My Genealogy Hound

HENRY SNELL, retired farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Darke. He was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1812; his father, John Snell, was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1782, and married Mary Shively, of Pennsylvania; they moved to Washington Township, Darke Co., June 4, 1817, making the first wagon track on the west side of the second branch of Greenville Creek, from south of what is now Nashville to “Sharp Eye;” the country was all wilderness, and for six months Mrs. Snell never saw the face of a white woman, but Indians were numerous, and wild game of every description; deer were more plenty than sheep are today; the first schoolhouse had yet to be built, and for many years the first elements of education were hard to obtain. The subject of this sketch cast his first vote in Washington Township for Andrew Jackson, but ever since has voted on the Republican side; he began life with nothing, learned early the cooper’s trade, and commenced the business on his own account in 1831; followed it about fourteen years, until his health failed him, then he went to buying and selling livestock and farming; but for the last twenty years, he has rented out his farms and speculated in lands and houses. He married Mary Shively Sept. 11, 1836; she was born on Sec. 27, where they reside, Aug. 24, 1818; they never had any children of their own, but have raised two sets, all of whom are doing well in business, and are well settled in independent circumstances; Mr. Snell owns 438 acres, with good farm houses and outbuildings.