Abraham Schneider

Abraham Snyder had few educational advantages in his youth, his real school attendance being covered by two months, but he has always made the most of his opportunities and is able to write intelligently in both the English and German languages, something very many of the younger generation cannot accomplish. He thinks he is probably one of the oldest threshers in all this section, as he was not more than ten years of age when he began feeding a threshing machine. During his boyhood he worked in the mill in his neighborhood, during a large part of the time when not threshing, and during the winter seasons helped operate the old loom in the kitchen, where all the cloth for the big family was woven. He grew to manhood with ingrained habits of industry and thrift.

When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Snyder commenced to consider the subject of enlisting, but like many others, private duties and responsibilities stood in the way. He had been reared a Democrat by a stanch Democratic father, but bother were men of loyal sentiment and, in 1863, Abraham Snyder proved that his patriotism was more than mere talk by offering his services and enlisting in Company F, Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, with the rank of first lieutenant. He participated in many important battles and traveled thousands of miles on long and weary marches.

After the close of the Civil War, Mr. Snyder returned to his home and engaged in farming and his previous occupations until 1888, when he moved on his present farm, where he is still engaged in milling and also in threshing. Snyder’s mill at Millheim is a historic landmark. The dam was built in 1817 and the mill constructed shortly afterward, and it is the oldest mill in Summit County. In 1828 it was rebuilt by Michael Myers and is situated on a part of lot 7, tract 6, on the banks of the Tuscarawas Creek. Mr. Snyder purchased the mill from H.J. Kreighbaum in 1899, he being the assignee of its former owner, William C. Shook. The stanch old framework is of hewed timber. A sawmill formerly stood near, but the grain mill was built soon after the first settlement. It is a paying property under Mr. Snyder’s excellent management. He grinds chop and feed and has all he can do, keeping the mill running both day and night.

On June 19.1858, Mr. Snyder was married to Catherine Cranoble, who is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Cranoble. She was born in Grote Twp., Center County, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1831