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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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WILLIAM P. SNYDER.
William P. Snyder, deceased, for many years a prominent agriculturist of Shawnee County, had a farm in section 2, township 13, range 13, in Dover township. He was a man of high character and stability, and his death which occurred on July 27, 1898, in the 70th year of his age, was mourned as a loss to the community.

Mr. Snyder was born at Washington, Fayette County, Ohio, October 8, 1828, and was a son of John and Malinda (Campbell) Snyder, being one of three children, all now deceased. The father was born in Virginia, March 31, 1802, and died May 27, 1840, and the mother, who was a native of Kentucky, died in the 84th year of her age. They were pioneer settlers in Fayette County, Ohio, where they lived throughout the latter part of their lives.

William P. Snyder lived on the old homestead in Ohio until 1869, in which year he came West to Kansas, bringing his wife and four children. He preempted the farm in section 2, township 13, range 13, in Dover township, where his widow now lives, consisting of 149 52-100 acres, mostly under cultivation. He made all of the improvements on this place, building a good substantial residence and numerous necessary outbuildings. He was a man of public spirit, and took a deep interest in all that concerned the prosperity and welfare of his home community.

In 1855 Mr. Snyder was united in marriage with Matilda Denious, a daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Coffman) Denious. Isaac Denious was born in Virginia, where his father was a large slave-owner; because of his aversion to slavery, he was forced to leave home and was disinherited. He moved North to Dublin, Franklin County, Ohio, where he lived the remainder of his life and where he was united in marriage with Harriet Coffman. She was a daughter of Henry Coffman, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. Her mother, Margaret (Sells) Coffman, was born in Pennsylvania and was related to the noted showmen, the Sells brothers. Mrs. Snyder was but five years of age when her mother died, and two years later her father was also called to the unknown beyond, leaving three children, as follows: Matilda; Elizabeth, wife of A. P. Herman, of Kansas City; and Henry Clark Denious, who served in the First Regiment, Ohio Vol. Cav., during the Civil War and is now a resident of Fayette County, Ohio. After the death of her parents, Mrs. Snyder lived with her maternal grandparents until her marriage in 1855. As a result of her union with Mr. Snyder, four children were born in Ohio and one in Kansas, namely: Cary, deceased, who married Henrietta E. Beach and had two children,—Ray, deceased, and William P., who is attending Washburn College; Earl, living in Colorado, who married Lily Smith and has a daughter, Olive, the wife of Henry Billings, of Colorado; Harriet married Joseph Flicking, who was born in Ohio and now lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Ray, who conducts a farm and grist mill, married Sarah Riley of Ohio and has three children: Christa, Tillie and Margaret; and Jennie, born in Kansas, who married Floyd Ross.

Mrs. Snyder still resides on the old homestead in Dover township, Shawnee County, and is surrounded by many friends, whom she has known during her long residence here. She is possessed of womanly attributes and is loved by all who know her.

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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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