Walter James Snider

Other Events:

• Honoured: Snider's Woods named for him
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6306
• Occupation: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Elected Office: 30 May 1905, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk Woolwich Township
• Elected Office: 1906, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Councillor Woolwich Township
• Occupation: 1911, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller Clerk
• Residence: 1911, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1921, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller, Flour Mill
• Residence: 1921, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.

Walter — Elena Kuntz. Elena (daughter of Johan Jacob "Jacob" "Jake" Cuntz and Philipina "Phoebe" Hermann) was born 31 Mar 1869, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 29 Mar 1933, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00106-6306.2
• Residence: 1911, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Name: Hilda Scheifele
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6306.3
• Residence: 1911, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Hilda — Milton Roy Scheifele. Milton (son of Solomon G. Scheifele and Lucinda Good) was born 12 Jan 1898, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54285
• Residence: 1911, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1921, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller, Father's Mill
• Residence: 1921, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-167460
• Residence: 1921, Conestogo, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Clifford — Myrta Mae Strome. Myrta (daughter of Alexander Strome and Harriet Ann Stickney) was born 2 Jan 1908, Peel Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died 22 Feb 1948, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Clifford — Gene Lorraine Klem. Gene (daughter of Herbert Henry Klem and Lillian Marguerite "Margaret" Frickey) was born 1929; died 6 Sep 1996, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Jane — Mayor Herbert Arnold "Herb" Epp. [Group Sheet]