COL. HENRY G. SNIDER

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 871-872:

Col. Henry G. Snider

(Farmer, Section 5, Post-office, Montevallo).

   As one of the respected, influential citizens of this portion of Vernon county mention should not fail to be made of Col. Henry G. Snider, whose connection with the agricultural and other affairs of the community have rendered him a man of no little prominence.  His birth occurred in Shelby county, Ky., May 10, 1831, his parents being Richard and Elizabeth (Gray) Snider, the former a Virginian by nativity, the latter a native of Mt. Eden, Shelby county, Ky.  The father was a farmer by occupation—a calling with which his family of ten children became more or less acquainted.  Henry G. was the fifth child and third son, and when ten years old he accompanied the family to Indiana, where (in Monroe county) he was reared.  He was favored with good educational advantages, supplementing his primary course with an attendance at the State University, at Bloomington, Ind.  In 1850 he moved to Monroe county, Mo., living there until the outbreak of the war, when, with characteristic bravery, he enlisted in the 1^st Missouri Cavalry, was commissioned lieutenant, and went south with Jackson, being with that gallant leader at the time of his death.  He then returned and recruited a battalion, joined Porter’s regiment, and after that colonel’s death was himself made colonel, serving as such until the close of the war, taking part in numberless skirmishes and engagements.  His service was severe, indeed, he never being one to shrink from duty, and even to the present times he feels the effect of his service and exposure while a soldier.  Returning to Monroe county, Mo., after the war, Col.  Snider later on went to Illinois, remaining there about one year, occupied at the carpenter’s trade, which he had previously taken up.  Indeed, he had built the third house erected in Monroe City.  In 1869 he came to this county and now owns 240 acres of land, an especial feature of which is an orchard five acres in extent, and one that for its size is as profitable as any in the county.  In 1852 the Colonel was married to Miss Mary A. Blakeley, originally from May’s Lick, Ky.  She died in 1873, leaving eight children: Alice, since deceased; Lycurgus, Theodore, John H., Eli Porter, Addie, Charlie and Ollie.   In March 1876, Miss Frances J. Abbott became Col. S.’s wife.  She was born in this township, her father, George Abbott, having come here from Tennessee in an early day.  Col. Snider is an Adventist in religious preferences and a member of the I. O. O. F.  He has taken great interest in educational affairs and other matters pertaining to the affairs of this section, aiding all worthy enterprises liberally.  While in Indiana he read law to some extent, and at this time his voice is frequently heard in justices’ courts in behalf of those who have placed their causes in his hands.  In this direction, too, he has been successful.

[Transcribed by Becky Siple]

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