BIO:  Austin B. SNYDER, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Sabrina Marie 
Robb

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 101-102

CAPTAIN AUSTIN B. SNYDER, whose death occurred at his home in Bellefonte on 
February 6, 1892, held an honor and distinction that few of his fellow townsmen 
shared in, that of a patriot of two wars - the war with Mexico and the war of 
the Rebellion.
  As the name indicates, Capt Snyder was of German lineage on his father's side, 
and descended from Gov. Simon Snyder.  He was a son of Jacob and Jane (Allen) 
Snyder, industrious and frugal people, who lived at the time of their son's 
birth (October 3, 1824), in a stone house then standing on the site of 
Gerberich, Hale & Co.'s mill, at the foot of Race street in Bellefonte.  Jacob 
Snyder was a millwright and also a miller, and had followed these occupations in 
Bellefonte and elsewhere in Centre county.  The Allens were of Irish extraction.  
The children of this couple were:  Austin B., Ellis and Latimer, all now dead.  
The mother of these dying, Mr. Snyder then married Eliza Gray, of Half Moon 
township.
  When our subject was but thirteen years of age, his father died, and he was 
thrown on his own resources, and at nineteen he enlisted in the United States 
army, served with distinguished honor through the Mexican war, and was one of 
the first to scale the wall at Chepultepec.  He returned with a lieutenant's 
straps.  Learning the tailor's trade with Charles Calathan at Bellefonte, he 
followed that occupation until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion.  
The echo of the guns at Fort Sumter had hardly died away before the veteran of 
the Mexican war had recruited the Eagle Guards, and as Capt. Snyder he was 
mustered, with his command, into the 4th Regiment under Col. Hartranft, April 
19, 1861, as Company H, of that regiment.  The regiment was assigned to the 
First Brigade, Third Division, of Gen. McDowell's army, and during their three-
months' term of service were at Perryville (Md.), Annapolis, Washington City, 
Alexandria and Centreville.  On October 1, 1861, Capt. Snyder left Bellefonte in 
command of the McAllister Rifles, which was mustered in, October 17, as Company 
G, 51st P.V.I., under command of Col. Hartranft.  The regiment was assigned in 
the corps organization to Brig.-Gen. Reno, and formed a part of the Burnside 
expedition to North Carolina.  From the very outset the expedition was subjected 
to severe storms, having encountered one after another from the time of setting 
sail in January, 1862, and were at the mercy of the waves and wind for nearly 
two weeks.  Their first encounter with the enemy was at Roanoke Island, where 
the enemy's entire force was captured.  Capt. Snyder's delicate constitution 
could not withstand the exposure incident to the swamps and at so trying a time 
in the year, hence he was compelled to resign from the service, which he did 
February 12, 1862.  In September, 1862, on the call of the Governor of 
Pennsylvania for 50,000 militia, several companies volunteered from Centre 
county, and were arranged in the 23rd Regiment, and of the militia concentrated 
near Hagerstown, under Gen. John F. Reynolds, at the time of the battle of 
Antietam, Col. Snyder served on the staff as lieutenant-colonel.  Again on the 
call of the President for men in June, 1863, at the invasion of the State by 
Gen. Lee's army, Capt. Snyder organized Company C, and served with them in the 
southern part of the State until discharged August 8, of that year.  He served 
several times as provost marshal, and after the war followed his trade and 
carried on business for himself, residing in Bellefonte.  For the last five or 
six years of his life, owing to failing health, he was compelled to retire from 
business.  A consistent member of the Presbyterian Church; an honored comrade in 
G. A. R. Post No. 295, a beloved and loving father and a faithful husband, he 
has gone to answer "present" on the golden shore of Eternity.  He was a member 
of the Masonic fraternity.
  On October 27, 1858, Capt. Snyder was married to Margaret Wolf, a daughter of 
Joseph and Sarah (Zones) Wolf, natives, the former of Boalsburg, Penn., and the 
latter of Muncy, Penn., both died and are buried at Bellefonte.  The children of 
Capt. Snyder and wife are:  Emma married Edward Cook, and lives at Jeannette, 
Penn.; Mary; Isabella T. died September 18, 1885; Ellis, of Dunkirk, Ind., and 
George, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
  MISS MARY SNYDER is a native of Bellefonte, and received her education in its 
schools.  She is conducting an extensive and fashionable millinery 
establishment, in the display of which is evidenced ability and taste.  She is 
popular with the masses, and her business efforts are being rewarded with 
success.  Both she and her mother are members of the Presbyterian Church.