Mr. Snuffin is well known and respected in German township, where for
many a day he has lived and prospered. He was born on November 22, 1846, in
Union county, Ohio, being the son of Levi and Cathryne (Clark) Snuffin. His
father was born and reared in Ohio and his mother was a native of Kentucky.
Their marriage took place in Ohio, where thev lived on a farm until 1860.
when they came to Illinois and bought thirty-seven acres of land in German
township, for which they paid about ten dollars an acre. It was prairie
land, unimproved, but well fenced. Levi Snufiin built a plank house upon the
land and other buildings, and put the land into a state of cultivation. Here
he remained and died at the age of sixty-two, being buried in Stolz cemetery
in German township. Mother Snuffin survived for several years, dying June
20, 1906, aged eighty-five years; she is also buried in Stoltz cemetery.
They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity, the
subject being the third in order of birth.
Stephen Snuffin remained
with his parents until his marriage. When the Civil war broke out he was but
seventeen years old, and, filled with the martial fervor of the time, he
stealthily left home one morning at three o'clock, with the intention of
enlisting at Olney, but his father put a bar to his military career by
reaching Olney in time to compel him to return home. Stephen's marriage took
place on April 14, 1867, when he married Margaret Stoltz. She was born
November 23, 1847, in Richland county, Illinois, being the daughter of Henry
and Savilla (Peoples) Stoltz. Her father was a native of Illinois, having
been also born in Richland county. Her mother belonged to a Kentucky family,
coming to Illinois with her parents when she was about three years old. Her
mother and father, on their marriage, settled on a farm in German township,
where they remained several years. They then sold their land and bought
nineteen acres in another location in German township, which, at the time of
their deaths, contained over one hundred acres. Mrs. Stoltz died in August,
1872, aged fifty years. Henry Stoltz died in March, 1900, aged seventy-five.
Both were buried in Stoltz cemetery, German township. They were the parents
of ten children. Mrs. Snuffin being second in order of birth. An elder
brother served in the Civil war in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, having died
at Vicksburg from small-pox while in service.
Stephen Snuffin and
his wife at the time of their marriage, settled on a farm in Richland
county, and although they have moved several times since then, they have
never left the county. During their married life six children have been born
to them, two of whom are now dead. In the regular order the children were
named: Henry C. (deceased); Ella S.; Alvord; Edgar (deceased); Edwin; Samuel
married Delia Jeffries, now deceased. His wife is buried in Kirksville,
Illinois, and he has no living children. Ella married Warren Musgrove. They
reside on a farm near Electra, Texas, and have four children; two boys and
two girls: Lawrence, Lex, Maurice and Ethel. Alvord and Edwin Snuffin are
unmarried.
The subject of our sketch received but a limited
education in his young days. He attended the free common schools in German
township, but owing to the necessary work to be done on the farm his
attendance was anything but regular. He, however, mastered reading, writing
and spelling. Mrs. Stephen Snuffin in her young days had educational
difficulties very similar to that of her husband and therefore did not
receive an extended education.
In politics Stephen Snuffin is an
uncompromising Republican and has taken quite an active part in politics in
German township. He served as a county road supervisor for several terms. He
never aspired to hold any political offices and has contented himself as a
worker in the cause.
In the religious world, while he and his family
are not members of any particular church, they have always attended the
Methodist services and have liberally contributed to the support of the same
church.
The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Snuffin is very peaceable and
happy, the children they have reared being a constant and unfailing source
of satisfaction to them.
Extracted 21 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 431-432.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
