Notes:
age 26 in 1870
home was totally paid off
CHARLES R. SNETHEN, a highly respected resident of Solon township; Kent county, Mich., was born in Lake county, Ohio, December 17, 1843, the third of the family of three sons and one daughter that crowned the union of Joseph and Amanda (Bridgman) Snethen, of which children three are still living-Catherine, John L. and Charles R. Of these three, Catherine is married to Robert Hubbard, a farmer of Grantie Falls, Wash.; John L., who was born January 29, 1841, in Ohio, came to Michigan in 1867, and February 2, 1870, married Miss Lena Sayles, a native of Canada, to which union two children have been born Effie and Nina. Effie is the wife of J. W. Molique, a miner and prospector, who has recently passed some time in Klondike, while Mrs. Molique makes her home in Granite Falls, Wash.; Nina the wife of John D. Turner, is also a resident of Granite Falls, Wash. Joseph Snethen, the father of this family, was born in the state of New York March 30, 1809, was reared to farming in his native state, and after his removal from New York to Ohio chose dairying for his calling. In 1867 he came from Ohio to Kent county, Mich., where he secured the present farm of I I0 acres, in a trade for his Ohio farm, and here he passed the remainder of his life, dying April 27, I895, a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. His second wife, Sarah Morgan, had preceded him on the 25th of September, I874. By her, as well as his own, request, they were both interred on the farm at a spot selected by himself. Mrs. Amanda (Bridgman) Snethen was born in Massachusetts October I, 18 I, and descended from the Bridgman family of Hants county, England. Her ancestors in America, on the paternal side, took an active part in the war for American independence, and have handed down to the present generation a glorious and unspotted name. This lady died September 24, I847, a member of the Congregational church, and her remains lie at rest in the cemetery at Ypsilanti, Mich. Charles R. Snethen, the subject of this sketch, received a practical education in the common schools of his native county, worked as a tiller of the soil until eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in company G, Fortyfirst Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Martin Hamblin, the colonel of the regiment being the late renowned William B. Hazen. He fought in twenty-one battles, and in skirmishes innumerable, his first severe engagement being at Stone River; later he was in the fights at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Pickett's Mills, Franklin, and nearly all the engagements and marches in which the army of the Cumberland participated. At the siege of Atlanta his regiment had dwindled to 330 men, and of this number 150 fell during the siege and eighty died of disease. At the battle of Orchard Knob Mr. Snethen captured a rebel flag. At Lookout Mountain his regiment was in the reserve; at Missionary Ridge it was in the center, and here a piece of shell struck his rolled-up blanket and knocked him senseless, but he was not seriously injured. Mr. Snethen also fought at Nashville and Strawberry Plains, and veteranized January I, I864. At the close of the war his regiment was at Nashville, Tenn., but had been ordered to Texas, and while on its way to its destination, via the Mississippi river and the gulf of Mexico, the vessel was wrecked and Mr. Snethen lost all his clothing and his much valued diary and other records. He was finally and honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, November 27, 1865, having made an enviable record as a brave and faithful soldier. In 1867 Mr. Snethen came to Michigan, and on June 5, 1870, married Miss Frances Dunton, who was born May I, I854, in Ontario county, N. Y. To this union has been born one son, Louie F., who was a student at the Cedar Springs high school, but at present visiting the Pacific slope. In 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Snethen came to the old homestead, but November I6, 1895, had the misfortune to lose their dwelling by fire; they immediately rebuilt, however, and have now as pretty and as comfortable a residence as may be found in the township. In politics Mr. Snethen is a stalwart republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 860. He is now serving his second term as a justice of the peace. He has ever been an ardent supporter of the public-school system, and is at present a member of the school board. He and wife are members of the White Creek Methodist Episcopal church, both aid actively in Sundayschool work, contribute freely of their means toward the support of church and school, as well as to all measures designed for the advancement of the public weal, and are classed among the most useful and respectedresidents of Solon township.
Snethen, John L 1842-1917 G.A.R. Veteran. Husband & father. (?-Civil War)
removed from the list on 31 Mar 1877.
age 59 in 1900
age 69 in 1910
Name: John L. Snethen State Filed: Michigan Widow: Lena Snethen
? 41 Ohio Infantry
valued at $500
a farm free of any mortgage
Data source is Marie Owen. E-mail MarieOwen@hughes.net