My Genealogy Hound

W. M. D. SNEAD was born in Hopkins county, Va., April 28, 1818, and was the son of Benjamin and Priscilla Snead, natives of Virginia. Our subject was reared on a farm, and in 1832 he immigrated to Lincoln county, Mo. He was married to Miss Caroline, daughter of Silas M. Davis, a native of Maryland. By this union they had fifteen children, eight now living, named Robt. W., Sarah J., Susan E., Ellen L., Francis L., Chas. C., B. D., and James H. Mrs. Snead died in the fall of 1863, and the same year Mr. Snead moved to Illinois and kept a toll gate for three years; he then started for Texas, getting as far as Arkansas, and then turned back and came to Jasper county, and was the first one that found mineral where Joplin now stands. After the war, Messrs. Moffet & Sergeant having just leased the land, Mr. Sneed commenced prospecting with a pick and shovel, and in six weeks thereafter had struck mineral in paying quantities. Mr. Moffet agreed to pay him $30 a thousand for all lead taken out on their lease, but as Mr. Snead did not strike it on their lease they gave him $25 a thousand. Lead was worth seven cents then, and it has stood at that ever since. In the month of April Mr. Snead took out 4,000 pounds and sold that, and the second lot he took out the great firm of Moffet & Sergeant could not pay for, and he had to trust them. Mr. Snead continued to mine with varying success for fifteen years. In 1879 he married Mrs. Ann M. Miller, daughter of John and Jane Cart, natives of Indiana, Mrs. Snead was formerly married in 1841 to David Miller, and by this union had twelve children, four now living, named Emily, Mary, George L., and Thomas B. Mr. Miller died Feb. 12, 1870, in Jasper county, Mo. Our subject has one hundred and twenty acres, sixty-five under cultivation, and is well watered, Turkey Creek running through the farm, which has fair improvements. Mr. Snead in politics is a Democrat, and is well known and universally respected.