William Henry Snider was my husbands 3rd great-grandfather. This is a nice, informative obituary. I love it when they give details!! 🙂
From the Evening News Paper, 23 July1880:
Mr. William Henry Snider died on last Thursday morning, July 22, 1880, after a few weeks sickness, in his 74th year. He was born in North Carolina, March 12, 1807. He came in Utica in an early day, when Louisville was in the woods. By his industrious, honest and temperate habits he got him a nice little home, in which he took great pains to keep in good and neat repair, and enjoyed saying it was by honest work that he got it. He began after marriage by working for Mr. Jacob Lentz Sr. now living near Utica, for $10 per month and was to board at Mr. Lentz’s also, still he always saved a little to lay up for future use. He was free-hearted and had good will for his fellow men, and was a serious member of the M.E. church, but he was always willing that everyone should have his own choice of churches. he first joined the church in North Carolina and when he came here he joined what was known as the New Chapel camp meeting. After the meeting he was amoung some of the brethen, urging them to organize the first Sunday school in Utica. It was called the Union-Sunday school, all the church took part. He was then elected Secretary of the Sunday-school, which office he held as long as the school lasted, and then the Methodists organized a school and he was chosen Secretary, which office he filled and was always prompt at his place until about three years ago, when he resigned, but still he would attend when his health permit.
He was a Democratic in politics; a farmer and a carpenter by trade. He never was satisfied unless he was employed. He could be seem almost everyday coming to Utica to get the news and see the sick.
As his life was so was his death. He always did his duty, and when the Lord called him home he was willing and ready to go. He was perfectly conscious to the last. One of his watchers asked him about five minutes before he died if there was anything he wanted. He shooked his head and opened his eyes. So he died as he lived, peaceful and happy at 3 o’clock a.m., July 22, 1880. He leaves a wife and several children to mourn his loss. All his children are grown. Their names are respectively, Mr. John Snider, Mr. W.H. Snider Jr., Mr. Joseph Snider, Mr. James Snider, Mrs. Lucinda Smith, Mrs. Mary Pollion, Mrs. Julia Weeks, Mrs. Delilah Van Pelt, Mrs. Laura Chambers and Mrs. Emma Dunn.
