Biographical Annals of Lancaster County PA, Schneider Biography

Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, containing Biographical & Genealogical Sketches of Prominent & Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Illustrated.
Publishers: J. H. Beers & Co. 1903.

Pg. 109 SCHNEIDER (of SNADER). Matheis Schneider, Jacob Schneider with his wife Magdalen, and Christian Schneider with his wife Susanna Margretha, with fifty-six other Palatinates and their families, sailed from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on the south coast of England, July 7, 1729, for America, in the ship "Allen", James Craigie, master. They landed at Philadelphia, and took the oath of allegiance to King George II, then King of England, Sept. 15, 1729. [Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. II, Page 18.] They originally came from northern Switzerland, near the boundary line of Baden and Wurtemberg, Germany. Some time prior to their coming to America they had found their way to Holland, from which country they were sent to England, with a view of being transported to Pennsylvania. They soon found their way to Weber-Thal, Lancaster Co., PA., where their friends, George Weber, Henry Weber and Jacob Weber, Swiss Memonites, had settled a few years earlier.

Christian Schneider had surveyed for him, under a warrant from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, dated Jan. 10, 1733, 138 acres of land on the north and south of Conestoga creek, adjoining said George Weber's land. This tract of land was afterwards conveyed to him by deed for the consideration of L 20, 6s, 1d, by Thomas Penn and Richard Penn. He erected a cabin on this tract, on the south bank of Conestoga creek, at a spring on land now (1903) owned by John Trego, in East Earl township, Lancaster Co. PA., where he and his family resided up to the time of his death, in 1793. His wife died in January 1767 [Zeltenreich Church Record]. The name is spelled in various ways, viz.: In his will he signed it "Sneder;" in a deed to his son Christian he wrote it "Schnyder;" the the patent deed to him it is written "Sneeder," alias "Schneder;" later on we find it written "Schnader, Sneider, Snyder, Sneder, and Snader." When they came to this country they invariably wrote it "Schneider", which is undoubtedly the proper orthography.

Jacob Schneider and Matheis Schneider took up by patent about 250 acres of land some distance northeast of Weber-Thal, where Center (now St. John's) Reformed and Lutheran Church is erected. Jacob Schneider also purchased considerable land from William Morris, who had previously received a patent for the same. The writer has been unable to find that Matheis left any descendants, or that he ever married. The descendants of Jacob are numerous and widely scattered; among them may be mentioned Rev. Charles Schneider, pastor of the Reformed Church at Shamokin; Rev. Davis Schneider, Reformed missionary in Japan; Edward R. Snader, professor of Physical Diagnosis at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

They were followers of Zwingli, and in this country their descendants have generally united themselves with the Reformed Church. Many of them are buried at Center (now St. John's) Reformed Church, above mentioned. The descendants of Christian Schneider are buried in New Holland and Zeltenreich's Reformed burying-grounds. The children of Christian and Susanna Margretha Schneider were: John Jacob, Christian, Philip, Michael (sometimes called John Michael), Margaret, Elizabeth.

Michael Schneider, fourth son of Christian, on Nov. 25, 1766, married Elenora Mueller, a daughter of Lenhard Mueller, one of the early Huguenot settlers of Earl township, Lancaster Co., Pa. He received a deed from the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, dated April 4, 1785, for 100 acres of land surveyed under a warrant to Andreas Graeff. This land adjoined his father's tract on the west. He also purchased forty-four acres and 146 perches of land from Peter and Barbara Worst, immediately north of his 100-acre tract. He and his brother Christian erected a barn on the tract of land originally taken up by his father, Christian Schneider, in 1781, which is still standing on land now (1903). owned by Elias Martin. he died Sept. 2, 1831, in his eighty-seventh year. His wife died Sept. 22, 1821. in her seventy-ninth year. Michael and Elenora Schneider left five children: Christian, Michael, Lenora, Sophia, Susanna.

Christian Schneder, eldest son of Michael, lived on part of the original tracts of land granted to his father and grandfather, of which he became possessed by devise and purchase to the time of his death. His first wife was Margreta Diller, a daughter of John Diller, who was a son of Hans Martin Diller, who with his father, Casper Diller, came from Heidelberg, Germany, about 1733, and settled at Millcreek, Earl township, Lancaster Co., Pa. His wife died Aug. 6, 1827, in her forty-sixth year. He afterward married Susan Schneder, widow of Jonas Schneder, but had no children by that union. He died Jan. 17, 1851, in his eighty-third year. Christian Schneder by his first wife, Margreta Diller, had children as follows: Catharine,wife of Benjamin Witmer; Magdalena, wife of John Messner; Margaret, wife of John Plank; Caroline, wife of John Koser; Isaac Schnader, who married Susanna Weaver; Christian Schnader, who married Elizabeth Yohn; and Michael Schnader, who married Lydia Schnader.
Isaac Schnader purchased about eighty acres of land, part of which belonged to the old homestead, and lived upon it until his death in 1881, when it was sold, and the lst of the land originally taken up by Christian Schneider in 1733 passed out of the family name.

Susanna Weaver, the wife of Isaac Schnader, was descended from Jacob Weber, one of the Swiss Mennonites who settled in Weber-Thal about the year 1723. Jacob Weber settled near Blue Ball, and took up about 750 acres of land in that neighborhood. He died in 1747. His children were: Jacob, Samuel, George, John (known as Hans Weber, and so named in deeds and papers), Henry, Barbara (who married Peter Gander), Elizabeth (who married Peter Eaby), Mary (who married Abraham Kendrick) and Ann (who married Christian Root).

John Weber, fourth son of Jacob, married Barbara Buckwalter, and had children: Jacob, John, George, Abraham, Joseph, Anna (wife of John Sherick), Barbara (wife of Peter Wrost) and Elizabeth (wife of Ulrich (Owen) Bruner).

Joseph Weaver, son of John, married Mary Landis, a descendant of Rev. Benjamin Landis, who with his son, Benjamin Landis, settled in East Lampeter township, Lancaster Co., Pa., about the year 1717. The children of Joseph and Mary (Landis) Weaver were: Nancy, who married Christian Kurtz; Barbara, who married John Geigley; Mary, who died unmarried; Elizabeth who married John Pleam; Lydia, who married Esaias Schneder; Joseph who married Nancy Martin; John, who married a Kurtz; Solomon, who married a Ream; Henry, who married Barbara Ranck; Phoebe, who married Jacob Overholtzer; and Susanna, who married Isaac Schnader.

We have the following record of the children of Isaac and Susanna (Weaver) Schnader left:
(1) Solomon Schnader married Elizabeth Jane Crawford, a daughter of James and Mary (Bothwell) Crawford, who came to this country from County Tyrone, Ireland, about the year 1800, and settled in what is now Crawford county, Ohio. Their children are: Edward L. Snader, an actor of prominence on the American stage, whose wife is Fanny McIntyre, a celebrated singer and actress; and Susie Snader, wife of William Duncan, of Bloomfield, Ohio.

(2)Mary Ann Schnader is the wife of John Spatz, a manufacturer of Mohnsville, Berks Co., Pa. Their children are: Emma, wife of Jeremiah Mohn, a manufacturer of Reading, Pa.; Isaac S., a manufacturer of Mohnsville, Berks Co. Pa., who married Ellen Gring; Annie S., wife of Aaron Warner, a farmer of Mohnsville, Pa.; and Sue, wife of Monroe Killian, of Mohnsville Pennsylvania.

(3) Susanna Schnader became the wife of Hiram D. Mohn, of Reading , PA., and their children are: Frances, wife of John Robinson, of Reading, Pa.; Emma, unmarried, of Reading; Harvey D., who married Clara Hempfield, and resides in Reading; and Martin, Aaron and Elizabeth, all of whom are unmarried and live in Reading.

(4)William D. Snader married Emily L. Weiler, a daughter of Levi and Mary (Weaver) Weiler and their children are: Suetta Snader, wife of Dr. A. V. Walters, of Brownstown, Pa.; and William D. Snader, an employee at the County Hospital, Lancaster.

(5) Aaron Weaver Snader, the youngest child of Isaac and Susanna (Weaver) Schnader, whose portrait appears herewith, was born in East Earl township, Lancaster Co., Pa., on the old Schneider homestead, Feb. 23, 1844. He spent the first seventeen years of his live on his father's farm, during which time he attended the public school of the neighborhood during the winter. At the age of seventeen years he commenced teaching school, which profession he followed for twelve years. When not teaching, during the summer months, he worked on his father's farm, with the exception of two short sessions during which he attended a select private school taught by Amos Horst, at Hinkletown, Lancaster Co., Pa., and one session at the Millersville State Normal School. In 1870 he was registered as a law student with Hon. John B. Livingston, at Lancaster, Pa. He still continued teaching, pursuing his legal studies during such leisure time as he could spare. in 1871 his preceptor was elected Judge. Mr. Snader continued his legal studies with Philip D. Baker, Esq., and was admitted to practice May 23, 1873. After remaining in the office of his preceptor a little over a year he removed to New Holland, Lancaster county, where he has resided up to the present time (1903), and where he still continues the practice of his profession. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace. In 1877 he was elected surveyor of Lancaster county. In 1880 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, and was re-elected in 1882 and 1902. In 1881 he assisted in organizing the New Holland National Bank, and was a director of said institution for seven years. In 1883 he assisted in organizing the Earl Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and has been its president for twenty years. In 1894 he assisted in the organization of the New Holland Water Company, and has served as president of said company to the present time (1903). he was a member of the Earl township school board one year, and has served as treasurer of the New Holland borough school board from its organization in 1895 to the present time. Mr. Snader is a member of the Pennsylvania German Society. In 1874 he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has represented his lodge (No. 413) in the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for the last ten years. He is a confirmed member of the Reformed Church, as were all his paternal ancestors.

In 1875 Mr. Snader was married to Sarah White Hufman, a daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (White) Hufman. Their children are: Edward White Snader, at home; Isaac Hufman Snader, who is a salesman; and Margaret, at home.

The Hufman family, to which Mrs. A. W. Snader belongs, was founded in this country by her great-grandparents, who came to America from Wales, where three of their children were born. Rev. David Hufmann, one of their children born in America, was a farmer by occupation, and a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born Jan. 7, 1769, and died may 26, 1855. His wife was Elizabeth Williams, a daughter of CapT. Williams, of the Revolution. She died Aug. 9, 1843. Both are buried in the M E. churchyard at Geigertown, Berks Co., Pa. The Williams family came to this country from England. The children of Rev. David and Elizabeth (Williams) Hufman were: John who married Abigail Cramp; William, who married Sarah Cramp; Hannah, wife of John Geiger; Henry who married Mary Walters; Catherine, wife of Michael Hoffman; Ann, wife of Michael Sands; Jonathan, who married Margaret White; Elizabeth, wife of George Ireson; and Matilda R., wife of Peter Brown.

Jonathan Hufman, seventh child of Rev. David and Elizabeth (Williams) Hufman, was born in Berks county, Pa., and was a farmer and butcher by occupation. He received the average schooling afforded boys in his day. He married Margaret White, who was born Oct. 5, 1811, daughter of John and Sarah (De Haven) White, and died in 1882. They had a family of ten children: George, now deceased; Elizabeth Ann, who married Peter Hart, of Reading, Pa.; Henry, deceased, who was a soldier in the Civil war; Harriet, deceased; Sarah White, Mrs. Aaron W. Snader; John E., a farmer of Berks county; Mary, Mrs. H. Rhoads, of Reading; Emma, wife of Martin Wickline, of Reading; Hannah, who died when young; and William, who died when young. the father of this family died in 1874.

The De Haven family, from which Mrs. Margaret (White) Hufman is descended on her mother's side, was founded in America by Herman De Haven, who came to this country in 1706 from France, and settled near Philadelphia, Pa., near which city the De Havens came to own large tracts of land. They were Huguenots, and left their country because of religious persecution. Mrs. Snader traces her line from Herman De Haven through his son Edward and the latter's son Herman, who was her great-grandfather. He married Susannah Miller, of Reading, Pa., and they had eight children: John's whereabouts are unknown; James married Ann Ranck; Edward married Ann Thompson; Abraham wedded Agnes Thompson, sister of Ann; Isaac married Hannah Miller (they were the ancestors of the De Havens of Pittsburgh, the famous iron men); Hannah married John Keemer; Alice married Thomas Lincoln; Sarah married John White, and they were the grandparents of Mrs. Aaron W. Snader. John and Sarah White both died when near middle life. They were the parents of nine children: Harmon, of whom nothing is known; Susan, who died young; Edward De Haven, who married Margaret Ammon; Margaret, who married Jonathan Hufman, father of Mrs. Aaron W. Snader; Dr. John De Haven, of Philadelphia, who married Mary Meredith; Elizabeth, wife of William Pierce; William, who married Margaret Hough; Harriet, wife of Robert Baldwin, of Lancaster county, who served in both houses of the State Legislature; and Sarah Ann, who married Peter Fernbaugh, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

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