Frank M. Snyder

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: GOODSPEED, SNYDER, STRONG

FRANK M. SNYDER was born in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pa., November 19th, 1834.

He is the eldest of three children, two girls and one son, of Dr. Jacob F. and Asenath H. (STRONG) SNYDER. Dr. Snyder, a native of the state of New York, was a gentleman of fine literary culture, and his professional abilities were of a high order.

He practiced several years in the states of New York and Pennsylvania, and during the latter part of 1839 he removed to Terra Haute, Ind., where he was a very successful practitioner for ten years. At the breaking out of the gold fever in 1849, the Doctor went to California. Returned to Illinois, and located at Urbana, October 17th, 1850, where he resumed the practice of his profession until his death, March 23d, 1862. Mrs. Snyder, his wife, still survives him. In politics the Doctor was a Democrat.

Frank M. Snyder, received his early culture in the schools, at Terre Haute, Ind. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice, to learn the printing business, and it was in the printing office where Mr. Snyder obtained the greater part of his practical education.

On the breaking out of the Rebellion, he enlisted in July, 1862, in company B, of the 76th Regiment Ill. Volunteers, and was mustered in in August, at Kankakee. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Jackson, Mobile and other minor engagements. Was honorably discharged October, 1865, returned home and continued his former pursuit.

On the 21st of June, 1860; he was married to Clara, GOODSPEED, daughter of Simpson S. Goodspeed, of Urbana. By this union they have had born to them six children, one of whom is deceased.

In 1869 he purchased and carried on a job office, and on the 16th of February following, he started a paper called The Tocsin, which was a neutral sheet, and lived until June 3d, 1871, at which time its name was changed to the Urbana Republican, and is still in a flourishing condition. Mr. Snyder always owned and edited his paper until June 1st, 1878, when Rev. David Gay became a partner, and the following September, purchased the whole of Mr. Snyder's interest in the paper.

In politics Mr. Snyder was a democrat until soon after he entered the army, when he changed his views and became a staunch Republican.