William Snowdin, a representative general agriculturist and successful stock-raiser of Chester Township, Ottawa County, has been a resident of Michigan for forty years. An Englishman by birth, he was born in Lincolnshire April 30, 1829. He is the second child born to the union of John and Mary (Graham) Snowdin, natives of England and descendants of a long line of sturdy British ancestry. His father was twice married, and by his first union had seven sons, all of whom attained mature years. They were John, Joseph, Charles, Benjamin, George, Septinus and James. The last-named emigrated to the United States and for a time made his home in Michigan, but later moved to Beaver Dam, Wis., where he died. Joseph, George and Charles came to America and settled in Wisconsin.

 

The second union of John Snowdin resulted in the birth of five children, of whom the next to the youngest died at an early age. The others are Thominson, who is married; William, the subject of this sketch; Jane, who is the wife of George Cross and resides in Wisconsin; and Ann, who is married and resides upon the old homestead in England. The father and mother of these children spent their entire lives in England, where they both died at advanced age. William Snowdin was educated in the excellent public schools of his native land, and at the age of thirteen years secured a position as a farm laborer. His first year’s salary was $15, and during the eleven years he continued in the employ of others, his highest salary was $60 per year.

 

Emigrating to America in 1853, Mr. Snowdin landed in Quebec, Canada, and from that city proceeded direct to Michigan. He pre-empted forty acres in Sanilac County, which he converted into a comfortable homestead. As prosperity rewarded his efforts, he was able to add forty acres to his original tract, and devote his attention to the tilling of the land. At the expiration of about fifteen years he disposed of that farm, and in 1868 settled in Chester Township, purchasing the property upon which he has since resided, and which then consisted of seventy acres. There were very few improvements upon the farm; ten acres had been cleared, preparatory to cultivation, and a board house had been built.

 

During the quarter of a century covering the period of Mr. Snowdin’s residence upon this present farm, he has devoted his energies exclusively to the improvement of the place, which is embellished with a spacious residence, commodious barns and substantial outbuildings. The sixty acres comprising the homestead have been placed under excellent cultivation. In addition to this property, he is the owner of forty acres in Ravenna Township, Muskegon County, adjoining the original homestead, thirty acres of the tract being finely improved. The stock raised on the Snowdin farm is noted for its excellence. The cattle are a high grade of Durham, and the horses, while not imported, are of superior breeds, comparing favorably with the finest in the county of Ottawa.

 

William Snowdin and Miss Mary A. Cross were united in marriage in England in 1853. The parents of Mrs. Snowdin, John and Annie (Russell) Cross, were natives of England and had a family of ten children, all of whom remained in England excepting Mrs. Snowdin and three of her brothers. Unto our subject and his estimable wife there have been born seven children, namely: William E., a farmer residing in Chester Township; Maria, the wife of James Nevill, of Wisconsin; Anna, who taught the district schools of Michigan, and died at the age of nineteen years; Robert R., who died when five years old; Jennie, who engaged in teaching for four years, married S. Heideniech and live in Wisconsin; Albert, who is married and lives at home; and Nellie, the wife Wesley Maxwell of Ravenna, Muskegon County. A strong Republican and a local leader of the party, Mr. Snowdin takes an active interest in all matters of public importance, and is esteemed as a substantial man of superior business ability and broad in intelligence.

 

 

 

 

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1893, Pgs 358, 361