Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 596] The subject of this biography is a telegraph operator in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, stationed at New Castle, where he has been kept in continuous service for over twenty-three years. He was born in East Fairfield, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1849, and is a son of Martin and Sarah Ann (Kannel) Snider. Our subject's mother was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Altdoerfer) Kannel, and was born near Elkton, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1816, and died July 13, 1874; Elizabeth was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, where she was born Feb. 3, 1793; her death occurred June 9, 1860; her mother came from Basil, Switzerland. Joseph Kannel was of Welsh origin and followed farming. He was a soldier in Capt. J. Gilbert's company of Ohio Volunteers in the War of 1812, and was in the service at the time of Commodore Perry's victory on the waters of Lake Erie. Of his thirteen children, Sarah Ann was the third in order of birth. Joseph Kannel was a son of Casper and Barbara Kannel, both of Welsh origin, born Aug. 23, 1787, died Sept. 13, 1877, at Middleton, Ohio, where Canton, O., now stands. Caspar was a soldier in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Hickman's Co. of the 17th Regiment of Infantry.
Martin Snider, the father of John H., was born near Clarkson, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1812, and was a saddler and harness-maker by trade. He lived in East Fairfield and plied his trade until 1855, when he removed to Rutland, Meigs Co., Ohio, where he resided until Oct., 1859, and removed to Mantua, Collin Co., Texas, where he resided during the war, suffering many inconveniences because of his early associations and ties in the North, and was also many times in danger of his life in that turbulent period, and on several occasions only the fact of his being a Mason saved him. He followed his trade many years in McKinney, Collin Co., Tex., and died in Denton County, the same State, Aug. 28, 1881. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Ferrall) Snider. Elizabeth (Ferrall) Snider was born in Lowden Co., Va., April 27, 1793, and was a daughter of William and Mary (Bangham) Ferrall, both of whom were of English birth and members of the Quaker sect; William Ferrall was a farmer by occupation. Henry Snider was born Jan. 27, 1790, and was a son of John and Theodocia Snider, who were natives of Lowden Co., Va.
John H. Snider lived in Columbiana Co., Ohio, till 1855, and for the four following years in Meigs County, attending school at every opportunity in each county. In 1859 he moved with the family to Texas, where, on the outbreak of the war, he was conscripted into the Rebel Army but was detailed to serve as a teamster. Learning that the teams were to be conscripted, and because he owned his own team, he determined to desert with his oxen to save himself and them from aiding the traitors' cause. After his first desertion he was conscripted again and mustered as a private into Co. A, 29th Texas Cavalry, serving three years as soldier and bugler; and again he deserted, and was this time held a prisoner on Pelican Island in Galveston Bay until the close of the war, and came very close to perishing by starvation. After the war he journeyed on horseback nine hundred miles to Mahaska Co., Iowa, where he attended school through the winter, and in the succeeding winter was enrolled as a scholar in the schools of Ashley, Ohio. In 1870 he went to Alliance, Ohio, learned telegraphy, and was afterward stationed at Monteith and Muskegon, Michigan, and Alliance, Louisville, Canton, Orville, Crestline, Loudonville, and Youngstown, Ohio, and Homewood and Enon Valley, Pa. From the latter place he came to New Castle on April 22, 1874, and has since served the company efficiently at this point, leaving no ground for a complaint.
On Dec. 6, 1873, at Homewood, Pa., Mr. Snider was married to Laura V. Johnson, who was born at Enon, Pa., and was a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Snyder) Johnson; the latter died Oct. 13, 1859, aged fifty-one years and five months. David Johnson, who died May 21, 1877, was a hotel-keeper at Homewood, Pa. Mr. Snider's marriage has been blessed with four children, who are: William H., a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad; David M., a machinist.; Charles F., a telegraph operator; and Ira R., who is still attending school. On April 18, 1887, occurred the death of Laura V. (Johnson) Snider, our subject's wife, and as there is no home without a mother, Mr. Snider married Mrs. Maria Davis March 3, 1892. Mr. Snider has a strong liking for secret societies and fraternities, and is a member of the following Masonic orders: Lodge of the Craft, F. & A. M., No. 433; Delta Chapter, No. 170; Lawrence Commandery, No. 62; Consistory Valley of Pittsburg, 32d degree; and Zem Zem Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Erie, Pa. He is also an Odd Fellow, and holds a membership in the following societies: Shenango Lodge, No. 195; Encampment, No. 86. He is also a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 160, K. of P. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He attends the Disciples Church, and is a Republican when it comes to voting at local, State, or National elections.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 19 Jul 2001