Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Grandma's Photo Album - Page 4 - Dorothy Elam, Toyce McNeil Snyder, Demie McNeil Snyder, and Genie McNeil Sebastian


Left:  Neighbor, Dorothy Elam, in Winston-Salem, N.C.  Tom (Wiley Thomas Snyder, 1892-1988) and his wife Nora McNeil Snyder (1900-1992) lived at 721 Devonshire St. Winston-Salem from 1919 until 1924.  In the 1920 census, Dorothy is 8 years old, and living at 717 Devonshire.   (Note that Devonshire Street was later renumbered.)

Middle:  Nora's sister, Toyce Etta McNeil Snyder (1905-1969), at the Reynolds Memorial in Winston-Salem.  This photo appears to have been taken about 1923, based on the other photos of Reynolds Memorial.  Toyce married Tom's brother, John B. Snyder (1894-1969) in 1930.  So the children of Tom and Nora, and the children of Toyce and John, are double first cousins.

Right:  Nora's twin sisters (fraternal):
Seated is Mattie Lodemia McNeil Snyder (1905-1997).  She was called "Demie".  She married Tom's brother, Donald Vance Snyder (1903-1986), so their children are double first cousins to the children of Tom and Nora, and to the children of Toyce and John.
Genie was Mary Logenia McNeil Sebastian (1905-1966).

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Bonus pic in honor of Squirrel Week - Pet squirrel, about 1906

The N.G. Snyder family, Wilkes County, N.C., about 1906
 

Nicholas Grindstaff Snyder (1863-1944) and wife, Louise Jane Whittington Snyder (1863-1933), had nine children - one daughter and eight sons.  Two of the sons died young -- Dewey (1900-1906) died of appendicitis.  Another son was unnamed and died the day he was born (20 Sep 1905).  The remaining seven children out-lived their parents.

The photo above was taken about 1906, based on the age of the youngest child, Donald Vance Snyder, born 25 Sep 1903 (died 1986).  Don is sitting on his father's lap in the front row.  Louise is seated next to her husband.  At the right on the front row is John B. Snyder (1894-1969).

The back row has:
  • a neighbor lady with her baby
  • Wiley Thomas "Tom" Snyder (1892-1988) - my grandfather
  • William Eugene Snyder (1890-1969), with his pet squirrel on his shoulder
  • Roby Brown Snyder (1887-1980)
  • Mary Snyder (1885-1984)
Another squirrel story -- when Louise Snyder died, she had squirrel stew on the stove.

Squirrels are quite versatile!

Grandma's photo album - page 3 - Nora and Neil, Tom in uniform, Eva McNeil


Left:  Nora McNeil Snyder (1900-1992) holding her son, James Neil Snyder (1922-1993).  Nora (Grandma) told me that this photo was taken at the Reynolds Memorial in Waughtown Cemetery, in Winston-Salem, N.C.  However, I cannot find this memorial today on-line, so maybe it's gone?  This photo was taken about 1923 or 1924.  I'm glad Grandma is smiling - she seems happy with her son.

Center:  Wiley Thomas "Tom" Snyder (1892-1988) in his U.S. Army uniform, in World War I. He was stationed at Camp Jackson, near Columbia, S.C. from September 1917 until May 1918, when his company was sent to Camp Sevier, near Greenville, S.C.  Tom was in Company D, 321st infantry, 81st division (the "Wildcats"). (1) 

Right:  Nora's mother, Clara Eva Hettie Ellen Jarvis McNeil (1873-1959).  There are three ghostly girls beside her.  I wonder who they are?  (I think this picture was a double exposure.)

Three of Eva's daughters -- Nora, Toyce Etta McNeil (1905-1969), and Mattie Lodemia "Demie" McNeil (1908-1997) -- married three Snyder brothers.  Respectively, the husbands were Tom, John B. Snyder (1894-1969), and Donald Vance Snyder (1903-1986).  All of these couples had at least one child, and these children are double-first cousins.

(1) Adjutant General World War I Cards, microfilm publication Army and Marine Corps Series (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service, 1987 - 1988), roll S.1.120.37, Wiley T. Snyder card.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Grandma's Photo Album - Page 2 - Millers Creek homeplace and Winston-Salem grave of two children

Grandma's Photo Album - Page 2
Left photo is W.T. and Nora Snyder's farmhouse in the Millers Creek community, Wilkes County, N.C.  W.T. and Nora bought this farmhouse, along with 86 acres of land, on April 28, 1925, from Mrs. & Mrs. A.A. Bumgarner.(1)  The house was later painted white.

Center photo is Nora and one of her children.  I can't tell if this is Neil (1922-1993) or Carrie (1926-2001).  This photo was taken on their farm in Millers Creek -- I recognize the barn at the back left.

Right photo is Nora with her son Neil about 1923.  They are standing at the grave monuement of W.T. and Nora's first child, Wiley Thomas Snyder, Jr.  Wiley Jr. was born on January 19, 1921 when the family lived in Winston-Salem.  He died at only six and a half weeks old (March 6, 1921).  He was "found dead in bed."(2)  Nora mourned his loss the rest of her life, but kept going.  They erected a nice monument to Wiley Jr., in the Waughtown Cemetery in Winston-Salem, and I have several photos of the family visiting the grave.


References:
(1) Wilkes County, North Carolina, deeds 1925-1927, 141: 63, A.A. Bumgarner and wife to W.T. Snyder and wife, 28 Apr 1925; microfilm C.104.40070.
(2) Forsyth County, North Carolina, death certificate no. 142 (1921), Wiley T. Snyder, Jr; digital image, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., "North Carolina Death Certificates 1909 - 1975," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 01 Feb 2012).

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Grandma's Photo Album - page 1 - Paul Snyder, Ralph Snyder, George Bumgarner, and others


My grandmother, Nora Bessie McNeil Snyder (1900-1992) had this old black photo album.  I sat down with her one day in 1981 and took notes as she told me who was in every picture. 

All of the photos on page 1 were taken in Millers Creek, Wilkes County, North Carolina, about 1947.  The farmhouse belonged to my grandparents, Wiley Thomas Snyder (1892-1988) and Nora, his wife.  I list the birth and death years for all deceased people.  All people without dates are alive as of this post, as far as I know.

Top left photo, left to right:  Paul Snyder, George Bumgarner, and Ralph Snyder (1932-1996).  Ralph was my uncle, the son of Wiley Thomas and Nora Snyder.  Paul and Ralph are double-first cousins.  I'm not sure who George was.  Uncle Ralph had a wonderful sense of humor.

Top right photo:  Ralph and Paul Snyder

Bottom left photo:  Snyders outstanding in their field:  Jimmy (Neil) Snyder (1922-1993), his wife Kay, Ralph (1932-1996), Mozelle, and Bette.  Jimmy, Ralph, Mozelle, and Bette are siblings.

Bottom right photo:  Paul and Ralph Snyder.  The old garage is behind them.