James Snodgrass

The student interested in the history of Boone county does not have to carry his investigations far into its annals before learning that James Snodgrass has long been an active and leading representative and that his labors have proven a potent force in making this a rich farming region. Through several decades he has carried on diversified farming and stock raising, gradually improving his land, and while he has prospered in this he has also found ample opportunity to assist in the material development of the county, and his co-operation has been of value for the general good. He is one of the honored veterans of the Union army who, when the tocsin of war sounded in the nation's greatest crisis, uncomplainingly went forth to defend with his life, if need be, the honor of the old flag. His career in every respect has been one of commendation and is well worth study and emulation.

Mr. Snodgrass was born January 24, 1835 in Hancock county, Indiana. He is a son of Robert and Rebecca (Gregg) Snodgrass, natives of Kentucky. The grandparents, John Snodgrass and wife, were natives of Virginia, from which state they removed to Hancock county, Indiana, as early as 1812, four years before the state was admitted into the Union and when it was still principally the home of red men. Here the elder Snodgrass entered land from the government on which he established the future home of the family. He was a man of courage and thrift and succeeded in the face of the great obstacles encountered by every frontiersman. John and Fannie (Spillman) Gregg, natives of Culpeper county, Virginia, came to Rush county, Indiana about 18 14, and were thus also among the early pioneers of this state. Mr. Gregg was a soldier in the war of 1812. He finally removed to Hancock county, this state where he settled in woods and developed a farm. Here the parents of our subject were married and began life on a farm, but Robert Snodgrass was also a flour miller, and he traded extensively in land, which he bought and sold. He and his wife spent the latter parts of their lives in Clinton county. The father died August 5, 1876; the mother died in November, 1879.

James Snodgrass, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm, and he attended the subscription schools in Boone county, later in Mechanicsburg. He learned to read at Thorntown and after he reached man's estate he attended writing school and learned to write.

He remained with his parents until the breaking out of the Civil war, enlisting on August 22, 1861, in Company K, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he served under General George H. Thomas in the army of the Cumberland, in Kentucky, later in the Mississippi army. He saw much hard service and proved to be an excellent soldier. Among the engagements in which he participated were those of Mill Springs, Perryville, siege of Corinth, Crab Orchard, Louisville, on the pursuit of Bragg, Tullahoma, Pigeon Mountain, Chickamauga, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded below the right knee by a rifle ball on September 19, 1863, which resulted in his spending two months in a hospital in Nashville. Besides the above battles, he was in many skirmishes while with the army in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. After his recovery from the wound he rejoined his regiment with which he remained until he was honorably discharged September 19, 1864, after which he returned home, his parents then living in Clinton county. Soon thereafter he began farming for himself on eighty acres which he had bought before going to war. He prospered by close application and hard work and added to his original holdings until he became owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and thirty- four acres which he sold in 1903 and bought two hundred and sixty acres of improved land in Marion township, later adding fifty acres, then purchased another tract of forty acres in Adams township, Hamilton county. He has improved from time to time his land which he has for some time kept rented, but which he oversees. He has always kept a good grade of live stock, and he has a splendid home, and now in his declining years he is taking life easy, having every necessary comfort.

Mr. Snodgrass was married April 27, 1865, to Clarissa McCain, who was born in Frankfort, Indiana, January 8, 1841. She is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Young) McCain, natives of Ohio, from which state they came to Frankfort, Indiana, in a very early day, making the trip overland and he conducted the first general merchandise store in Frankfort at that time.

The following children have been born to our subject and wife: William, born April 28, 1866, who lives with our subject, operates the home farm, and he formerly taught school twenty years; Ida May, born April 24, 1868, is the wife of Thomas Sims, of Indianapolis, and they have three boys — J. Verne, Max and James T. ; Mary J., born July 16, 1870, is the widow of Elijah M. Walker, and she lives in Marion township and has five children — Ruth A., born August 18. 1896. Rena E., born August 4, 1899. Clara C., born August 25, 1902, Jas. W. born May 1, 1904, Ida Beatrice, born February 8, 1906; Frederick, born March 21, 1873, died when three years old; John I [?] McCain, born July 2, 1876, died in infancy; Fannie, born November 4. 1880, is the wife of Anderson Jones, of Delaware county. Indiana. They have two children — Dorothy May, born April 21, 1907, Alma L., born February 7, 1910.

Politically Mr. Snodgrass is a Democrat. He is a member of the William Smith Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Sheridan, Indiana. Religiously he is a member of the Christian church, in which he served two years as elder, and is an active member of the same, as also is his family.

Source Citation: Boone County Biographies [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2008. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Hon. L. M. Crist. "History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families." Indianapolis, Ind.: A. W. Bowen, 1914. pp 600-602.

Transcribed by: T. Stover - October 5, 2008