My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  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.

* * * *

MARTIN SNIDER. One of the finest farms in Clark County is pleasantly located in Bethel Township, and comprises about three hundred broad and fertile acres which, under judicious management, have been brought to a high state of productiveness and afford a handsome income. It has been placed in a first-class condition as regards the improvements upon it, which include not only the needful, but much of the ornamental. This place is owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, who, beginning his career in life on a small capital, has accumulated a fine fortune, from which he dispenses liberally to worthy objects.

The father of our subject was John Snider, a native of York County, Pa., and born November 2, 1783. He was the son of German parents, who died in the Keystone State. He was reared in his native county, whence he came to Ohio in the spring of 1830, settling on section 9, in the township in which his son now lives. There he spent the remainder of his life, which was devoted to the pursuit of agriculture, and died January 23, 1851. When he arrived in this State he was in the possession of less than $600 in money and some stock. He invested his money in land, paying about $6.25 per acre, and while supporting a wife and thirteen children, gradually accumulated additional means. All that he had was made by himself. He was a Democrat all his life, and a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife, in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Broadbeck, was born February 16, 1786, near Hagerstown, Md., of Swiss parents. She died August 21, 1871, at the homestead in this county, at an advanced age.

Martin Snider is one of the eldest of his father’s family, and was born in York County, Pa., February 13, 1812. On the farm in the Keystone State he was reared to the age of eighteen years, and then accompanied his parents to Ohio. He remained with his father on the old homestead until 1865, some time afterward settling on his present location. For several years after he came to this State he ran saw and grist mills, although he did not entirely abandon farming, which has been his life work.

On April 11, 1865, Mr. Snider was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Sintz, of Springfield Township, the ceremony taking place at the home of her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Sintz. The latter were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively, but prior to their settlement in this State had lived in Virginia. They were among the very earliest settlers in this county, having located near Springfield in 1805. There Mrs. Snider was born, May 23, 1817. She is a notable housewife, a good neighbor and a devoted wife. She owns about two hundred acres of fine land in Springfield Township. No children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Snider.

No man in this vicinity is a more liberal supporter of the cause of Christianity, both with means and personal labors, than Martin Snider. He identified himself with the Lutheran Church when a young man, and has been active since that time, both as a member of the congregation and a worker in the Sunday-school. He belongs to the Donnelsville congregation. He is a member of the Grange, but is not identified with any other social order.

Portraits* of Mr. Snider and his wife are shown elsewhere in this volume.

*Portraits were included in the original printed volume.

* * * *

This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

View an historic 1901 map of Greene County, Ohio

View family biographies for other states and counties

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of family biographies.

Follow My Genealogy Hound: Follow me on Facebook