SNODDY-Samuel - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Samuel I. SNODDY, miller, merchant and farmer and proprietor to the village of Snoddy's Mills, was born July 15, 1828 in Lycoming Co PA. His parents, Samuel and Sarah irwin Snoddy were natives of the same state and there Mrs. Snoddy died June 10, 1849 age 45. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the mother of 10. After her death Mr. Samuel Snoddy came to Parke County Indiana but in a year or so he returned to his native state. in 1852 he again sought Indiana and September 2, 1852, during the cholera epidemic, he died at Ft. Wayne. He also was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Samuel I the 4th child was schooled on the farm and in the mill. Before coming west he was married in 1849, to Susan KOONS, daughter of Jonathan and Catharine Koons, a native of PA. Soon after marriage they emigrated to Parke Co IN where Mr. Snoddy worked in Wright's Mill. In 1851 he bought the saw and grist mill of John Headley, and in 1852 settled near it on 12 acres of land, which was included in the purchase. About 1858 he bought 78 acres adjoining the mill-seat. In 1868 he bought 160 acres more. He built a store near his mill about 1874 and began selling goods and in those 3 branches of industry (milling, merchandising and farming) Mr. Snoddy has succeeded so well that he owns 756 acres of land and the town he founded, containing 10 dwelling houses, all his own building. He is acknowledged to be the leading man of his section. He began with comparatively nothing and his success demonstrates the possibility for one to rise to fortune from even poverty's lowest depth, where there is a "will" to climb. Mr. Snoddy is a quiet but thorough republican. his 3 brothers, John, James D. and George served in the Civil War. George died at his home in KS from disease contracted in the army. James D. was a colonel and John was major in the 7th Kan Cav. Oct 6, 1876, death deprived Mr. Snoddy of the partner of his home. She was an amiable woman and the mother of 11 children: William, John, Milton, Elmer, Chauncey, Purley, George, Anna now Mrs. Richard Roberts of Henning, Illinois, Catharine now Mrs. Benjamin Lindley of Fulton Twp, Fountain County, Odella, Mrs. Dr. Charles Coggins, Snoddy's Mills and Emma. Mr. Snoddy was next married Dec 15, 1878 to Miss Susan FISHER, of Fountain County his present helpmate. Mr. Snoddy's portrait appears in this history.