William Snyder

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-55070
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1921, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Student, University
• Residence: 1921, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1970, 100 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

CLIVE SNYDER Clive Snyder of 100 Queen St. N. died Saturday at St. Mary's. Hospital after a brief illness. He was 68.

A resident of the Twin City area for most of his life, Mr. Snyder was born in St. Jacobs March 1, 1901, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Snyder.

He was a member of St, Andrew's Presbyterian Church.. He retired as secretary-treasurer of Canada Felting CO. Ltd. St. Jacobs in December last year, but retained the position of president.

Surviving besides his wife, the former Mildred Clare Fleck whom he married in Georgetown Feb, 2, 1935; are a son, William of Brampton, a brother, Kenneth of Toronto; two sisters, Mrs. Ruby Withers of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Mrs. Gladys Harkness of Burlington and two grandchildren.

Mr. Snyder was predeceased by a son, Edward, two brothers and a sister. The body was at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, until Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. when removal was made to St. Andrew's Church for a private funeral in the chapel at I:30 p.m. with the Very Rev. Dr. Finlay G. Stewart officiating. Burial was in Calvary United cemetery, St. Jacobs.

Clive married Mildred Clare Fleck 2 Feb 1935. Mildred was born 6 Mar 1906, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States; died 24 Aug 2005; was buried , Calvary United Brethern Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mildred Clare Snyder
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-123666
• Residence: 1970, 100 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

SNYDER, Mildred Clare Fleck - Died peacefully in her sleep, on Wednesday, August 24, 2005. She was predeceased by her husband, the late Clive Snyder, and one son Clive Edward Snyder, by her parents, the late Edward Fleck and Marie Maude Anderson Fleck, by brother Paul Melvin Fleck and sister Marie Maude Fleck Martin. She leaves her son William Fleck Snyder, and Granddaughters Elizabeth, Caitlin and Emily. She was Godmother to Diane Duffield and Susan Coleman Boyd. The family wishes to thank Gerry and Liz Langbein for their kind and loyal friendship to Mildred Clare Fleck Snyder and to remember a kind and loyal friend, Mr. T. Dawson of Portugal. Visitation at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W. Kitchener will be from 2-4 and 7-9 on Sunday, August 28. Family will be in attendance. A service will be held at 1 p.m. at the Ratz-Bechtel Home, on Monday, August 29. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Evangelical Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Ontario, with a reception afterwards at (Benjamin's Restaurant) in St. Jacobs from 3-5 p.m. The family will appreciate gifts in lieu of flowers to the Men's Hostel of the House of Friendship through the funeral home or online at www.ratzbechtelfuneralhome.com

THE RECORD, Kitchener, Ontario - Aug. 26, 2005

___________________

"Age, infirmity didn't slow woman's travels : It was midnight when Gerry Langbein stood scanning the crowd in Maui's airport arrivals area.

Then he spotted her: a frail, blind 98-year-old with bad hips and a fused spine resulting from multiple surgeries.

For Mildred Snyder, age and infirmity were simply a nuisance, not enough to stop the intrepid world traveller.

'She was one of a kind', said Gerry, a favourite taxi driver and long-time friend of the Waterloo senior. 'I took her everywhere'.

On that day in Hawaii, Gerry drove Mildred back to his vacation condo, where the two stayed up sipping brandy and chatting till 3 a.m. She'd already been awake more than 24 hours and at one point she called her son, William Snyder, at his home in Glacier, Washington.

'I was not amused', says William, who admits this was but one example of a lifetime of surprises.

'She didn't have a sense of limitations. When I was very young, we would get letters and telegrams from her, from Zanzibar, Alaska, Barbados or someplace in Africa or South America.

She was this mythical person, larger than life'.

After Mildred's death on Aug. 24, William fingered through an address book, reading 'page after page after page' of people's names and details of hotels in the most remote parts of the world.

Mildred always travelled alone, scooping up new friends along the way.

'I dislike getting on a bus with a group and being bossed around', she said once.

In fact, the only time she joined a tour was in the 1970s, when she went to China. Her group was only the second to be allowed into the Communist country.

Mildred was born in Michigan after her mother left their Georgetown, Ont .home to give birth in the United States, returning with the newborn a few weeks later. Her father was Edward Fleck, a successful industrialist who ran a pulp and paper mill in Georgetown.

As a young woman, the eldest of three, Mildred developed a steely, independent attitude and often travelled with her father. Father and mother were not people to be trifled with, but Mildred was an intellectual and emotional match for both.

But this kind of unflinching determination did not make Mildred's adult life easy.

She married industrialist and St. Jacobs native Clive Snyder in 1935.Theirs was at times a troubled marriage, further strained after two-year-old son Edward drowned. Mildred's heart was broken but not her spirit, and when her husband died in 1970, she moved to Portugal for more than a decade, eventually returning to her beloved Canada.

Despite her privilege background, Mildred wanted to fully experience the world, both its beauty and ugliness. In Hawaii, in the 1930s, she visited a leper colony and she volunteered in the slums of India and Tibet.

During her travels, Mildred met some of the world's most controversial leaderes, including Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. She trod to the top of Peru's Machu Picchu in a group that included Prince Philip and, when she was 80, hiked up Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro.

'I have to get to the top of everything...but I'm a trekker, not a climber', she said later. 'I only went to the first base camp at Mt. Everest. I know my limitations.'

After spotting a group of peace-marchers in Iceland, she jumped off the bus and walked 32 kilometres at their side.

As a teenager, she was a featured speaker at political rallies and had developed a deep sense of social justice.

Spontaneous and fearless, Mildred went gliding in Iceland and hot-air ballooning in Mexico. She skied, went scuba diving and, as a young woman, showed horses, golfed competitively, entered an international car race and learned to fly. She also got to know First World War flying ace Billy Bishop.

William describes his mother as an acress who always loved to be in the spotlight.

He chortles when he recalls the family receiving a message that Mildred had been kicked out of a bar in Juno, Alaska, for dancing atop an antique piano. She was 84 at the time and working her way down the Pacific coast in float planes.

When she wasn't off on an adventure, Mildred was a generous and dedicated community volunteer, who never sought recognition.

Gerry recalls her brewing pots of soup in her Waterloo apartment and hiring a taxi for delivery to Anselma House.

A graduate of the Univ. of Guelph's Macdonald Institute, she taught home economics at a Waterloo high school. During the war, she headed up the Red Cross and taught low-cost cooking.

Former employee Cecilia Kekish talked about Mildred's kindness, how she treated her like family.

In 1986, she lost most of her sight overnight through macular degeneration. But Mildred continued to travel for months at a time throughout her 80s and 90s.

Though a gourmet cook, she was petite and not usually one to over-indulge. Instead, the sweet, polite traveller fulfilled her yearnings by venturing into the world's most dangerous places, endearing herself to all she met.

Perhaps they could see that she was simply a woman with a restless spirit, that she wanted to explore the world and all its marvels.

Mildred Snyder leaves behind her son, William of Washington, along with three granddaughters and one gr-grandchild."


KW Record of Thurs., Sept. 8, 2005 'Lifetimes' column

Other Events:

• Business: St. Jacob's Creamery
• Name: Alf Snyder
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6209
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1895, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1921, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer, Felt
• Residence: 1921, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Notes:

Alfred Snyder, "was born November 25th, 1864. He is married to Clara W. Snider and resided in St. Jacobs where he, in partnership with his brother William is doing an extensive business in general merchandise."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

___________

W. & A. SNIDER

Here are two of the leading and most successful business men of St. Jacobs. They are sons of the late J. B. Snider who for many years carried on a large general mercantile establishment at Conestogo. He finally sold, the business there to his partner, Mr. N. S. Bowman, and established the business here in 1876 and continued it with marked success until his death which occurred in 1885. He was a man well known throughout Waterloo county and one who was highly respected and esteemed by all who came in contact with him either in a business way or socially. For many years he was Reeve of Woolwich township, and in which capacity he won the good will of every one who had business transactions with the Municipal Government. In 1886 his sons, William and Alfred, formed a partnership and took entire charge of the business. William was born in Conestogo in 1860, and Alfred at the same place in 1864. William still enjoys the life of single blessedness, but Alfred was married in 1895 to Miss Clara, daughter of Mr. E. W. B. Snider, and is now the father of one child, a son. They inherited the sterling business qualities so characteristic of the father, and it must be admitted without prejudice that they do as large a general country mercantile business as any one business firm in Waterloo county, and the fact that they carry as large a stock cannot be disputed. Their store is a large two- story building and is filled from top to bottom with general merchandise. The lower floor contains the dry goods, dress goods, groceries, etc. The display is of the latest styles in dress fabrics and ladies specialties in general. The upper floor contains the largest and finest display of crockery and glassware I have seen for a long time. Their large stock of hats and caps and boots and shoes is also in this department.

Not only are the Snider Bros. proprietors of an extensive mercantile establishment, but with Mr. Wm. Brubacher they own and operate the St. Jacobs creamery, one of the most important industries of this section, and the first industry of the kind established in the Province. At first, when it was established in 1878, by Gales & Woodcock, it was a combined cheese and butter factory. But this did not seem to meet the desires of the farmers and the cheese department was abandoned. The latter firm failed after operating it two or three years. Several private parties then controlled it a few years. A joint stock company comprised of farmers finally took charge of it, but still it seems, it did not prove to be a profitable venture on this basis either. After it's many years of checkered career it was purchased by the Snider Bros. and Mr. Brubacher in 1891. In their hands it has been a success ever since. They use the cream gathering system. Their annual output of choice butter is 125,000 pounds, and some years it has been as high as 150,000 pounds. They make only for export to the old country.

The factory is in charge of Mr. Brubacher who is an expert butter maker. They get cream from a radius of 20 miles north and south and 10 miles east and west. Henry Wakefort, one of the cream gatherers, has been with the factory ever since it was established, 18 years ago.

Waterloo Chronicle 9 Dec 1897, p. 2

Alfred married Clara W. Snider 17 Jan 1895, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Clara (daughter of Elias Weber Bingeman Snider, MPP and Nancy Weber) was born 10 Mar 1865, German Mills (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 11 Jan 1942; was buried , Calvary United Brethern Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Clara W. Snyder
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5854
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Residence: 1921, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Notes:

Clara Snider, "was born March 10th, 1865, She is married to Alfred Snyder, a merchant, and resides in St. Jacobs, Ontario."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

___________________


MRS. ALFRED SNYDER


Mrs. Clara W. Snyder. 76, St. Jacobs, widow of the late Alfred Snyder, died at her home early Sunday morning of last week after a lengthy illness.

The eldest daughter of the late E. W. B. Snyder. she was born at Parkway (German Mills), in 1865. Mrs. Snyder was a member of St. Jacobs Calvary Evangelical Church and took an active part in its various organizations.

Surviving are three sons, Earl of East Geduld, South Africa, Clive of Kitchener, Kenneth of Toronto; two daughters, Mrs. D. B. Harkness of Burlington and Mrs. Geo. Withers of Johannesburg, South Africa.

KW Record obit. of Mon., Jan. 12, 1942

Other Events:

• Elected Office: Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve of Woolwich Township
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6206
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; school teacher
• Residence: 1859, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Elected Office: 1879, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Warden of the County of Waterloo
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant

Notes:

John B. Snyder, "the eldest son of Jacob Snyder, Jr., and his second wife, Magdalena, Bowman, was born near Bloomingdale, October 24th, 1832. His boyhood days were spent on the farm during the summer, and during the winter he attended the public school of the neighborhood, receiving such an education as the schools then furnished. Being of a studious nature, he improved his time so well that he soon surpassed all the other members of his class. Having an idea of the advantages of a good education, his father had him placed in the Rockwood Acadamy where he remained for several terms. By the time he attained the age of seventeen years he was qualified to teach in our public schools. he taught for a short time then commenced life as a clerk. About the year 1855 he and his brother, Joseph, entered into partnership and opened a large store in Winterbourne where they did a successful business. In 1862 Mr. Snyder sold out his interest in the business and went to Conestogo where he, in partnership with Mr. Noah S. Bowman, opened a large and well stocked store. The partnership existed until 1872 when it was dissolved and Mr. Snyder retired from business for some time. In 1874 he moved to St. Jacobs where he again entered into the mercantile business, following it until he death which took place September 9th, 1885. Mr. Snyder's experience in the municipal council for Woolwich Township extended over a number of year, many of which he served as reeve, and was also warden of the county of Waterloo. In 1859 he was united in matrimony with Sarah, daughter of the late Henry and Elizabeth (Snider) Snider. She was born October 12nd, 1840, and died October 14th, 1894. To them were born seven children"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

____________________________

Death of Mr. J. B. Snyder, Reeve of Woolwich

We deeply regret to announce the death of this well-known resident of the County of Waterloo, which took place at his residence, St. Jacobs, on Tuesday evening last. The circumstances attending Mr. Snyder's death are very peculiar. Some week ago his wife had what was apparently a felon on her finger, and while it was discharging Mr. Snyder was in the habit of dressing it for her. At this time he had a scratch on one of his fingers, and the virus from the discharging wound on his wife's hand must have entered this scratch, for about Wednesday of last week his finger commenced to swell. This swelling rapidly extended up his arm, and toward the close of the week all the symptoms of blood poisoning were present. The best available medical aid was secured, but the poison had obtained too firm a held on his system, and he succumbed as we have stated on Tuesday evening.

Mr. Snyder was one of the most prominent men in the township of Woolwich, and was widely known throughout the entire North Riding. He had occupied the position of Reeve of the Township for a great many years, and could apparently have retained it as long as he wished. He always took a leading part in the discussions at the County Council, and was universally respected by the members of that body. His death will remove a central figure from Woolwich Township, and it will be hard indeed to fill his place. Mr. Snyder was engaged in the mercantile business in St. Jacobs, and was n the 53rd year of his age at the time of his death.

Galt Reporter Sep 11 1885 pg 1

John married Sarah Snider 9 Oct 1859, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Sarah (daughter of Henry Snider and Elizabeth Snider) was born 2 Oct 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 14 Oct 1894; was buried , Calvary United Brethern Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Sarah Snyder
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6313
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• Business: Union Mills - William Snider & Co., Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario; Union Mills
• Business: Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Waterloo Distillery & flouring mill
• Interesting: pioneer, story, mill, education, politics, business
• Name: E. W. B. Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5853
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant Miller
• Business: 1887, Bricker & Co., Waterloo, Ontario; Waterloo Foundry
• Occupation: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1916, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; President, ?
• Residence: 1921, 181 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Notes:

Elias W. B. Snider, "was born June 19th, 1842. On April 19th, 1864, he was married to Nancy Weber. Mr. Snider is a miller by trade. In 1865 he took possession of the German Mills where he was engaged in doing a well paying business. In March, 1871, he purchased the St. Jacobs Mills where he has been doing an extensive and successful business ever since. Some years ago he also purchased the New Dundee Mills and has since been conducting both mills with the greatest of success. Besides being the proprietor of the two large mills, he has large interests in various other lines of business. In politics Mr. Snider favors the principles of the Liberal Party whose representative he has been in the Local House from June, 1881, (after Mr. Springer's resignation) until the dissolution of that body in 1894 when he declined to be again the standard bearer of the Liberal Party. He resides in St. Jacobs, Ontario. His family consists of the following children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_________________________

ELIAS WEBER BINGEMAN, miller, manufacturer, and politician; b. 19 June 1842 in Waterloo, Upper Canada, third son of Elias Snider and Hannah Bingeman; m. first 19 April 1864 Nancy Weber (d. 1912) in Preston (Cambridge), Upper Canada, and they had seven sons and four daughters (one son died in infancy); m. secondly 1915 Helen Shoemaker; d. 15 Oct. 1921 in Kitchener, Ont.

E. W. B. Snider left public school at the age of 12 to work on the family farm, but he shared his father's interest in milling and in 1860 began a two-year apprenticeship at the family's flour operation in German Mills (Kitchener). On its completion he became the manager of the mill and in 1864 he made an arrangement with his father to run it on a "shares" basis, which would allow him a measure of the profits. The Sniders expanded their holdings in 1868 to include a small mill at Berlin (Kitchener), but in 1871 Elias Jr set out on his own, purchasing a mill in St Jacobs. There he became the first Canadian to introduce roller milling to the industry. On the advice of John Braun (Brown), a former employee, he purchased a roller system from the Hoerde company of Vienna in 1875. This Walzenstuhle process replaced millstones with a slower but more efficient system of small rollers. The resulting product, which Snider called Walzen flour, represented a dramatic improvement in quality over traditionally milled flour and Snider was able to sell it widely, not only in Ontario but also in eastern Canada, the northeastern United States, and Britain. In 1876 he acquired a second mill, in New Dundee, where he also installed rollers. By the mid 1880s this operation and his Pioneer Roller Flouring Mill in St Jacobs were together producing 250 barrels a day.

The roller milling system was an early example of Snider's fascination with new technology and commercial opportunity. In 1884 he was attracted to the foundry business and purchased a works in Waterloo from Jacob Bricker, which he operated with Bricker's son Levi. Four years later the business was incorporated as the Waterloo Manufacturing Company Limited, with Snider and Absalom Merner, another foundry owner, as the major partners. This firm, of which Snider was president, would become famous for the manufacture of agricultural implements. The company expanded Jacob Bricker's line of threshers and retained his Champion trade mark. It also began to make steam traction engines under the Lion Brand trade name. The 1890s and the ensuing decade were good years for the company in the very competitive agricultural machinery business in Canada. By 1908 it employed 150 men and had 15 travelling salesmen, as well as branch offices in Winnipeg and Regina. Developing technology would restrict its success, however. The introduction of the gasoline tractor led to the replacement of steam as the motive power in agriculture by about 1925. Snider and his firm experimented with a gasoline tractor, but the expense, and American competition, caused them to abandon the project. In the early 1920s, after Snider's death, the introduction of an effective, reasonably priced combine harvester on the prairies threatened the company's future even more; it replaced both the tractor and the thresher, and thereby eliminated Waterloo Manufacturing's main markets. Snider's sons, now in control of the company, sold the firm to Playfair and Company of Toronto in 1927.

From 1881 to 1894 Snider had sat as a Liberal for Waterloo North in the Ontario legislature. He concentrated on expanding municipal powers through his work on municipal assessment and a municipal fire insurance act. Later in his term he became interested in forest preservation and lobbied for the creation of reserves. He would maintain this interest long after leaving politics, publishing an article on the depletion of forests in Waterloo County in the report of the Waterloo Historical Society in 1918. In the federal election of 1896 Snider ran against Conservative Joseph Emm Seagram* in Waterloo North. This was an industrial riding and Snider, though himself a protectionist, bore the cross of the Liberals' free trade policy. The local Conservative paper called on him to "be a man." "Declare that you will either support [Wilfrid Laurier*] and Free Trade or Joseph Seagram and Protection." The voters preferred Seagram.

Snider experienced success in the manufacturing and milling fields. He also dabbled in railway promotion, with the Waterloo Junction Railway, and the sugar-beet industry. Among his other interests were the Toronto Foundry (later the Anthes Foundry), the Snider Lumber Company of Waterloo Limited, which operated mills at Gravenhurst, and the Canada Felting Company Limited of St Jacobs.

Snider is best known for his role in the introduction of public electricity to Ontario. An early convert to the benefits of electricity, in 1894 he had installed a generator at his mill in St Jacobs which also provided power to homes in the town. In 1900 he joined with Daniel Bechtel Detweiler and Joseph Bingeman to form a company to generate power for mines north of Lake Superior. The Michipicoten Falls Power Company Limited was an early success and convinced Snider of the importance of hydroelectric power for industry. In February 1902 he called upon business and community leaders in the area around Berlin to meet and discuss the most effective way to ensure that power generated at Niagara Falls would be made available to businesses and homes in the province. A subsequent meeting in June struck a committee, chaired by Snider, to consider the matter. Snider and Detweiler, the publicist, researcher, and jack-of-all-trades for the venture, spoke to many municipal and business leaders as well as to the Niagara power companies. At a further meeting in February 1903 it was decided to lobby the provincial government either to build transmission lines as a public work or to authorize the municipalities to do so. The government of George William Ross* responded with legislation enabling local governments to proceed. On 12 August Snider became the chair of the Ontario Power Commission, which represented seven municipalities and whose members included London mayor Adam Beck and other leaders. Its report in March 1906 recommended that a cooperative of municipalities construct and operate both a generating and a transmission system for Niagara hydroelectric power. The report was, however, superseded by that of a second commission, appointed in 1905 by the new government of James Pliny Whitney* and chaired by Beck; its recommendation in April 1906 of a provincially owned system carried the day. Four years later Premier Whitney went to Berlin to throw the switch that launched Ontario's hydroelectric system. Snider's role in this development faded from public memory, replaced in great measure by Beck's. In the early 1930s his son William Weber began to lobby the provincial government of George Stewart Henry* to recognize Snider's contribution. This campaign eventually resulted in 1956 in a monument to Snider at St Jacobs and in official recognition from the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.

Snider died in 1921 in Kitchener, where he had gone to live after his second marriage. A member of the Evangelical Association, he was laid to rest in the St Jacobs cemetery. He had enjoyed great success in his life by embracing new technology: a new method of milling flour, new machinery for agriculture, and a new system for delivering electricity.

Andrew Thomson


E. W. B. Snider's article "Waterloo forests and primitive economics" appears in Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report (Kitchener, Ont.), 6 (1918): 14--36.
Kitchener Public Library, Rare Books Dept., MC 5.4 (Dan Detweiler papers); MC 6.17 (E. W. B. Snider papers); E. W. B. Snider file.
Ontario Agricultural Museum (Milton, Ont.), Waterloo Manufacturing Company coll.
Kitchener Daily Record, 17 Oct. 1921.
John English and Kenneth McLaughlin, Kitchener: an illustrated history (Waterloo, 1983).
Neil Freeman, "Turn-of-the-century state intervention: creating the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, 1906," OH, 84 (1992): 171-94.
F. L. Leung, Grist and flour mills in Ontario: from millstones to rollers, 1780s--1880s (Ottawa, 1981).
H. V. Nelles, The politics of development: forests, mines & hydro-electric power in Ontario, 1849--1941 (Toronto, 1974).
Elliott Richmond, "E. W. B. Snider," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 9 (1921): 183--88.
W. A. Schmidt, "The Waterloo Manufacturing Co. Limited," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 75 (1987): 16-23.
H. S. Turner and R. W. Irwin, Ontario's threshing machine industry: a short history of these pioneer companies and their contribution to Ontario agriculture (Guelph, Ont., 1974).
G. M. Winder, "Following America into corporate capitalism: technology and organization of the Ontario agricultural implements industry to 1930" (phd thesis, Univ. of Toronto, 1991)


Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval

_________________________-


E. W. B. Snider

Elias Weber Bingeman Snider was born in the town of Waterloo on June 19th, 1842. His parents were Rev. Elias Snider and Hannah Bingeman. His father was interested in farming, and in flour and saw mills in Waterloo town and township. He was a member of the Mennonite Church, in which he was ordained to the ministry in 1874, when quite an elderly man. Associated with Jacob Y. Shantz and others, Elias Snider took great interest in getting Russian Mennonites to settle in Manitoba, from 1872 to 1874.

A most interesting heirloom, now in the possession of Mr. W. W. Snider, an old Swiss Family Bible, printed in 1560, and purchased by Johannes Schneider in 1564 in Switzerland, records that a descendant, a Johannes Schneider, emigrated to Pennsylvania, then a British colony, in 1736. Mr. Snider's great grandfather was born in Pennsylvania in 1758, and emigrated to Canada in 1806, locating in Waterloo township, then nothing but a wilderness.

Mr. Snider received the rudiments of a public school education, but started to work on his father's farm, near Waterloo town, at the age of 12 years, and continued there until his 18th year. In 1860 he began his apprenticeship in his father's flour mill at German Mills, and made himself so familiar with the details of the business, that when he was 20 years old he was promoted to be manager of the mill. In October of 1864 he arranged with his father to run the German Mills on shares, which was continued for some seven years. In January, 1871, Mr. Snider ventured out for himself by purchasing the flour mill at St. Jacobs, where he removed his young family, and where he continued to make his home for some 44 years. Previous to moving to St. Jacobs, Mr. Snider had in his employ a miller by the name of John Braun, of German extraction, who furnished Mr. Snider with a great deal of information regarding milling processes then existing in Austria and Germany. From a business friend, Mr. W. M. Stark, of Toronto, Mr. Snider received further information, as also his first samples, milled in Hungary, of the roller process flour. With this knowledge the keen perception of Mr. Snider foresaw the great possibilities that were open to those who would lead in the transformation of the milling industry from the short process of grinding with mill-stones, to the gradual reduction system, as by the Roller Process, which patience, time, and hard work were to make possible.

Contributed by Mr. Elliott Richmond, of St. Jacobs.

With this object in view, Mr. Snider early in the year 1875 corresponded with the firm of Hoerde and Co., of Vienna, Austria, and on April 26th of the same year, placed the order for what was (as far as known) the first Roller Process machine which was imported into America. This machine was shipped on Sept. 22, 1875, via Hamburg, Germany, to Guelph, Ont., reached its destination on October 20th, 1875, and was installed in the St. Jacobs flour mill. The price of the machine was £114, 11s, ld, with freight charges of £16, 13s, 5d, and a duty of $57.64.

The German name for the machine was "Walzenstuhle," and from this name Mr. Snider appropriated the title "Walzen" for his choicest brand of flour, which for many years commanded the best prices in many markets. This flour proved of such good quality and so superior to the old stone process that an extraordinary demand was created, not only in Ontario and the Maritime Provinces, but also in the New England States, and for export.

It must not be assumed that the importation of this machine from Austria overcame the flour-milling problems. It only opened up greater possibilities. Improvements were the order of the day for years to come, and Mr. Snider, ever on the alert for further advancement, always installed the latest improved machinery. For this reason a staff of mil-wrights was constantly employed, and while the flour-milling industry was the nucleus of Mr. Snider's fortune, it can be truthfully said that many fortunes had to be sacrificed in the transition stages of the industry in the scrapping of machinery, as what was installed one year proved obsolete a year or two later.

One instance of the pioneer miller's difficulties may be cited. The object of the miller was to produce more and more good quality middlings, or "grits" as it was called in the early days, from which the best white flour was made. In those days there were no elevators to lift and discharge the products from the various machines, and the product was caught in bags, and put through the same machine five or six times before the reduction was of the right fineness for the best quality of flour. In other cases the product was caught in bags in the basement of the mill and carried up several flights of steps, and poured into a hopper feeding the next machine. To transform the milling industry from this primitive stage through all its phases to present conditions, was a stupendous task, and many millers fell by the wayside in the struggle, but those whose vision was clear and efforts tireless were amply re-warded. That Mr. Snider made a success of his flour-milling operations is well known and needs no comment.

After the transition period from the stone to the roller process from about 1875 to 1895, milling machinery became more or less standardized, and the fundamental principles being laid only minor changes have been made since that time. In 1884 Mr. Snider embarked upon another enterprise when he bought the foundry in Waterloo from Jacob Bricker, and entered into a co-partnership with Levi Bricker, which continued to 1894. At this time arrange-ments were made between E. W. B. Snider and Absalom Merner and others to incorporate the Waterloo Manufac-turing Company, amalgamating the Bricker foundry and the Merner foundries in Waterloo and Elmira. Mr. Snider was chosen President of the new company and held the position continuously until his death. The business has been gradually concentrated on King St., Waterloo, where the Bricker plant has been greatly enlarged, and where from 150 to 200 men are employed in the manufacture and sale of engines and threshing machinery.

In the early days all the products of the St. Jacobs mill had to be teamed to Waterloo station, and to overcome that haul Mr. Snider promoted the Waterloo Junction Railway, now a part of the Grand Trunk System. Among other interests during his active career he was president of the Anthes Foundry, Toronto; president of the Snider Lumber Co., Gravenhurst; vice-president of the Ontario Sugar Co., Kitchener, in 1904; director of the Niagara Peninsula Power and Gas Co., St. Catharines; but perhaps the greatest achievement of which his friends are justly proud, was the part he had in originating our present hydro power system. He may well be termed "the Father of Hydro Power," for at the banquet of the Waterloo Board of Trade on Feb. 11th, 1902, Mr. Snider predicted that the majority of those present would see the day when our streets and homes would be lighted, and the machinery of our factories supplied, with power generated at Niagara Falls. The prediction was received with a skeptical smile by many present, but we have lived to see the vision more than realized. In the meantime Mr. Snider did a great deal of preliminary investigating regarding the developing, transmitting, and distributing of Niagara power, and the Ontario Power Act, passed June 4th, during the session of 1903, gave municipalities power to act along these lines. Accordingly representatives from some nineteen munici-palities met in Berlin July 9th, 1903, and after a thorough discussion they appointed a committee consisting of E. W. B. Snider, chairman, R. MacGregor, A. Beck, P. W. Ellis, C. H. Waterous, G. McLagan and L. Goldie. This com- mittee met in Toronto July 16th and decided to ask all municipalities interested to send delegates to meet them at the City Hall, Toronto, August 12th, 1903. This was really the organization meeting of "The Ontario Power Commission," of which Mr. Snider was chairman and J. C. Haight, secretary. Meetings were held from time to time during the next three years and the interest grew apace. The last meeting of the Commission was held at 7 to 9 King St. East, Toronto, Sept. 20th, 1906, when at its conclusion, on motion of W. F. Cockshutt and P. W. Ellis, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered the chairman, Mr. Snider, for the assistance and guidance which he had rendered to the Commission as its presiding officer, and for the very large share he had contributed towards making the work of the Commission a success. From that time the work was taken up by the Ontario Government, and "E. W. B." remained an ardent observer of the success it has been.

Being a very busy man commercially, Mr. Snider yet found time to be interested in the municipal affairs of his native county, and although never a member of a municipal board, we find him active in a wider sphere as Liberal member for North Waterloo in the Provincial Legislature for 13 years, 1881 to 1894, when he declined renomination. During his parliamentary term at Toronto his interests centered around a Municipal Fire Insurance Bill, an amendment to the Assessment Act and to Forest Reservation and Preservation. In the noted election of 1896, Mr. Snider upheld the cause of Liberalism in North Waterloo in a contest for the Dominion Parliament, against the late Joseph E. Seagram, in which he was unsuccessful.

Mr. Snider's varied interests often took him far afield, yet he was a real home man, fond of domestic and cultural accomplishments, sociable, and approachable on any subject tinged with human welfare. On the 19th of April, 1864, he married Nancy Weber at Preston and resided at German Mills until they moved to St. Jacobs in 1871. Of this there survive ten out of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters - Clara, Aldred, Cranson, Fernando, William, Edwin, Elias, Ada, Franklin (deceased), Lola and Amy. Mrs. Snider died in 1912. In 1915 Mr. Snider married Helen Shoemaker and took up his residence at 181 Frederick St., Kitchener, where he kept up an active interest in his business, social and religious relationships to the last. One of his last public contributions was an elaborate article on "Waterloo County Forests and Primitive Economics," which appeared in the 1918 Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, and during the last few months of his life he devoted considerable attention to the matter of erecting a suitable monument to the memory of the first pioneers of 'Waterloo County, who are buried near Doon. He died at his home in Kitchener on Saturday evening, October 15th, 1921, after about two weeks' illness, in his 80th year. A great concourse of friends and relatives paid tribute to his memory at the funeral services held in Zion Evangelical Church, Kitchener, on Wednesday after-noon, October 19th. Interment was in Calvary Church Cemetery, St. Jacobs, amid the scenes he loved best.

E. W. B. Snider had vision as well as courage, initiative and faith in his native land. He gave a large measure of valuable citizenship to Canada during a long term of 60 years of business and public life. Replete with good acts, and of sympathetic nature, his life was an inspiration to those who knew. him best; and to a wider circle it was the mainspring of a prodgious undertaking in behalf of the public.


By courtesy of Mr. W. M. Stark the substance of a letter from him, regarding Mr. Snider and the roller mill process, here follows:
Stark Bros. & Co., Flour and Grain Merchants, Toronto, January 12, 1922.

In the year 1871 I was sent out to this office from our London, England, firm to establish a flour business with Canada. About 1872, while on a visit to the Rev. Mr. Boyd, of Crosshill, I was introduced to Mr. E. W. B. Snider of St. Jacobs, where he was running a mill. As our London firm, Stark & Bruce, represented in Great Britain some half dozen of the big flour mills of Vienna and Budapest, I brought out to this country samples of their flour, which was the finest product known up to that date, and when I showed these samples to Mr. Snider he became so interested that he wanted to know from me what mills made the flours and what their process was. I mentioned that they were all roller mills, and gave him the address of several of them. Eventually he received a Milling Journal giving him the information required, wrote to the manufacturers of the milling machinery, and duly im-ported the machinery. He experimented with it for some time before he could get it to work and then succeeded in producing a flour very much superior to what he had hitherto been able to make on the stones, and I was able to get considerable of his product for shipment to our London firm. I believe he was the first miller on this continent to import rolls. I visited the big mills in Minneapolis a short time after and they had nothing of that nature; they still ground on stones.

I may say that I knew Mr. E. W. B. Snider for many years and thought him one of the most progressive business men in Canada. He seemed to be the first to take up any new scheme and invariably succeeded in his efforts. I considered him one of the most modest, unassuming and strictly honest men that I have met in this country^.

Ninth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, Kitchener, Ontario 1921 pg 183 - 188

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E. W. B. SNIDER, M.P.P., of St. Jacob's, is a son of Elias Snider. who was among the early residents of Waterloo Village, where the subject of our sketch was born in 1842. After arriving at manhood he spent a number of years operating the extensive milling establishment at German Mills, Waterloo Township; but about ten years since he purchased the large mills at St. Jacob's, which he has conducted with success ever since, in connection with other mills in New Dundee. Mr. Snider has spared sufficient time from business affairs to become familiar with the leading political problems, and to keep himself fully abreast of the times in his information on all public topics. Has taken a leading and practical interest in the various political campaigns the county, on the Liberal side of the question, and in June last was nominated and elected by that party to the seat in the Ontario Legislature rendered vacant by the resignation of Moses Springer, the former member.

Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsell & Co., Toronto, Ont. 1881

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Waterloo Foundry, Bricker & Co., King Street, Waterloo - Was established by Mr. Jacob Bricker, father of the present senior member of the firm. It was started in a comparatively small way, and it required untiring exertions and a lively spirit of enterprise to build it up to important proportions; but those qualities were not wanting, as the result achieved testified. The business is now conducted by Messrs. Levi Bricker and E.W.B. Snider, under the firm title of Bricker & Co. The 38 years that have passed since the founding of the business have seen many extensions in the buildings to accommodate the increasing trade, until to-day their extent is as follows: Main building, 45x100 feet in dimensions and two stories in height; moulding shop and engine room, 50x80 feet, one story; blacksmiths' shop, 30x40 feet, one story; paint shop, 30x50 feet, one story frame; and implement shed, 34x100 feet, one story frame. In these employment is furnished to 40 skilled and competent workmen. The firm manufactures a general line of agricultural implements, including reapers, mowers, binders, threshers and hay binders, besides general job work and repairing. The work turned out at this foundry is of the very best description, superior in quality and perfect in finish, which has been the main cause in building up and retaining their extensive trade. The annual output of the concern is over $40,000. Both members of the firm are natives of Canada; Mr. Bricker, the senior member, being the practical man and supervising the work, while Mr. Snider attends to the financial and business affairs, the latter gentleman being a representative of the North Riding of Waterloo in the Local House. The industry they conduct is alike creditable to themselves and the town of Waterloo.

Industries of Canada Historical and Commercial Sketches Hamilton and Environs 1886

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E. W. B. SNIDER

This gentleman needs no introduction to the within the scope of The Chronicle circulation at least, for he is so widely identified with important industrial enterprise, and his long and favorable career as one of our provincial legislators in such convincing evidence of his popularity among his constituents, that any eulogistic remarks from the CHRONICLE scribe would seem superfluous. But regardless of the honors and success heaped upon him he is a plain every-day man and is the last person to court newspaper notoriety , consequently, this sketch goes out unsolicited by him. I simply wish to give The CHRONICLE readers a synopsis of this long business career. It is not in the spirit of vain flattery that I do this, but it is merely for reflection - what some men can accomplish, where others fail who have the same opportunities before them. The flouring mills of which Mr. Snider is sole owner, were erected in 1851 by the late Jacob Snyder for his son Jacob. The mills were acquired by the present proprietor February 1^st 1871, and it is now known as the Pioneer Roller Process flour mill. It received this name in 1875 when he imported a roller process mill from Messrs. Hoerde & Co. of Vienna, Austria, the first roller process machinery brought into and operated in the Dominion. Prominent millers from New York and Minnesota come here to see it work and soon afterwards adopted it also. But this also soon was out of date and Mr. Snider, ever on the alert to keep up in the race for improvement in mill machinery abandoned the old and introduced the new. The difference was, the old process consisted of one reduction on mill stones, while the new or gradual reduction system by making from two to four reductions to finish the product of the wheat. Mr. Snider was for about ten years in charge of the German Mills below Berlin where be attained practical ideas in flour making while under the instructions of a German miller by the name of John Brown. Ever since the old process was abolished he has kept on remodeling and improving his mill until to-day it is one of the best equipped country mills in the Province. The constant increasing patronage demanded new and more modern methods. There are now six double sets rollers, five 9x24 and one 9x30. Such extensive improvements were made in 1896 that the mill was actually rebuilt. In the same year he added the Plan Sifter for bolting. The mill has a capacity for grinding 150 barrels per day. While running on full time it is capable of grinding 150,000 to 175,000 bushels of wheat per annum. They have ground 35,000 bushels of wheat this season since September, and at this writing have about 30,000 bushels on hand. They have used thousands of bushels of Manitoba wheat for their Lower Province trade. The bulk of their shipments this year have been to Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast. Mr. Snider was the first miller in this section to export flour to the British Isles. The first export shipment was in February 1874, to London, England, when the freight was $2.07 per barrel at the present time 60 cts. per barrel is considered a stiff price. Their export trade has gradually increased. For the past two months they have exported to the old country 6,500 sacks of flour of 140 pounds each. This mill has abundance of power, there being from 65 to 70 horse power steam, and water sufficient for 100 horse power. The mill at present is in the hands of a first class miller, Mr. E F.Mielke who was for eight years in Mr. Snider's mills in New Dundee. The power of the St. Jacobs mille is also utilized in furnishing 100 electric lights for Mr. Snider's residence, the mill and the business men of the village. This feature was introduced in 1894. Besides being proprietor of this establishment Mr. Snider is a large stock-holder in and is President of the Waterloo Manufacturing Co. Limited, and President of the Snider Lumber Co., who have a saw-mill at Gravenhurst with a capacity of turning out from 35,000 to 40,000 feet of lumber per day. He also owns the New Dundee mills and has a large mill in Iowa . He also has part interest in the St . Jacobs glue factory and is owner of a foundry in Toronto. He has six sons who are valuable assistants to him in the management of his vest business interests. Aldred and Edwin are at Gravenhurst, Cranson, with the Waterloo Manufacturing Co, Fernando at New Dundee and William and Elias at home. Mr. Spider was born in Waterloo in 1842, and has followed the milling business since he was 18 years of age, commencing at German Mills. He was elected to the Ontario Legislature in June, 1881, and was a member of the same for thirteen sessions. He was returned by three contests and once by acclamation. He was the promoter and president of the railroad, and it was particularly through his instrumentality that the road was put through from Waterloo to Elmira

Waterloo Chronicle 9 Dec 1897, p. 2


Business:
Also known as Waterloo Foundry and Waterloo Manufacturing Company

Elias married Nancy Weber 19 Apr 1864, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Nancy (daughter of David B. Weber and Mary "Polly" "Pauline" Lyons) was born 11 Nov 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 28 Nov 1912, Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, USA; was buried , Calvary United Brethern Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Agnes Weber
• Name: Nancy Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7800
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association

Notes:

Nancy Weber," was born November 11th, 1842. On April 19th, 1864, she was married to E. W. B. Snider."

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].
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....… passing away of another of the loved and respected residents of this place. On Nov. 18th Mr. E. W. B. Snider, daughter Ada and her mother left here for Rochester, Minn., where Mrs. Snider intended taking a course of treatment of cancer. Upon the advice of relatives and friends they changed their point of destination, going to Battle Creek, Mich., where one of the best hospitals is located. Upon examination by the specialists, an operation was decided upon and was preformed about a week before her death. At first there seemed hopes for prolonging her life at least a short time. But a turn for the worse set in and on Thursday morning, Nov. 28th, the deceased passed peacefully to her reward. The late Mrs. Snider was born near Strasburg, where she was united in marriage to her bereaved husband 48 years ago. She had been a resident of St. Jacobs ever since. The husband, six sons and four daughters, mourn her sudden demise. The children are: Alfred, Brantford; Cranson, Fernardo and Edwin of Waterloo; William, Elias, Mrs. Alfred Snyder, Misses Ada, Lola and Amy, St. Jacobs. The deceased was of a retiring and kind disposition and was loved by all who knew her. The funeral, which took place on Monday to the Evangelical cemetery, was largely attended by near friends and relatives. The service was conducted by Rev. W.O. Hehn. Five of the (word missing in original) and the son-in-law acted as pallbearers.


Elmira Advertiser 5 Dec 1912