SNYDER-Jacob G. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Jacob G. SNYDER, farmer, Newtown, son of Christian and Jane Wright Snyder was born in Washington Co MD March 9, 1833. His grandfather, Jacob Snyder was a soldier in the war of 1812 and fought before Baltimore in the defense of that city, when the British General Ross was killed. This occasion was the original of the national song of the Star Spangled Banner. Francis S. Key of Baltimore went on Board the British fleet to negotiate for the release of some prisoners and was detained by the Admiral until the conclusion of the attack on Ft. McHenry. It was while awaiting with the thrilling anxiety which those noble lines express, the issue of the bombardment that he composed that inimitable battle hymn so unrivaled for pathos, sensibility and the fire of holy patriotism. In 1853 Mr. Snyder came west to Fountain Co and worked the firs two years by the month; then he rented land until 1868 when he bought his farm of 40 acres. When a young man he learned the miller's trade but has followed it only a single year since his reisdence in Indiana. He was married Nov 1, 1855 to Mary Ann MILLER, daughter of Daniel Miller, who settled on Dry Run 1834. She was born April 28, 1836 They have 4 daughters and one son: Ruth Jane Oct 14, 1845 wife of Milton Emmons of Attica; Czar T. Nov 30, 1858; Dora Oct 18, 1861; Maggie, May 10, 1865 and Della I, Dec 25, 1868. All this family are professors of religion. The father was in the communion of the United Brethren Church from 1851-1868 when he joined the Presbyterians. He was a licensed preacher from 1865-68 and several years before had been licensed by quarterly conference "to preach and exhort." He organized the first Sabbath School at Union Cemetery Church which was in 1870. He was superintendent there 7 years at the Dry Run school hosue two years and Voorhees School house one year. His wife and children belong to the New Light Church. In politics he fraternizes with the greenbackers. In the winter of 1853-4 Mr. Snyder was a scholar at the log schoolhouse in Riley Nieghborhood in the south part of Richland Twp. Next winter he taught in the same place and "they organized a debate." In the course of a discussion a "tall sycamore" to give emphasis to his position and statements in a gust of tumultuous eloquence, leaped upward clear from the floor, and to his sudden surprise struck his head with much force against the ceiling which brought down the house in a scene of uproarious amusement. The next Saturday that ceiling was raised by nailing the boards to the rafters. John Shade did it.