John Snare

John Snare, son of John P. and Esther (Baker) Snare, was born at the old home in Pennsylvania, January 5, 1828, in 1847 came to Illinois and located in Penn township. His first land purchase was made on section 12, Toulon, of 200 acres. On March 4, 1854, he married Miss Maria T. Holgate, daughter of Judge Holgate, (whose history is given in this chapter), and to them five children were born, of whom three are living, Wilden P., married, residing in Toulon township; Wilna P., wife of Watt P. Mansker, now of Kansas, and Wilbur P., married, residing in Penn township. Since his marriage Mr. Snare has added 400 acres to his original purchase, aggregating 600 acres in Toulon and Penn townships. He has always been a true Republican, a part of the time an unconditional Abolitionist. He was elected justice of the peace for Penn township, but moving to Toulon, did not hold this office, and was supervisor of Penn. Religiously, he is one of the old members of the Methodist Protestant church, and in school work, an earnest friend of the system and conscientious official of his district for years. A reference to the history of Nathan Snare, given in the chapter on Toulon, contains much of the history of the family in this county. James Snare, son of John P. and Esther (Baker) Snare, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., July 7, 1827. He attended school and worked on the home farm until thirteen years of age, when he was indentured to a tailor, who did not at all suit the young aspirant for this trade, so that he was transferred to the shop of J. M. Cline, also a tailor combined with the calling of a Dutch Winebrenarian preacher. For two years he labored with this man, when he entered the employ of John P. Gable, a tailor and Methodist class leader. Subsequently he worked at his trade at Newburg, purchased an interest in the Kissinger tailor shop, which he held about four years. He married Miss Rebecca, daughter of Amos and Alley (Baker) Clark, November 13, 1845. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Her mother was daughter of Captain John Baker of the War of 1812, who as a private soldier led a forlorn hope against the English, which resulted in the victory for the patriots. For this deed of valor he was commissioned on the field. Mr. Snare continued at the trade after marriage, and also sold goods on commission. For years he was connected with the state militia, held two commissions as First Lieutenant from Governor Johnson of Pennsylvania. Resigning his lieutenancy in the fall of 1852 and selling his business interests, he migrated to this township, purchased sixty acres on section 18, where he resided five years, when he traded, his home and tract for his brother's property, and in 1860 moved to his new farm of 118 acres on section 7, to which he has since added 197 acres, giving a total acreage of 315. In connection with his large farm and stock interests he also carries on the auctioneer's business. Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Snare, six are living: Millie J., widow of George McClyment, now residing at Wyoming; Martha L., Mrs. Thomas Dryden, of West Jersey; John Charles Fremont, married, resident of Buffalo county, Neb.; Lincoln C, Jesse and James, residing with parents. Mr. Snare's first vote was cast for Fremont. In 1859 he was elected justice of the peace and holds the office down to the present. In 1886 he was elected supervisor, has served as school trustee of Penn, also collector. For over forty-six years he has been a member of the Methodist Protestant church, of which his wife is also a member. During the war he belonged to the Union League. At the breaking out of the rebellion he helped to raise a company and was elected Captain. But as more companies were offered than could be received, the members of this company went off and joined other companies that were received. For over thirty-four years he has played a complete part in the drama of Stark's progress.