My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. SNOOK, farmer and grain-dealer; P. O. Delano. This gentleman was born in Maryland, on the 25th of January, 1823; he was the son of John Snook, who was born in the State of Maryland, and died in Ohio, in the spring of 1839. At 15 years of age, the subject of this sketch started out with an older brother, to seek his fortune, his capital consisting of $2.45; his first labor was working upon the turnpike in Clark Co., Ohio, upon which he labored three months, without receiving his wages, when the contractor failed and fled, and Mr. Snook lost his three months labor; during the following winter, he performed various duties upon a farm, receiving from 30 to 50 cents per day, and in the spring his capital invoiced one ax, a new suit of clothes and $15 in money. He was then confined to the house two months with a broken leg. After which he was employed as a farm laborer, until 1842, when he was united in marriage with Mary M. Fuller, Sept. 15, 1842; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 6, 1822. He then rented land for two years, and in the winter of 1844, he labored at $8 per month, and in this manner he supported his family, which at that time consisted of himself, wife and one child. He then farmed on shares two years, when he hired out in a distillery, where he worked for eight years, his wages varying from $15 to $30 per month; during this period of labor he made his first land purchase by investing $500 in Indiana land, which he held three years, when he realized a profit of $1,000. He continued dealing in land while working by the month, until he had realized a profit of $3,500. In 1854, he purchased a farm, for which he paid $4,000, upon which he located and engaged in farming and dealing in land, until 1861, when he sold out, and coming West, located in Logan County, Ill., in the fall of 1861. Here he followed farming and dealing in real estate, until he came to McLean Co., and located upon Sec. 23, West Township, in 1868, where he has since lived. He now owns 1,100 acres of land, upon which he has ten sets of good farm buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, economy and careful business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, and to her efforts he generously attributes the greatest share of his success. In politics, he is a Republican. His religious belief is Universalist. Has been a strong temperance advocate for the past thirty years. He is a public-spirited man, and considers well the interest of his township; to his efforts the township of West may feel truly grateful for what has been accomplished for its benefit. The completion of the narrow-gauge railroad through the township, at this time, is one of the public enterprises in which he has been actively engaged. He has witnessed the completion of this road, secured a station upon his own land, and engaged largely in buying grain, and although this is his first season, his shipments will reach 100,000 bushels, for which he pays the highest possible price. He has also secured a post office at the station, put in a stock of merchandise, put up a blacksmith-shop, and deals in coal, to which he will soon add a stock of lumber. The children of George and Mary Snook were ten in number, of which eight are now living — Nancy M., Joseph L., John T., Charles C., Walter H., Sarah L., Henry Q., and William W.