Bio of SNYDER, John Pillsbury (b.1888), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol III, pg 458,461-462
JOHN PILLSBURY SNYDER
John Pillsbury Snyder is a representative of one of the oldest families of the
city. His grandfather, Simon Peter Snyder, established his home in what was then
St. Anthony, in 1885, when a young man of twenty-nine years and for an extended
period thereafter he took active and helpful part in promoting the growth,
development and improvement of Minneapolis, into which city St. Anthony was
eventually absorbed. In his "Personal Recollections of Minnesota," Colonel
Stevens says: "Probably to Messrs. Snyder and MacFarland are the citizens of
Minneapolis more indebted than to any others for the rapid progress made in the
early industries on the west side of the Falls." Simon P. Snyder was born in
Somerset, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1826, and was of German descent, his
grandfather having come to America from Gerhardstbrum, Germany, near the close
of the eighteenth cen­tury, at which time he took up his abode in Maryland,
afterward removing to Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He gave one-half of the
land for the erection of a courthouse and a public schoolhouse in the town of
Somerset and also included in the donation enough for a Lutheran church.
Simon P. Snyder was a son of John A. and Elizabeth (Shatter) Snyder and was the
third in a family of six sons and six daughters, whose mother lived to see them
all grown and married. Simon P. Snyder attended the public schools near his
father's home and at fourteen years of age began clerking in the general store
of an uncle. After three years he was given charge of the store and the Berkley
flour mill, which he profitably managed for two years. He then purchased the
store, which he conducted on his own account for four years and in 1850 he
dis­posed of his business interests in Pennsylvania, and went to Springfield,
Ohio, where another uncle lived, thence driving across the country to Peoria,
Illinois. A letter from his uncle in Springfield, however, caused him to return
to that city and purchase the uncle's store, which he conducted until 1855, when
he sold out and started for Minneapolis. Arriving in May, Simon P. Snyder soon
afterward formed a partnership with W. K. MacFarland for the purpose of locating
and deal­ing in lands, and prosperity attended them from the beginning. Later
they were joined by a third partner, Levi L. Cook, under the firm style of
Snyder, MacFarland & Cook. Soon after his arrival in Minneapolis Mr. Snyder had
purchased eighty acres of land near Nicollet avenue and Tenth street, which he
platted as Snyder's first addition to Minneapolis and the property which was
bought for one hundred dollars per acre is now worth several millions. From the
beginning of his residence here Mr. Snyder was deeply interested in the welfare
of the city and state and did much to further public progress and improvement.
From 1856 until 1858 he was treasurer of the Minnesota Agricultural Society and
during that time the first state fair was held on the site now occupied by the
public library and the First Baptist church. In 1862 he established the first
auction and storage room in the city and in 1876 built the first warehouse for
the storage of overtime railroad freight. During the Indian outbreak of 1862 he
and Anson Northrup organ­ized a volunteer company of a hundred and forty men to
go to the relief of New Ulm and Fort Ridgely, Mr. Snyder acting as first
lieutenant of the company, which proceeded toward the fort, although contrary to
the orders of General Sibley, and reached the little garrison at sunrise after
an all night ride, twenty-four hours ahead of the main column.
For fifty-eight years Simon P. Snyder was a resident of Minneapolis and enjoyed
good health almost to the time of his death, which occurred August 19, 1913. He
was married August 21, 1856, to Mary Ramsey, who was born in Springfield, Ohio,
February 21, 1832, a daughter of Alexander and Jane (Stephenson) Ramsey. Mr. and
Mrs. Snyder first occupied the first frame house built on the west side of the
river and there their first two children, Frank C. and Fred B. Snyder, were
born, while their third child, Mary C., was born in a cottage on the hill now a
part of Bridge square.
The son, Fred Beal Snyder, was born February 21, 1859, in the old Colonel
Stevens house, which was the first home erected in the village of Minneapolis.
Fred B. Snyder supplemented his public school education by a course in the
University of Minnesota and his scholarship won him election to the honorary
society of Phi Beta Kappa. He also became a member of the Chi Psi fraternity.
Follow­ing his graduation in 1881, he was employed in a book store and while
thus engaged took up the study of law under the direction of the firm of
Lochren, McNair & Gilfillan, well known attorneys. He afterward studied with
Koon, Merrill & Keith and was admitted to practice in 1882. He then formed a
partnership with Judge Jamison, with whom he was associated until 1889 and
steadily he progressed to prominence as a member of the Minneapolis bar. A
contemporary writer has said: "He has been identified as attorney with many of
the important cases of the state, winning particular distinction in that of the
State versus Pillsbury, in which he overturned a provision of the city charter
relating to special assessments for local improvements; and in his defense of
the Torrens land law, of which he was the author, in the suit of the State
versus Westfall. Mr. Snyder has rendered conspicuous service to his fellow
citizens in many positions of public trust and honor where his influence and
energies were persistently devoted to the best interests of the public. He was
elected alderman in 1892 and for four years was presi­dent of the city council.
By virtue of this office he assumed leadership in the con­troversy between the
city and the Minneapolis Gas & Light Company and it is to his untiring effort at
this time that the public owes the reduction in the rate of gas rent and the
authorship and passage of the ordinance creating and regulating the office of
gas inspector. In 189(5 he was called upon to represent the university
district in the legislature and after serving as a member of the house for two
years was elected to the senate for a term of four years. He declined reelection
to a second term as senator. As a member of the two legislative bodies of the
state he displayed his usual administrative ability and capacity for public
service and was actively identified with the work of lawmaking, introducing the
bill increasing the annual revenue of the State University, the board of control
bill, and assumed the fight for the bill for the increase of the gross earning
tax from three to four per cent in the senate. The probation law for juvenile
offenders was intro­duced and passed by him."
Mr. Snyder, like his parents, belongs to St. Mark's Episcopal church, in which
he has served as a vestryman. He was married September 23, 1885, to Susan M.
Pillsbury, daughter of Governor John S. Pillsbury. She died in 1891, leaving a
son, John Pillsbury Snyder. On the 18th of February, 1896, Fred B. Snyder wedded
Miss Leonora Dickson of Pittsburgh and they have a daughter, Mary Stuart. Mr.
Snyder has always been a republican and he is well known in the club circles of
the city. He has served on the board of regents of the University of Minnesota
and he was one of the organizers of the Civic & Commerce Association of
Minne­apolis, drafting its constitution and serving as its first secretary. As
an active worker therein he has done much to advance the commercial, civic and
moral progress of the city.
His son, John Pillsbury Snyder, born in Minneapolis, January 8, 1888,
supple­mented his educational training in the schools of this city by study in
the Hotchkiss School at Lakeville, Connecticut, where he was very active in
athletic circles. He afterward pursued a two years course in the University of
Minnesota. In December, 1911, he erected a garage at Nos. 407 and 409 South
Tenth street, where he has since conducted business. He is also a dealer in
trucks, and a liberal patronage is freely accorded him. In addition to his other
interests he is the vice president of the Millers & Traders State Bank and is a
factor in the financial circles of the city.
On the 22d of January, 1912, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Nellie
Stevenson of Minneapolis and they have three children: John Pillsbury, Jr.,
Thomas Stevenson and Susan Pillsbury Snyder.
Mr. Snyder belongs to the Minneapolis Club, the Minneapolis Athletic Club, the
Minikahda Club, the Woodhill Country Club and others. He is a representative of
one of the old and most honored families of the city, and, well descended and
well bred, possessed of sterling personal qualities, he has always maintained
his position in social circles, having a legion of friends, who have known him
from his boyhood to the present time.