Harry Chase Snyder

Passing of Harry Snyder

Harry C. Snyder, senior member of the firm which bears his name, passed away about 4 o'clock this morning in one of the rooms of the office of the Drs. Dale. He was taken suddenly ill in the Doctor's office Tuesday evening, suffering from a fainting spell and from an accumulation of pus, to relieve him from which the doctors performed a slight operation which seemed to give him relief. Last evening he was feeling so much better and every hope was entertained that he would recover but a sudden relapse ensued and he passed away.

The death of Harry Snyder is a public calamity and his great loss will be felt not only by his immediate relatives but by the whole community. No more public spirited citizen ever existed than Harry Snyder, no man ever lived who had the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens in any greater degree; as a friend and brother he demonstrated the possibility of universal brotherhood. In all public matters for the betterment of the community he was always to be found in the forefront. He was in every way a man of men.

The remains will lie in state at his late residence, which will be open to all friends who may wish to call and pay their respects to his memory, from 1 to 4 Saturday afternoon. The funeral will be from the Congregational church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and will be in charge of the Masonic Fraternity of which Brother Snyder was a distinguished member. The obituary will appear in the Herald next week.

OBITUARY

Harry Chase Snyder was born June 24th, 1861, at Paola, Kansas, living there until about sixteen years of age, at which time he went to Texas where he spent the next five years, finishing college at Georgetown, Texas. He then went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he engaged in business in a wholesale house. A few years later he came to Wyoming, where he continued to reside until he was called out of his life on November 23, 1916, being at that time fifty-five years, four months and twenty-nine days old.

He was married in Omaha, Nebraska, November 4th, 1886, to Miss Mary Vincent of Pennsylvania. To this union were born three daughters, Mrs. Nellie S. Agnew, Mrs. Elvira Olinger, and Miss Vida Isabel, all of whom with his widow survive. He is also survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Clara Snyder, of Kansas City, Missouri, and two sisters, Mrs. Wm. Sorsleil of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Frank Maines, Springfield, Mo.

When Mr. Snyder first came to this state, he was employed with the 4 P Cattle Co., later taking charge of the Luke Voorhees Cattle Co. until coming to Lusk in October, 1895, where he engaged in the mercantile business until his death.

Harry C. Snyder was one of Lusk's leading citizens; he was president of the firm of H.C. Snyder & Co; he was a stock-holder and vice-president of the Bank of Lusk; he had been mayor of Lusk for several terms; he was a member of the state legislature from Niobrara and Converse counties; he was the nominee of the Democratic party for the office of state senator before last election but withdrew on account of ill-health. At the time of his demise he was Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Wyoming and a Past Master of the local Masonic lodge; and had for many years been prominent in Masonic circles.

Funeral of Harry C. Snyder

Promptly at 1:30 o'clock, Sunday afternoon, November 26th, 1916 members of Harmony Lodge No. 24 A.F. & A.M. and visiting Masons from out-of-town lodges, forty in all, marched from the Masonic building on Main street to the late residence of their departed brother to escort his mortal remains to the Congregational church where the funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. O.E.A. Blenkarn. The pulpit platform was piled high with floral offerings from near and far, testifying in beautiful though mute language of the love and esteem in which the deceased was held by all who knew him. An immense concourse of friends and neighbors filled the church to overflowing.

The service was simple and appropriate, the pastor reading scriptural selections and delivering a eulogy of the life of the deceased and offering solace to the bereaved relatives. The choir rendered beautifully the following hymns: Abide with Me; My Father Knows; and two of the members sang the duet, Rock of Ages.

After the pronouncement of the benediction, the journey to the cemetery was begun, the Masons preceding the funeral cortege in double file. Arriving at the necropolis, the body was interred in accordance with the ancient Masonic custom, the ceremony being conducted by Past Grand Master M.R. Johnson of Wheatland. The pall-bearers were Brothers J.W. Agnew, A.L. Miller, J.L. Hall, E.A. Cook, P.E. Barber and W.T. Wolfe.

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