Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Walter James Snider

Walter James Snider

Male 1869 - 1927  (57 years)

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  • Name Walter James Snider 
    Born 30 Sep 1869  Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Gender Male 
    Occupation 1891  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Miller 
    Residence 1891  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1901  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Miller 
    Elected Office 30 May 1905  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Clerk Woolwich Township 
    Elected Office 1906  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Councillor Woolwich Township 
    Honoured Snider's Woods named for him 
    Occupation 1911  Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Miller Clerk 
    Residence 1911  Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1921  Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Miller, Flour Mill 
    Residence 1921  Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Methodist 
    Eby ID Number 00106-6306 
    Died 27 Apr 1927  St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Buried Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Person ID I54281  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father Menno S. Snider,   b. 22 Aug 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Feb 1917, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Harriet Fields,   b. 30 Jan 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jul 1898, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 53 years) 
    Married 6 Nov 1865  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 11
    Family ID F593  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elena Kuntz,   b. 31 Mar 1869, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Mar 1933, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years) 
    Children 
     1. Leonora Mae Snider,   b. 22 Aug 1891, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Hilda Snider,   b. 1 Apr 1893, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Aug 1979, Farmington Hills, Oakland, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years)
     3. Russell Herman Snider,   b. 20 Jan 1901, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Oct 1934, Walkerton, Brant Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 33 years)
     4. Clifford Menno Snider,   b. 26 Aug 1908, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Dec 1981, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F14030  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Walter J. Snider
    Walter J. Snider
    Image from: 100 Years of Progress in Waterloo County Canada Semi-Centennial Souvenir 1856-1906

  • Notes 
    • Walter James Snider, "was born September 30th, 1869. He is married to Elena Kuntz and resides in Conestogo where he is engaged in his father's mills. .."

      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.].

      _______________

      Walter J. Snider, clerk of the Township of Woolwich, was born in Conestogo in 1869. He was educated at the Conestogo public school and also attended the Berlin High School (now the Berlin Collegiate Institute) in 1883 and 1884. and the British American Business College in 1886. He is a miller by occupation. On May 20, 1905, he was appointed clerk of Woolwich Township.

      Chronicle-Telegraph Newspaper, 100 Years of Progress in Waterloo County Canada Semi-Centennial Souvenir 1856-1906 (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Chronicle-Telegraph Newspaper, 1906), 31.

      __________________________

      SNIDER'S WOODS

      Conestoga has another thing to its credit, namely, Snider's Woods. As is known and often deplored the slashes of the woodman's axe to feed the sawmills have almost denuded a once well-timbered township and dried up its spring creeks. Observing these results the late Walter J. Snider determined to preserve one wooded tract for posterity. His purpose is set forth in a letter addressed to the Provincial Minister of Lands, Forests, and Mines, and reads,

      Conestoga, Ontario, July 15th, 1918. Dear Sir:

      In settlement of my father's estate several years ago, I came into ownership of a mill and water power situated in the village of Conestoga, as well as of about forty acres of wooded river flats, lying at the confluence of the Grand and Conestoga Rivers. This property has been in the possession of our family since about 1850.

      Many of the trees in this wood are of great age, and majestic in size and beauty. As my purpose is to refrain from cutting any sound and growing trees during my lifetime, it would be a great satisfaction to me if some arrangement could be effected whereby the conservation of this woodland could be assured in perpetuity.

      I beg, therefore, to inquire whether this object could not be attained through entailing the property with cutting rights through your department? The plain that has suggested itself to me is that neither I nor my successors be permitted to cut any trees except such as shall be designated for removal by the Chief Provincial Forester; and that upon removal of any trees a proper number of trees be planted.


      There is considerable room for tree planting in the grounds and my desire is to have it scientifically reforested under the supervision of your department. This would provide a forestry and reforestration demonstration on a small scale right in the heart of the older portion of Western Ontario.

      Should this meet with your approval I shall be very glad to proceed toward a final arrangement.

      Yours very truly, Walter J. Snider.


      The minister acted upon Mr. Snider's suggestion and provided legislation to carry out his purpose. At a largely attended function, whereat mayors and members of parliament, the Ontario Government, and the Dominion Commission of Conservation were represented, the woodland was set aside for the benefit of future generations on August 8th, 1918. The legislation here referred to enables other owners of woodlands to emulate Mr. Snider's example.

      Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1933 pg 17 - Woolwich Township - Its Early Settlement by W. V. Uttley

      _____________

      PUBLIC MEN OF WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP

      ALEXANDER S. FORBES, Reeve of Woolwich Township, was born in Woolwich. in 1874. He followes the occupation of farming. Mr. Forbes was councillor from 1915 to 1921 inclusive, deputy reeve from 1922 to 1923, reeve, 1926 and 1927, and in 1927 the highest honor in the gift of the County Council was conferred upon him when he was elected Warden.

      NORMAN S. SNYDER, born in Woolwich Township in 1872, follows the occupation of farming. Township councillor 1914 to 1918 inclusive, deputy reeve in 1919, 1920 and 1921, 1926 and 1927. He has been a public school trustee for fifteen years.

      ALMON SNIDER, who was born in Woolwich Township in 1876, received his education in the Public Schools. He is a farmer by occupation and has been a councillor for two years.

      WILLIAM S. HEMMERICH was born in Woolwich Township in April, 1881, and is a farmer by occupation. He has been township councillor since January 1924.

      WILLIAM G. VEITCH was born at Winterbourne in 1889. He received his education in the Public Schools and continued his studies at the Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate. His occupation is farming and he has been a township councillor for two years.

      W. J. SNIDER, late clerk of the township of Woolwich, was born in Conestogo in 1869. On May 30, 1905, he was appointed clerk of Woolwich Township. He bought out the interests of his father, Menno Snider, in the Conestogo Mill in 1916, and the St. Jacobs Mill from W. W. Snider in 1920. At the time of his death in May last he was vice-president of the Dominion Millers' Association, Directory of Canadian Millers' Fire Insurance Co. at Hamilton, Director the Security Acceptance Corporation, Ltd., Toronto, member of the local Board of Mothers' Allowance, and Local School Trustee. He ws candadate for the Liberals in the provincial election of 1919.

  • Sources 
    1. [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 337.

    2. [S148] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1901, Woolwich F-2 Page 12.

    3. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration.
      Walter James Snider Born: 1 Oct 1869 County: Waterloo Father: Menno Snider Mother: Harriet Fields

    4. [S348] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1911, Div. 14 page 8.

    5. [S1821] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1891, Div. 2 Page 25.

    6. [S2121] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1921, Sub Dist.. 13 Page 15.

    7. [S226] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery CC#4581 Internet Link.
      S/ Walter J. Snider/ Born Sept. 30, 1869,/ Died April 27, 1927/ Elena Kuntz/ His Wife/ Born March 31, 1869,/ Died March 29, 1933./ Snider

    8. [S1629] Book - 100 Years of Progress in Waterloo County Canada Semi-Centennial Souvenir 1856-1906, 31.

    9. [S1629] Book - 100 Years of Progress in Waterloo County Canada Semi-Centennial Souvenir 1856-1906, 29.

    10. [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 336.

    11. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name:Menno Snyder Age:25 Birth Date:abt 1840 Birth Place:Waterloo, Ontario Marriage Date:6 Oct 1865 Marriage County or District:Waterloo Father:Henry Mother:Elizabeth Spouse:A Field Spouse's Age:21 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1844 Spouse Birth Place:Waterloo Township Spouse Residence:Waterloo Township Spouse Father:James Spouse Mother:Maria Anne Residence:Waterloo Township

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 30 Sep 1869 - Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller - 1891 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller - 1901 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Clerk Woolwich Township - 30 May 1905 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Councillor Woolwich Township - 1906 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller Clerk - 1911 - Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1911 - Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller, Flour Mill - 1921 - Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1921 - Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 27 Apr 1927 - St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth