. Not knowing the value of the land in those days, it was sold at a sacrifice, and the heirs now own only the surface. Mr. Snyder was a man of retired nature, whose life was uneventful. He was honest and industrious in the extreme, and died July 1, 1850, at the age of one hundred and twenty-one years. His wife, Margaret, died April 25, 1848, at the age of one hundred and sixteen. Their family consisted of eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity, seven living at the present time. Our subject, the second of the family, received his education at Plymouth. In his younger days, he was engaged in what they then called "digging" coal, but soon followed farming, which proved to be his uatural vocation. With the exception of four years spent in Eaton, Wyoming county, he has passed his life, one of usefulness, in this county, and now lives a

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

retired life on a farm of fifty acres of valuable land in Larksville. Mr. Snyder married, in Plymouth, April 20, 1828, Miss Rhoda, daughter of Daniel and Martha Lamareux, and of this union were born six children, five of whom reached maturity, and three are now living, viz: Jemima, Harriet and Mary. Of these Jemima mar- ried H. Nesbit; Harriet married Charles Lanson; and Mary married Henry Schoo- ley. Mrs. Rhoda (Lamareux) Snyder died September 6, 1891, at the age of eighty years. Mr. Charles Lanson was born in Scotland, November 5, 1839, and his wife, Harriet, February 25, 1840. They were married in February, 1867, and have two children, Mary and James. Mr. Lanson is a first-class stationary engineer; he has held several township offices.

JOHN F. SNYDER, merchant, Fairview township, P. O. Mountain Top, was born in Lehigh county, January 4, 1851, a son of Nathan and Esther (Mosier) Snyder, both natives of this country, and of German and French descent, respectively. John Snyder, grandfather of Nathan Snyder, took part in the Revolutionary war. Nathan, the father of our subject, was a gunsmith and blacksmith, but worked most of the time on his farm in Lehigh county. He reared a family of seven children, of whom John F. is the eldest, and he worked as his father's helper in a blacksmith shop until sixteen years of age, working all summer and going to school in the winter. He then entered the employ of the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad Company as a laborer, and remained with that company for one year and four months, during which time he was promoted to chargeman. He then resigned his position on the railroad and went to work for the Parryville Iron Company, Parryville, Pa., where he worked for two and one-half years. Our subject then entered the State Normal School, Bloomsburg, attending same one year, when he came to Franklin, Pa., and taught school during the years 1872 and 1873. He again returned to school, this time going to the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, Pa, graduating from that institution in 1875. Returning to his home in Franklin township, Mr. Snyder taught another term of school, during which time he studied the languages under Prof. T. M. Balliet, of Carbon county. In 1876 he again entered the Keystone Normal School, commencing a scientific course, but attended only a short time, when he accepted a position as teacher in the Parryville schools, Parryville, Pa., and in 1877 was appointed principal of schools in Weissport, Carbon county, which position he held for ten years. During the summer months Mr. Snyder opened a school in Carbon county to prepare students for teachers, and in this he was very successful, having at times nearly one hundred students in his classes. During the time Mr. Snyder was principal of Weissport schools, he was a candidate for superintendent of schools in Carbon county, but was defeated by the present incumbent by one vote. In 1888 he was forced to give up teaching on account of impaired health. He came to Fair- view township and bought a half interest in a general store run by his brother-in- law, Daniel Graver, remaining in partnership with him two months, when Mr. Sny- der bought out Mr. Graver, and he now owns the entire stock and runs the store himself. On July 15, 1880, Mr. Snyder was married to Angelina, daughter of Peter and Salinda (Dreisbach) Krum, of Weissport, Carbon Co., Pa., both natives of this State and of German descent. Their union has been blessed by one child, Asher F. Mr. Snyder is a member of the German Reformed Church, and Mrs. Sny- der is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Snyder is a Republican, and has been elected to several offices by that party.

JOSEPH SNYDER, farmer and dairyman, P. O. Sybertsville, was born in Roaring- Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., and is a son of Peter and Lydia (Stenger) Sny- der. He was reared in his native county, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the plasterer's trade, in which business he was a contractor for twenty-five years. In 1878 he located in Hazleton, where he was a contractor ten years, and in 1888 he settled in Sugar Loaf township, where he has since been engaged in farming, and, since 1889, has carried on a dairy business in connection. His wife was Ann Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Charlotte (Kahler) Bonz, of Tamaqua, Pa., and his children are: Charlotte (Mrs. George Buck), Savilla (Mrs. John Hof-

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somer), Anna, Alice, Lydia and William. Mr. Snyder is a member of the Evan- gelical Church; and in politics he is a Republican.

JOSEPH SNYDER, farmer, P. O. Pike's Creek, was born in Ross township, October 2, 1847, and reared and educated in Lake and Lehman townships. He is a son of George and Nancy (Smith) Snyder, both of whom were born in Ross township, Mon- roe county. George was a son of Henry, who came to this county about 1845 and located in Ross township, where he lived about ten years; he then moved to Lake township where he remained ten years, renting farms in each township. In 1865 he moved to Lehman township with his son. George, who bought a farm of fifty acres, and with whom he lived till his death, which occurred in 1865, in his seventy- fourth year. His family consisted of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. His son George was a farmer and lumberman. He died at the age of seventy-three, in 1890. His family consisted of seven children, three of whom are living: Edward, Lydia and Joseph. Joseph, like his father, has confined himself to farming and lumbering. At the age of twenty-four he married, September 24, 1871, at Lehman Centre, Miss Mary J., daughter of William and Effie McNeel. No children have been born to this union. Mrs. Mary J. Snyder was born in Wyoming county April 15, 1850. Politically Mr. Snyder is a Democrat.

SAMUEL SNYDER, retired, Plymouth. This hale, energetic gentleman was born in Plymouth township, Luzerne Co., Pa., March 31, 1826, and is a son of George and Sarah (Robison) Snyder, natives of New Jersey who came to the Valley when it was but sparsely settled. Samuel, who is the third in a family of four children, was educated at the public schools and, until 1851, followed the vocation of a farmer. He then removed to Lehman, this county, where he engaged in lumbering, in which he continued five years, returning at the end of that time to the old homestead, where he remained three years. He then went to Poke Hollow, and engaged in mining for about six years. In 1868 he came to Plymouth and built a tin-shop near what is now known as the Bull Run crossing, and successfully carried on the busi- ness of tin-smithing for three years, selling out at the end of that period. He has not engaged in active business since. He did, however, in 1884, do some prospect- ing in the Nescopeck Mountains, which resulted in a large expenditure, but no coal. Mr. Snyder has, as a man of business, succeeded well, and is an extensive property- owner in Plymouth, being the possessor of several brick blocks. He was united in marriage, April 22, 1848, with Miss Susan, daughter of Nicholas Rittisbaugh, a native of Germany. To this marriage have been born five children, namely: George R., Charles P., John T., Stella M. (widow of Reese Williams) and Cora H. Mr. Sny- der in politics is a Republicau. The family attend the Christian Church.

J. T. SNYDER, hardware dealer, Luzerne, was born at Plymouth July 17, 1856, son of Samuel and Susan (Rittisbaugh) Snyder, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Germany. Mr. Snyder was educated in the common schools of his native county and also at the Wyoming Commercial College, graduating from the latter institution in 1873. In 1878 Mr. Snyder engaged in tin-smithing and the general hardware business at Luzerne, where he has succeeded well. He is also interested in the Luzerne Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of the Electric Lightning Rotary Coal and Rock Drilling Machine.

EDWARD SODON, laborer, Henry Shaft, Plains, was born in Warwickshire, Eng- land, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Hancock) Sodon, the former of whom died when Edward was very young. Our subject came to America in 1869, and began working at the Henry Shaft, where he has since been engaged, doing various kinds of Company work. Mr. Sodon was married in August, 1858, to Miss Char- lotte, daughter of William and Jane (Simmons) Thomas, and they had born to them a family of eight children, two of whom are living, viz. : Mrs. William O. George, in Plains, and William, a carpenter at the Henry Shaft; he has three children, Han- nah M., Charlotta and Ralph E. Mr. Sodon is a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. K. of M. C., and the F. & A. M. He is allied to no political party, but always votes for the best man and the soundest principles.

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THOMAS J. SOLT, physician and surgeon, Fairview township, P. O. Mountain Top, was born November 2, 1856, in Franklin township, Carbon Co., Pa., a son of Sol- omon and Eliza (Ash) Solt, both natives of this State, and of German descent. The father was a farmer. He reared a family of twelve children, all of whom are yet living, Thomas J. being the third eldest. He attended the common schools of the vicinity of his birthplace until he was seventeen years of age, when he entered the Keystone State Normal School, and remained there one year; then returned home and taught school for six years in his native town. Afterward he accepted a similar position in Penn Forest, Carbon Co., Pa., and taught there one term, at the same time studying medicine under Dr. W. G. M. Seiple. Next year (1881) he took the special science course at the Danesville (Indiana) Central Normal College, and in 1882 entered the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1884 he grad- uated as an M. D., and soon afterward came to Fairview township, where he com- menced the practice of medicine, and has since remained. On June 12, 1880, the Doctor married Julia A., daughter of Tilghman and Mary (Kreamer) Dreisbach, of Franklin township, both natives of that township, and of German descent, and this union has been blessed with one child, Mabel E. Dr. Solt is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society and of the Lehigh Valley Medical Association. In politics he is a Republican.

CHARLES F. SORBER, carpenter, Plains, was born in Union (now Hunlock) township, Luzerne Co., Pa., March 12, 1857, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Brader) Sorber, natives of Luzerne county, and of German origin. The father, who is a farmer, reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are living, and Charles F. is the eldest. Our subject passed his boyhood on the farm, and was educated in the common schools and in the select school of Prof. Coughlin, at Muhlenburgh. At the age of twenty-two he began life teaming for his uncle, Asa Brader, of Plains, for whom he worked three years, and then learned his trade, which he has since followed, working ten successive years for M. S. Harding, of Plains. He built his present residence and removed therein in 1889. Mr. Sorber was married, November 24, 1881, to Minnie W., daughter of James and Ann (Newth) Tilley, natives of England. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and the Carpenters' and Joiners' Union of America; in politics he is a Republican.

GEORGE W. SORBER, furniture dealer, Shickshinny, was born in Newport town- ship, August 29, 1841, a son of Adam and Sarah A. (Hauk) Sorber. His paternal grandfather, George Sorber, was a life-long resident of Hanover township, this county, where he died at the age of ninety-three years. Adam Sorber was born in Hanover township, and lived for some time in Newport township, but died in Union township. His wife was Sarah, a daughter of George Hauk, of North- ampton county, Pa., and by her he had fourteen children, of whom nine grew to maturity: George W., Harriet (Mrs. Alfred Hubber), Lavina (Mre. John Kester), William, John, Peter, Arminda (Mrs. Monroe Williams), Phoebe A. (Mrs. John Har- rison) and James. Our subject was reared in Luzerne county and educated in the common schools, and began his business career as clerk. He was in the Civil war, having enlisted August 9, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. He was wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; he was taken prisoner at South Ann River, Va., May 27, 1864, and spent six months in Libby, Andersonville, Savannah and

Millen prisons. In 1866 he engaged as clerk with G. W. & L. Search, of Shickshinny, for one year and a half, and then with N. B. Crary, nineteen years and a half; since 1886 he has been engaged in the furniture business. Novem- ber 15, 1867, he married Arminda, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Scott) Masters, of Union township, by whom he had two children, Lennie M. and Mary B. After her death he married Mrs. Diantha (Sutliff) Roberts, daughter of Stiles Sutliff, of Huntington township, by whom he has two children, Lizzie and George B. Mr. Sorber is a member of the M. E. Church; also of the G. A. R., Union Veteran

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Legion and P. O. S. of A. ; in politics he is a Republican, and has served as council- man and school director of Shickshinny nine consecutive terms.

WILLIAM H. SORBER, farmer, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born in Union (now Hunlock) township, April 2, 1835, where he was reared, receiving his education at the common schools. He is a son of Abraham and Esther (Cragle) Sorber, both of whom were born in Hunlock township. They were worthy people, and much esteemed. Abraham Sorber was born May 17, 1808, and died January 4, 1891, aged eighty-two years. His wife, Esther, was born May 10, 1811, and died October 7, 1873, aged sixty-two years. There were ten children born to them, nine of whom grew to maturity, and six are now living, William H. being the third of the family in order of birth. Abraham is a son of Jacob Sorber, a German by birth, who emigrated to this country, locating in Union township, where he purchased some land, on which he lived to a ripe old age. His life, like that of other pioneers, was full of toil and adventures. William H. Sorber chose for himself a farmer's life, and had always lived on the farm where he was born, and which he inherited on the death of his father. In 1869 he married Miss Minda, daughter of Henry Apture. To them have been born three children: Frank W., William W. and Rebecca. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-third P. V. I., for the term of three years. He served part of his time, returned, and re-en- listed in the Fiftieth New York Engineer Corps, where he served one year and six months. He was honorably discharged, but draws no pension. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served his township in various offices. His farm comprises sixty acres of land.

SOLOMON SPADE, farmer, P. O. Dorrance, was born in Cherryville, Pa., January 24, 1818. He is a son of Daniel and Mary (Kester) Spade, both of whom were born in the same place. They removed to this county about the year 1830, and settled in Dorrance township. Daniel Spade owned eighty acres of woodland, out of which he produced a well-cultivated farm. He was a powerful man, physically, and was not afraid to use his strength in the advancement of agricultural pursuits; he lived to be seventy-eight years of age. His family numbered ten children, four of whom are yet living, Solomon being the eighth in order of birth. Our subject was educated chiefly in Dorrance township, whither he had removed when about twelve years of age, with his father. Since then he has been a resident of Dor- rance township. He has always followed farming, in which vocation he prides him- self. In 1849 he purchased fifty-eight acres in one lot, out of which he made a model farm; after the lapse of a few years more he bought another lot of fifty-two acres, which he also converted into a farm, and these two are now occupied by his two sons, Milton and Nelson. Besides these he owns a neat house and lot, where he resides. Mr. Spade was a very strong, muscular man in his prime of life, hard-working and honest to a fault. He is a Democrat, and has been honored with several township offices. In 1849 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Philip and Maria Ruth, and seven children were born to them, five of whom are now living: Milton, Nelson, Emma J., Harriet and Maria. Mr. Spade and his wife are both church members-he of the Reformed, she of the Presbyterian.

LEVI SPAIDE, member of the firm of Spaide Brothers, general merchants, Hazle- ton. This enterprising young business man was born in this county January 15, 1853, and is a son of Daniel and Lydia (Flickinger) Spaide, natives of Dorrance township. The Spaide family was one of the first to settle in that beautiful spot, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch arriving there when it was a dense forest, where he experienced all the privations and hardships to which the settlers of that period were subjected. Levi Spaide was reared and educated at his birth- place, and in 1873 came to Hazleton, where he was engaged as a clerk by William Deisroth, with whom he remained some five years; he then, in partnership with his brother Simon, established the present business. They have the largest general store in this part of the county, and two branch stores are operated-one at Ash- land and the other at Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Levi Spaide was united in marriage Sep-

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 207

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532