Heber Valley Heritage Foundation, George Gideon Snyder A Midway Fort Family , written by Jason Moulton . The George Snyder cabin was located on the West side of the Midway Fort between T Ritter and Simon Higginbotham.

The following information was found on page 675 “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains”. “George Snyder son of Isaac and Louisa Comstock Snyder, was born June 12 1819 in Jefferson County New York. He came to Utah in 1849. He had a big family by his wives, Sarah Hatch, Elsie Jacobs, Caroline Kylfoyl, Martha Kylfoyl and Rhoda Orchard.

He and his wife Rhoda lived for some time in Midway. He built the house in which Nathan and Matilda Springer raised their family. It is now owned by J. R. Springer.

Mr. Snyder was Bishop of Wanship, Utah for many years. He was a probate Judge and very successful stockraiser. He died March 11, 1887.”

George Snyder is believed to be identical to George Gideon Snyder KWN2-1QM. The only evidence that I have been able to locate that ties George Gideon Snyder to Midway is the information contained in the above referenced book. George Gideon Snyder was born on 12 June 1819, in Pamelia, Jefferson, New York, United States, his father, Isaac Snyder, was 31 and his mother, Lovisa Comstock, was 30. He married Sarah Wilder Hatch on 17 April 1842, in Hancock, Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1860 and Wanship, Summit, Utah, United States in 1870. He died on 11 March 1887, in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States, at the age of 67, and was buried in Park City Cemetery, Park City, Summit, Utah, United States.

The following is an account of how the Snyder Family came to join the LDS church. Robert Snyder is George Gideon Snyder’s brother. The article is found in Family Search and is

titled “Snyder Family Joining the Church”.

“The Snyder family came from Germany the first family changed the spelling of their name to Americanize it. Some keeping each spelling – Snyder, Schneider, Snider. Our branch of the family lived in New York State at the time of the American Revolution and being Quakers and not believing in fighting, they left New York State and moved to Camden East upper Canada to a small farming community.

Robert Snyder born 1811 as a young man was seriously ill with consumption and was not expected to live. He was in a deep coma and his father, Isaac Snyder and a younger brother Chester were sitting up with him. When he awoke coming out of the coma he told them that there was a new church on the earth and it was the true church of Jesus Christ. There were two of their missionaries in Ernst Town. New York and they had the power to heal him.

Chester asked their father if he could go and try to find those missionaries. His father said no, if they didn’t get the crops in before the snow flies the whole family may starve before spring. Chester said if he could be excused from his work he would walk and being them back. His father Isaac said yes go and bring them back. So Chester walked 23 or 28 miles. (Eva has forgotten the exact miles.) As he entered the town where they lived before moving to Canada he met the missionaries. He knew them at once because Robert had told him they would be wearing black suits and black hats and would be carrying some little black books called the Book of Mormon. He told them about his brother who was so ill. The three of them turned and walked all the way back. As they neared the Snyder home all the family was coming our crying and told Chester he was too slow. Robert was dead. The

missionaries requested they go in. They did and after anointing Robert’s head with oil they gave him a blessing and requested that his spirit re-enter his body and that he was to live. And it did. Robert was alive.

All of the Snyder family and many of the people in that farming community joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Then they soon moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. Robert Snyder never had another sick day in his life. He was called and went on a three- year mission and shortly after he returned, he passes away in his sleep at night. Isaac Snyder died in Nauvoo his wife and family all came to Utah, some with handcarts and other in covered wagons.”

George Gideon Snyders Father, Isaac Snyder was baptized 1 October 1839. The following is a time line for George Gideon Snyder.

Birth:                  12 June 1819 Pamelia, Jefferson, New York

Resident:            Age 19 , From 1839 to 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois 

Baptism:            Age 20, 7 July 1839

Marriage:           Age 22, Sarah Wilder Hatch 17 April 1842 Hancock, Illinois

Death of Parent: Age 24, Isaac Snyder 28 February 1844 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois 

Endowment:       Age 26, 12 January 1846

Pioneer:             Age 30, Allen Taylor Company 5 July 1849 to 20 October 1849 

California:          Age 31, 16 December 1850 Diamond Springs El Dorado, California 

California:          Age 34, 25 February 1854 Sacramento, Sacramento, California 

Marriage:           Age 35, Elsie Pamelia Jacob 3 December 1854Salt Lake City, Utah

Death of Parent: Age 36, Lovisa Comstock 20 March 1856 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah 

Marriage:            Age 37, Caroline Kilfoyle 29 June 1856 Salt Lake City, Utah

Marriage:            Age 38, Martha Kilfoyle 12 July 1857 Salt Lake City, Utah

Marriage             Age 45, Rhoda Shadwell Orchard 23 December 1864 Salt Lake City 

Marriage:            Age 46, Rachel Winter Tanner 16 January 1864, Salt Lake City, Utah 

Death:                 Age 67,11 March 1887 Park City, Summit, Utah

Based on additional details not included above, George Gideon Snyder also lived in the following locations. West Jordan,Utah; Park City, Utah; Wellsville, Cache, Utah; North Ogden, Weber, Utah; Bountiful, Davis, Utah; Farmington, Davis, Utah; Wanship, Summit, Utah; Snyderville, Summit, Utah; Kimball Junction, Summit, Utah;.

One fact missing from the above tribute is his marriage to Rachel Winter Tanner LLH3-PD7. She was Born 7 February 1848 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was an Infant (4 Month) when she came across the plains. She married George Gideon Snyder on January 16th 1864 in Salt Lake City and they were later divorced. They had one child.

Children of George Gideon Snyder and Sarah Wilder Hatch KWVQ-21F

Children of George Gideon Snyder and Elsie Pamelia Jacob KWVQ-21X

Children of George Gideon Snyder and Caroline kilfoyle KWn2-131

Children of George Gideon Snyder and Martha Kilfoyle KWVQ-21N

Children of George Gideon Snyder and Rhoda Shadwell Orchard KWJN-7GW

In total, George Gideon Snyder was the father of 38 children 28 of whom survived to adulthood. He served as Bishop in Wanship, Probate Judge in Summit County, allegedly was the person who created the name of Park City. The Snyder family were very instrumental in the mining industry in Summit County and elsewhere in the west.

Snyderville gets its name from his one of his brothers.

Heber Valley Heritage Foundation