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William Dietrich Snouffer

William Dietrich Snouffer

Male 1884 - 1935  (51 years)

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  • Name William Dietrich Snouffer  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] 
    Born 5 Apr 1884  Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 4, 5, 8] 
    Christened 2 Apr 1893  First Lutheran Ch, Cedar Rapids, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation Communications - Book publishing co. foreman 
    Died 11 Dec 1935  Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 5, 9] 
    Buried Linwood Cem, Cedar Rapids, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 5, 9] 
    Person ID I8  SnoufferCampbell
    Last Modified 25 Jul 2014 

    Father Joshua Jacob Snouffer,   b. 31 Dec 1860, Reisterstown, MD Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Oct 1943, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years) 
    Mother Anna Elizabeth Aussieker,   b. 1 May 1861, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Sep 1946, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years) 
    Married 3 May 1883  Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] 
    Family ID F3  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Bertha Ina Newens,   b. 30 Dec 1884, Tipton, Cedar Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Oct 1981, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 96 years) 
    Married 19 Jun 1907  Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 5, 15] 
    Children 
     1. Blanche Nadine Snouffer,   b. 7 Apr 1908, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Feb 2003, West Chester, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 94 years)
     2. Robert Newens Snouffer,   b. 30 Jul 1911, Merino, Logan Cnty, CO Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Dec 1988, Sun City, Maricopa Cnty, AZ Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
    +3. Col. William Noel Snouffer,   b. 30 Nov 1913, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Nov 1989, Dallas, Dallas Cnty, TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
    Last Modified 5 Dec 2009 12:43:00 
    Family ID F2  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    William Dietrich Snouffer (1909)    		William Dietrich Snouffer (1909)

  • Notes 
    • The 1900 census shows his father "Snauffer, Jas. J," 39, born in Dec 1860 in Maryland, employed as a "Gro. salesman," living with his wife of 17 years, Anna E, 39, b. May 1861 in Iowa, and their 5 Iowa born children: William D, 16, b. Apr 1884, and employed in "hardware sales"; Edward M, 14, b. May 1886; Arthur J, 12, b. Dec 1887; Bessie E, 8, b. Dec 1891; and Charles, 1 month, b. Apr 1900. A servant also lived with them. Living only eight houses away was Anna's mother Charlotte and a number of her siblings. 1900 U.S. Census, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA (T 623, Roll 444, stamped pp. 302B-303A).

      Cedar Rapids Gazette (?) (Jun 1907):
      "One of the simplest of the long list of June weddings was that of Miss Bertha Ina Newens and Mr. William D. Snouffer, which took place Wednesday evening [19 Jun] at the new home of the bride and groom, at 317 South Seventh street, west. The house is completely furnished and was made additionally attractive by decorations of roses and smilax.
      "The bride and groom received the guests, the bride wearing a pretty gown of white chiffon and lace.... After the ceremony and congratulations a supper of three courses was served....
      "*** The bride is an admirable young woman who has made many friends during her residence of nine years in this city. She is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Newens and was employed as clerk in the business office of the C.R. & M. Telephone company....
      "The groom is a member of one of the pioneer families of Cedar Rapids.... He has been employed in the book bindery of the Republican Printing Co. for more than six years and now is foreman of that department. He is a young man of sterling qualities and enjoys the confidence and respect of his employers and associates.
      "*** Among the out-of-town guests at the wedding were the bride's aunt, Mrs. Richard Newens of Tingley; the bride's aunt and cousin, Mrs. Downing and daughter, Miss Pearl Downing, of Iowa City; the bride's cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Will Horabin and son, Richard, and Mr. Harry Blowers of Iowa City; the groom's great uncle, Mr. William Dobel of Mason City; the groom's uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John Snouffer of What Cheer...."

      Lutheran Helper, vol. X, No's 7, 8 (First English Lutheran Ch, Cedar Rapids, IA; Jul & Aug 1907):
      "About sixty relatives and friends of the contracting parties met at the new home of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Snouffer to enjoy the festivities incident to their marriage on June 20 [sic]. It was a happy company. Mr. Snouffer and Miss Newens received and at eight o'clock marched to the embowered corner where we pronounced them husband and wife, using the home ring service.... We wish them abundant happiness."

      Cedar Rapids Gazette (?) (no date; abt 1909):
      "Mr. and Mrs. William D. Snouffer gave a dinner Tuesday at one o'clock, in honor of the sixtieth birthday of Mrs. Snouffer's uncle, Mr. I. Newens of Nome, Alaska, who came to Cedar Rapids to spend Christmas with his brother, Mr. John Newens. Covers were laid for eight and the dinner was served in five courses.
      "Mr. and Mrs. Snouffer's guests were Mr. I. Newens, Mr. and Mrs. John Newens, Miss Lessie Newens, and Mr. and Mrs. Silas Miller of Mt. Vernon."

      Cedar Rapids Gazette (?) (no date; abt 1910):
      "The young ladies of Miss Clara Fuhrmeister['s] Sunday school class entertained at the home of their teacher last evening in honor of Mr. and Mrs. William Snouffer, who left today for their future home on a ranch in Colorado. The guests were the young men belonging to Mr. Keyser's class, both classes being of the English Lutheran Sunday school.
      "Mrs. Snouffer is a member of Miss Fuhrmeister's class and Mr. Snouffer of Mr. Keyser's. The two classes presented a set of books to Mr. and Mrs. Snouffer as a parting gift. A very pleasant social evening was enjoyed and included music and refreshments. The final goodbyes were said and all the good wishes expressed before separating, as Mr. and Mrs. Snouffer were to begin their western journey in the morning."

      On 4 Mar 1946 Bertha (Newens) Snouffer wrote a letter to her granddaughter Barbara Nelson about homesteading days in Colorado:
      "It was Christmas 1909 ... when my [father's brother] Uncle Isaiah Newens came to Cedar Rapids to visit us. He had been living in Nome Alaska for many years.... Uncle Isaiah was my fathers brother, and another brother Uncle Dick [Richard Newens] and his wife came from southern Iowa.... Uncle Dick got all of us interested in going to Colorado to 'take up homestead land.' He told of land that the government was opening up to homesteaders.... So Grandpa Newens, Aunt Lessie [Newens] (who was not married), Uncle Art [Snouffer] and your Grandpa Snouffer all decided they would go out [to Colorado] and investigate.
      "They left here [Cedar Rapids, IA] in Jan. 1910 and were quite enthused about the prospects, so with the help of a cousin (Uncle Dick's son) who was already located there they picked out the land they would like to have, and then they went to the Government Land Office in Sterling Colo and filed a claim for their land; each one had 160 acres. Then they came home and we prepared to move. Grandpa and I had a nice home (which we had built and were married in, and your mother was born there also) which we sold. *** [Household belongings were shipped by railroad box car.] We were located about 10 miles from the town of Merino and with a team of work horses it took quite a while to drive that far.***
      "*** Grandpa Snouffer was the carpenter, Great Grandpa Newens helped him, and Uncle Art made the trips back and forth to town for lumber, more of the household goods, groceries, etc.
      "*** [After surviving a prairie fire, our] house was soon finished and then we had the shelter we needed. Grandpa Snouffer never learned how -- that is -- he had not had any experience building a house, but he loved to do it and we were very comfortable. The house was 12 x 20 and was just like your garage, not finished on the inside. The 2x4's all showed and I hung pictures between them. I think we had four windows not just a hole cut in the wall but regular windows that you could raise & lower. Later we built a kitchen which was about 10 x 14. We had the same furniture we had used in C.R. You see we had only been married three years so everything was new. ***
      "We lived on the farm for three years, then proved up and got a Government Deed signed by Woodrow Wilson.... The land is still ours and has been farmed every year although we only lived there the three years.***
      "*** When we moved away [back to Iowa] we sold all the buildings and they were moved off the land. Uncle Bob [Snouffer] was born while we lived out there."

      The deed was issued 27 Jan 1914 for the NE 1/4 of Section 18, Township 6 N, Range 55 W, 6th Principal Meridian, [Morgan Cnty] Colorado.

      In another (undated) document, similar in content to the one above, she commented further about the move back to Cedar Rapids: "School was 3 miles away and our daughter was almost 5 years old so we gave up our homesteading and went back to C.R. where my husband went back to work at the same place he had been working. The Torch Press."

      Here it should be noted that The Torch Press printed a major historical reference for Linn County, Iowa. It is: A. F. Dotson, HONOR ROLL OF LINN COUNTY IOWA (The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids, IA; c. 1925), which collects photographs and biographical data on all of the Linn County men and women who served in the military during World War I. It is likely that William Dietrich helped produce this book.

      The 1910 Colorado census shows that the extended family was living in Morgan County. William D. Snouffer was listed as a 26-yr old farmer, and head of a household consisting of his 25-yr old wife Bertha I. and 2-yr old daughter "Blanch N." [sic] The family was bracketed in the census by Bertha's parents John and Ellen Newens on the one hand, and by 21-year old Arthur J. Snouffer and 31-yr old Lessie Newens on the other. 1910 U.S.Census, Prct. 12, Snyder, Morgan Cnty, CO (T 624, Roll 123, stamped p. 294).

      The 1920 Iowa census reports that the family had returned to Iowa, living in Anamosa, Jones County. William's age is listed as 35 and he is employed in a factory as a "Bookbinder." Living with him are his wife Bertha, 35, and children Blanche, 11, Robert 8, and William, 6. 1920 U.S. Census, 4th Wd, Anamosa, Jones Cnty, IA (T 625, Roll 495, stamped p. 277).

      In 1930 William, 45, was a foreman at a book bindery, according to the census. He was living with his wife Bertha I, 45, two sons, "Robert M," 18, and "William M," 16, and his widowed mother-in-law Ellen Newens, 86. 1930 U.S. Census, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, IA (T 626, Roll 665, stamped p. 106B).

      Cedar Rapids Gazette (?) (22 Sep 1928):
      "William Snouffer, 1531 Washington avenue, foreman of the bindery department of the Metropolitan Supply company, was injured this forenoon when one of his thumbs was mashed. He was taken to St. Luke's hospital."

      Obituary, Cedar Rapids Gazette (?) (11 Dec 1935):
      "W.D. Snouffer, Lifelong Resident of City, Dies
      "William D. Snouffer, 51, of 1531 Washington avenue SE, died at a local hospital at 1:45 a.m. today. Mr. Snouffer underwent an operation for ruptured appendix last Thursday [5 Dec]. He was born in Cedar Rapids April 5, 1884, and had lived here all his life. In addition to his wife, Bertha I., he is survived by two sons, Robert N., Cedar Rapids; William N., a cadet at West Point; a daughter, Mrs. Blanche Nelson, of Rahway, N.J., and a grand-daughter, Barbara Blanche Nelson. He also leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Snouffer, Cedar Rapids; three brothers, Edward M., Arthur J., both of Cedar Rapids; Charles W., of St. Paul, Minn., and a sister, Mrs. Bess Elson, Benton Harbor, Mich. He was a member of the First Lutheran church, Mount Hermon lodge, A.F. and A.M.; Cedar chapter, O.E.S.; Trowel chapter, R.A.M. and M.W.A. 145.
      "Funeral services will be held in the First Lutheran church.... Burial will be in Linwood cemetery...."

  • Sources 
    1. [S2] Bertha Newens|, Bertha Ina (Newens) Snouffer, "Newens & Snouffer Family Records", (Bertha Ina (Newens) Snouffer; unpublished charts; created abt 1960; revised abt 1970; original charts possessed by Wm.C.Snouffer).

    2. [S619] IA Census 1900, Linn|, Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Linn Cnty, 1900 U.S. Census, (The National Archives, Washington, D.C.), (T623, Roll 444, pp. 302-303).

    3. [S5] Cedar Rapids Gazette|, Cedar Rapids Gazette, (Cedar Rapids, IA), (May 1933).

    4. [S6] IA Census 1930, Cedar Rapids|, Iowa, Linn Cnty, Cedar Rapids, 1930 U.S. Census, (The National Archives, Washington, D.C.), (T626, Roll 665, ED 47, p. 2B).

    5. [S7] Cem - Linwood, Cedar Rapids, IA|, Genealogical Soc'y of Linn Cnty, IA, "Linn County, Iowa Cemeteries, Linwood, Cedar Rapids", (Genealogical Society of Linn Cnty, IA, PO Box 175, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 : 2001), p. 52.

    6. [S37] Ancestry Tree - Mann|, James D. Hug, "Mann_2011-12-09", (Ancestry.com, Public Member Tree, Online database, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/33020986/listofallpeople).

    7. [S42] Jewell - Snouffers|, Carol Snouffer Jewell, "Snouffer, Schnauffer, Newens of Germany, IA, 1523-1997" (Nov 1999), (Family Tree Maker, "World Family Tree," CD-ROM database (vol. 54, tree 2400), Cambridge, MA; The Learning Company, Inc. : 2000).

    8. [S378] WW I Draft Card|, U.S. Selective Service System, "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", (U.S. Selective Service System, The National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Online database: http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482).

    9. [S69] Cedar Rapids Lutheran|, "Church Records", (First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Ave, SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403).

    10. [S5] Cedar Rapids Gazette|, Cedar Rapids Gazette, (Cedar Rapids, IA), Oct. 1943.

    11. [S879] IA Marriages, 1838-1934 |, Iowa County Court Clerks, Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934, (Online database, "Historical Record Collections," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT; https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list ).

    12. [S8] IA Census 1920, CR, 5-P|, Iowa, Linn Cnty, Cedar Rapids, 5th Precinct, 1920 U.S. Census, (The National Archives, Washington, D.C.), (T625, Roll 500, pp. 190-191).

    13. [S5] Cedar Rapids Gazette|, Cedar Rapids Gazette, (Cedar Rapids, IA), (1 May 1939).

    14. [S9] IA Census 1930, CR, 19-P|, Iowa, Linn Cnty, Cedar Rapids, 19th Precinct, 1930 U.S. Census, (The National Archives, Washington, D.C.), (T626, Roll 665, ED 64, p. 6B).

    15. [S5] Cedar Rapids Gazette|, Cedar Rapids Gazette, (Cedar Rapids, IA), 28 Oct 1981.