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Below is a family biography included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CARY SNYDER.
Cary Snyder, who came of a prominent family of Shawnee County, Kansas, was engaged in general merchandising at Dover until his death on September 8, 1899. He is a son of William P. and Matilda (Denious) Snyder. A sketch of his father appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Snyder was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Henrietta E. Beach, a daughter of Dr. Samuel E. and Jane (McGregor) Beach. Her father was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, February 22, 1822, and was a son of William K. Beach, a native of Connecticut. Samuel E. Beach accompanied his parents to Ohio in his early youth, and there received a primary education in the schools of Medina County. He was graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1849, and immediately engaged in practice in that State. He then located at Appleton, Wisconsin, where he practiced with much success for a period of 10 years. Prior to leaving there, Dr. Beach made a trip to Kansas in 1856, and located a farm of 160 acres in what is now Wabaunsee County, then returned home and continued his practice. In 1856, his father also went to Kansas and located a claim. Dr. Beach also took up his residence on this place in 1858 and so continued until the spring of 1863, when he joined the Union Army as 1st assistant surgeon of the Eighth Regiment, Kansas Vol. Inf., Colonel Martin commanding. He was immediately sent to the front, and in the fall of the same year while left in charge of the wounded at Chickamauga was taken prisoner. He was one of the three surgeons who were immediately exchanged, but unfortunately died on his way home, at Officers’ Hospital No. 2, Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Beach was then residing on the old home farm in Kansas, but had his remains sent to Appleton, Wisconsin, for interment, as the railroad facilities and connections were very poor in Kansas. Fraternally, he was an Odd Fellow. He was a Republican in politics.

Dr. Samuel E. Beach was united in marriage with Jane McGregor, who was born in Scotland and came to America with her parents when four years of age. Her parents, John and Isabelle (Brock) McGregor, were both born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, where John McGregor engaged in school teaching. Upon coming to America, he first taught school in Vermont, then in Canton, Wadsworth and Sharon, Ohio, where he died at 52 years of age. His wife died 15 years later at Canton, aged 67 years. Some 40 years after the death of John McGregor, a number of his early pupils, scattered throughout the United States, erected to his memory a statue made of Scotch granite. In the presence of a large number of his early students the monument was unveiled October 21, 1887. John McGregor and his wife reared nine children, three of whom are now living, as follows: Jane, the widow of Dr. Samuel E. Beach; John, who is in the wholesale hardware business at Springfield, Missouri; and Malcolm, who is a lawyer and formerly was a judge at Carthage, Missouri. Mr. McGregor was a Mason and a Woodman. He was a Democrat in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Beach had three children: Henrietta E., the wife of our subject; William K. and J. M., the two last named living on the home farm established by their father, to which they have largely added. Mrs. Beach is now 81 years of age, and is living with her daughter, Mrs. Snyder, at Dover, Kansas, in the enjoyment of the best of health.

Cary Snyder and his worthy wife became the parents of two sons: Ray, who died in early life; and William P., who is now in attendance at Washburn College at Topeka. Mr. Snyder was a man of ability and good business judgment and met with a high degree of success. Mrs. Snyder has many friends in Dover and vicinity, among whom she has lived many years.

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This family biography is one of 206 biographies included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  For the complete description, click here: Shawnee County, Kansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Shawnee County, Kansas family biographies here: Shawnee County, Kansas

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