Freestone County, Texas Obits [Dr. William Newton Sneed, Sr.] Fairfield Recorder [unknown publication date] IN MEMORIAM Dr. W. N. Sneed was born in Monroe County, Georgia, September 14th, 1844, and died in his home in Fairfield, Texas, March 28th, 1922, being 77 years, 6 months and 14 days old. He left surviving him his wife, Mrs. Kate Sneed; one son Dr. W. N. Sneed, Jr. and three daughters, Mrs. Berta Daviss, Mrs. Ella Fryer, and Mrs. Alice Hunter; and also two brothers and a sister. Dr. Sneed graduated in medicine in the spring of 1870, at the University of Louisiana, and practiced his profession in Freestone County for 50 years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was an elder therein, until a short while before his death. He was a true and faithful ex-Confederate soldier, entering the service of the South in 1861. He was a Master Mason and on the 29th day of March, 1922, that order, in the presence of a great host of friends, laid his body to rest in the old cemetery in Fairfield, among those he loved and for whom he had labored so long. He was a true type of the Southern gentleman - truthful, courteous, chivalrous and honorable; and he, and such as he have made this Southland glorious wherever civilization extends, for genuine manhood. I knew him most intimately. He was my physician and friend, and often in my younger days my wise counselor. And how many are there now, in whose memory, as in mine, will live and be cherished, the many times when he, with his good wife as a ministering angel by his side, brought hope and comfort and gladness where the sable wings of sorrow were hovering. Sweet be the dreams of this ex-Confederate solider where strife comes not, and where war clouds never darken the land of eternal peace; may it be that the last summons was but the gentle breathings of immortal happiness, telling him in accents of boundless love to gather the robes of his trust and faith about him, and in safety to follow his Great Leader home. Human power fails as we stand by the graves of the dead; human wisdom is vain as we look toward that realm which mortal eyes never see; yet there is a way; it can be seen by faith and hope and love as the troubled heart and weary soul reach out to the infinite for help; it's the everlasting, the undimmed way that leads to the city of God; the old, old way over which the faithful of the earth have gone. May that faith and hope be with those that our friend loved while here; and may the joy of another meeting be where the bloom of health fades not, and the ties of friendship and love are broken no more forever. R. D. Williford ======================================== Fairfield Recorder [unknown publication date] AN APPRECIATION We are deeply grateful for all favors and kindness shown him and us during Dr. Sneed's long illness and death - the calls made to see him, the many beautiful floral offerings, and all messages of love and sympathy tendered his bereaved ones, all of which we will hold in sweet me[mory?] Mrs. W. N. Sneed [and] family. ======================================== TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DR. W. N. SNEED Corsicana, April 28th, 1922 Uncontrollable circumstances prevented the writer from attending the funeral of his life-long and very near and dear friend, as well as his tardy and feeble tribute to his memory. Dr. Bill Sneed, as he was generally and familiarly known, was called way from us on the 28th day of March. He was about 77 years old when he died, after a long and serious illness. It is said that notwithstanding the inclement weather, no larger funeral was ever known in Fairfield, and quite naturally so, as he had been the efficient and sympathetic physician of nearly all the people there and surrounding territory for more than half a century, doing his full duty as citizen and physician day and night for the rich and poor alike. Inn fact, it can be truly said of him, that he gave his long and eventful career to his County and suffering humanity. Entering the service when but a boy as a Confederate solider in the great Civil War, he was denied the advantages of a classical education, but having the brain and will power, indefatigable and indomitable courage, he rapidly rose to eminence in his profession, and ministered to the relief of the sick and afflicted without regard to color, race, or station in life. He was a gentleman by nature under any and all circumstances and environments. He always did his duty with a profound sense of justice to all without catering to the whims or fancies of anyone. Always truthful ad sincere, at times he appeared rude to those not familiar with his outspoken candor, saying what he thought and meaning what he said, privately or publicly; he sincerely and deeply always had the courage of his convictions and expressed them in no uncertain times. Coming in daily contact with every class of people, Dr. Sneed was eminently known as being the most useful man, and did more for his county, everything considered, than any other individual during his long and eventful span of life. Always pronounced in his views, kind but firm and courageous in action, he impressed everyone with his sincerity and strength of character. He loved his home and his family, was ever true and loyal to his friends and any cause he espoused, always fearless, strictly reliable and dependable, his motives, statements and deportment in all matters and affairs of life, whether private or public, were never questioned or even doubted. On the whole, Dr. W. N. Sneed was by nature and temperament a Christian gentleman, a patriotic citizen, a loving husband and father. A host of sorrowing friends will mourn his irreparable loss to us all, and we who knew him best and loved him most, will ever cherish his memory. Sincerely, O. C. Kirven ======================================== Death of Well Known Citizen Dr. W. N. Sneed, Sr. passed away at his home in Fairfield last Tuesday morning, March 28, after being confined to his home for many months. Interment was had in Fairfield cemetery, the Masons conducting services after religious services by Rev. Cunningham. Dr. Sneed was born in Georgia 77 years ago last September. Moved to Fairfield with his parents in 1859 and resided here since. He served in the Confederate army and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Surviving him, the immediate relatives are his wife; two sisters, Mrs. McInnis, of Teague; and Mrs. Oliver of Buffalo; two brothers, Dr. Kit Sneed, of Wortham, and Walter Sneed, of Liberty County; four children, Dr. W. N. Sneed, Jr., Mrs. Bertha Daviss and Mrs. John Fryer, of Fairfield, and Mrs. Alice Hunter, of Wyoming. Dr. Sneed was successful in the practice of his profession, and held the highest confidence of the entire citizenship of this section. He was of the old school, and thoroughly honorable in his dealings with fellowman. As an example of the esteem to which he was held by the public, hundreds gathered when he was laid away, many coming from Teague, Wortham, Kirven, Buffalo and other points, and the floral offerings were many and beautiful.