Minnie (twin) SNOW

Ned married Mary HAMILTON on 16 Nov 1890 in Cleveland, Ohio. Mary was born on 14 Nov 1874 in Franklin, Ohio; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Owen married Frances Fay EATON on 22 Oct 1851. Frances and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Russ Snow, Benjamin's third son, was ready to make almost any sacrifice to get his children away from the taint of the cold. As it was, although he moved from Maine to Ohio in 18350, he did not get into the more equable climate of Ohio soon enough to shake off the winter clutch absolutely, for two of his daughters died of the tuberculosis touch, one in maidenhood and one in young womanhood. The subsequent general health of the other members of his family and their children would seem to indicate that the benefits he expected to derive from the western climate were not purely imaginary. This was the impulse that moved him, rather than the hope of greater worldly prosperity, for he gave up a comfortable and convenient frame dwelling with substantial buildings and appurtenances to lodge his wife and children amid the inconveniences of a log home, where they were forced to live for about ten years before he was able to erect the commodious brick house, where his children's children were born and which has since become the happy "homeing spot" of all of Benjamin's Ohio descendants.

Russ Snow, Benjamin's third son. was the first one of four brothers—all of whom moved West but the youngest— to sever his connections with the neighborhood of his birth and boyhood, and move into the western woods. In the spring of 1835 he started with his brother-in-law, Amos Stocker, husband of his sister Louise, and Mr. Stocker's son Newell, to locate a new home in the then comparatively new Ohio country. After proceeding as far as Buffalo, New York, they separated for a time, the Stockers remaining in Buffalo to work at the mason's trade. Mr. Snow. "Uncle Russ" as he was afterwards known to all the Ohio Snows, then went on alone to Cleveland, Ohio, which was but a straggling village, and gave but slight promise of being the future teeming metropolis with half a million inhabitants. At Cleveland he ran across a gentleman by the name of Bayley, a neighbor from his old home in Bath. New Hampshire. Mr. Bayley was then living at Brecksville. Ohio, about eighteen miles south from Clever land, and where Russ later purchased and settled, and he urged Russ to make him a visit, which the latter did. although he was intending to go to Indiana before settling.

While staying with Mr. Bayley, Russ bought a piece of Brecksville land on speculation and a horse with which he started for Indiana at the end of his visit. The accident of his horse going lame changed the whole course of his plans, however. Finding himself unable to proceed with the lame beast, he returned to Mr. Bayley's and having been favorably impressed with the situation, bought more land in the neighborhood and at once set about clearing away the timber and establishing a home into which he could introduce his family— which came in the fall of the year. The Stockers came on from Buffalo and joined him in the summer of 1835. buying and clearing land in the neighborhood for themselves.

Russ built a log house before the arrival of his family, and made everything as comfortable as he could amid the pioneer roughness of woods and new land, probably feeling a compelling need to do this since his family was leaving behind in the old home more actual comforts and conveniences than they could find in the new for a decade at least. Russ' new land was substantially all covered with timber when he purchased it,' and by the time his family joined him, he had succeeded in clearing but little more than four acres around the log house which he erected. The highway which passed in front of his home was nothing but a rough wood road through the forest. Russ' family consisted of his wife and five children, Charlotte, Jane, Owen, Orpha and Holland. We have an account of their long journey from Maine to Ohio in a covered carriage in a letter written by Russ' eldest daughter, Charlotte, to her niece, Ida M. Snow, in 1895, sixty years after the journey was made, and the same will be found printed hereinafter.

Russ had the greater property in Maine and naturally was the one to come first. His brother Henry came the following year and located on lands adjoining his own. Henry's family at the time consisted of his wife and nine children, Louise, Alexander, Payson, Harriet, Angeline, Selina, Augusta, Charles and Carroll. All of Russ' children, with the exception of Charlotte, who married her cousin, Alexander Snow, son of Henry, either died or remained in Ohio, and that State has always been the home of their children. Henry's children, on the other hand, with one exception in the case of those who lived to maturity, left Ohio, and their children are now scattered all over the United States, in California. Florida, Iowa, Michigan and Dakota. Russ and Henry and their wives died in Brecksville, Ohio, and are buried in the adjoining township of Richfield.

Russ married Ruth HIBBARD on 3 Aug 1815. Ruth (daughter of Timothy HIBBARD and Sarah CHAMBERLIN) was born on 12 Aug 1792 in Bath, New Hampshire; died on 6 Apr 1858 in Brecksville, Cuyahoga, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

LETTER BY RUTH HIBBARD SNOW.

The only letter extant from the hand of Russ Snow's wife, Ruth (Hibbard) Snow, is the following, written some time in 1835 to her husband while he was making the new home for her in Ohio. It is an affectionate, womanly letter, full of love and trust and anticipation of meeting her spouse in the new country. It shows, too, the fine wholesome spirit pervading her family, which was always, as posterity has reason to, know, ideal in its home relations.

(Sometime in 1835.)
Dear Husband.
I have written to you as you requested .it Buffalo, but you left before you had time to receive it. Our letter was mailed March 30—was sorry to hear you had not heard from home since you went away, and did not have the money as you wished. Spoke in favor of your having it, but Henry has told you the particulars. Says he will try to get it. when he hears from you again—thinks a few months wont make much difference. He wrote you two letters at Boston, Mr. Porter two. I have been to make Mr. Porter a visit 'went down Friday' came home Wednesday, which was the first day of April ; had old Spot; came up alone except two of the little girls with me. Mr. Porter has broken up housekeeping, will leave the place soon. I told you in my other letter what I had done respecting sending the girls to school. They have been gone eight weeks. I have not seen them since they went away. Payson has been to see them, they were well and contented; will stay the quarter. My health about the same as when I wrote before. I think as much about you as ever. My house and garden and all that has looked so pleasant to me is all nothing without you. I am lonesome with ten thousand all around me, but not more so than you are, don't expect. They are all kind to me ; can have anything I wish for. You don't say anything about coming home yet. Henry says you may have the place again if you wish to come back. Act your pleasure, I will try to be content with whatever you think best. I expect you will get my other letter and answer it before you have this. You will see that my hand trembles a little. Let the time be short as you can before we meet. I have told you if you bought a new place to put up a log house, —I had rather live in a log house with you than live in a palace without you. Give my respects to Mr. Bailey and wife. Am glad you have found old friends. The children are well, I have asked them what I should write for them. Owen says, tell pa he is willing to go; Holland says, he would give a million of dollars to see his pa, but tell him to keep a stiff upper lip. Orpha comes along with a tear in her eye and says she wants to see pa more than she does the girls, but tell him Maine is remarkably healthy. They all send their love to pa. From your affectionate

Ruth Hibbard.