BIO: Thomas G. SNYDER, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 533 & 534. _____________________________________________________________ THOMAS G. SNYDER, deceased. In remembering the men of worth who once were of Clearfield County and led in her most useful activities and through merit commanded the respect of his fellow sitizens, Thomas G. Snyder, who sleeps in a soldier's grave, a hero of the Civil War, will not be forgotten. He was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., October 24, 1817. His ancestry was German and his parents were David and Mary A. (Kelly) Snyder. Thomas G. Snyder was the son of a farmer and manufacturer and early associated himself with his parent in making shovels, a pioneer enterprise of the kind in Philadelphia County and one which the two Snyders developed into a large business. When he retired from manufacturing he entered into merchandising in a suburb of Philadelphia, and in 1851 he came to Clearfield County. He invested largely and judiciously in land, which is still held by his family, and from then until the opening of the Civil War, he gave his entire attention to lumbering. His success in this industry was marked and a long and prosperous business career was his reasonable expectation. When Lieutenant Snyder put aside all personal considerations in order to devote himself to the service of his country, he was already a man of forty-four years and the act was one of pure patriotism. In October, 1861, he organized a picked body of men which became Co. F, 2nd Pa. Cav., which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he was commissioned its first lieutenant. He passed through several battles safely but in a skirmish at Acquan Creek, Virginia, he received a mortal wound. Through the fraternal act of a brother Free Mason, no less a person than Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee, the wounded officer was carried to a dwelling and every effort was made to ease his suffering and prolong his life, but without avail and within forty-eight hours he expired, a soldier to the last. His aged father succumbed under the shock. The ashes of both him and his son rest in the old cemetery belonging to the Swedenborgian church in Philadelphia County, David Snyder having been the founder of the Swedenborgian Society in that county. On November 26, 1840, Thomas G. Snyder was married to Miss Martha E. Litzenberg, who survived him. She was of German ancestry and was born near Philadelphia, a daughter of John and Christiana (Stanley) Litzenberg, the former of whom was a prosperous merchant for many years. To Thomas G. Snyder and wife ten children were born, five of whom survived childhood: Horatio, Mary A., Lucy, Annie E. and T. Lansing. Horatio left college at the age of eighteen years in order to enter his father's company, in 1861, survived the hazards of war and after returning to peaceful pursuits, entered the employ of the Berwind- White Bituminous Coal Company, with which he has been identified ever since. Mary A. is the wife of E. C. Brenner. Lucy became the wife of John C. Hicklen. Annie E. married Lewis M. Garrett. T. Lansing is one of Clearfield's prominent citizens.