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Jennie (Enos) Snyder was born on Aug. 9, 1881 near Normalville, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Perry and Joanna (Minerd) Enos. In early adulthood, prior to marriage, Jennie was active in the Poplar Run Sunday School and served as its librarian. She and her husband belonged to this church all their lives. On Dec. 15, 1903, when she was age 22, Jennie was united in marriage with 25-year-old Norman S. Snyder (1878-1954). He was the son of John S. and Melinda (Shaffer) Snyder of Indian Head in nearby Saltlick Township. Rev. J.W.K. Salomon performed the nuptials. At the time of marriage, Norman earned a living as a laborer. The couple went on to have 10 known children – Clarence Snyder, Mabel Richter, Nettie Snyder, Alverda Firestone, Pauline Brown, Kathryn Prinkey, James Ernest Snyder, Charles Edward Snyder, Dollie Laymon and Erma Laymon McCue. Sadly, daughter Nettie died as an infant. They resided at Bakersville, Somerset County, PA in the early 1910s, before settling at White near Normalville. Circa 1920, when the federal census was enumerated, the family resided near Indian Head in Saltlick Township, and Norman operated his own blacksmith shop. Later, Norman was supervisor of road maintenance for 24 years in Saltlick Township. The family were members of the Poplar Run Church of God of Prophecy. Several of the Snyder daughters liked to tease by calling each other "Hen Miner," the name of a grand-uncle, Henry A. Miner. The story was that the uncle "would get his temper up" or "got upset" or more accurately "got spells" and this was derogatory enough in the minds of the girls that it made for a good insult.
When she was widowed and in her later years, Jennie's mother came to live in their home. As her mind began to fail, and her memory play tricks from decades earlier, she would awaken in the middle of the night and rouse Jennie, saying it was time to kill chickens and cook and bake for the threshers who were staying there to work. Sometimes, during those episodes, Jennie would gently say "Mother, let's go back to bed, we'll take care of it in the morning." At other times, however, the two of them would be up most of the night. Then in the morning, when Jennie would ask about it, her mother would say, "Why didn't you smack me in the face and tell me to go to bed?" But, as one of Jennie's daughters later recalled, "You couldn't tell my grandmother anything like that." Norman endured kidney disease for a decade prior to his death. When he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in early June 1954, he died only four days later, at home, on June 8, 1954 after “an extended illness," said the Courier. Rev.'s William Smith and Charles Uphold officiated at the funeral service. The Courier noted that among Norman's survivors were 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Jennie was afflicted for two decades with chronic bronchial problems. She died a little more than a year after her husband, from complications of heart disease, on June 18, 1955. They are buried in Normalville Cemetery.
~ Son Clarence Snyder ~ Son Clarence Snyder (1904-1957) was born on May 24, 1904, in Indian Head, Fayette County, the eldest of the Snyder children. Tragically, he suffered from a congenital birth defect -- commonly called "water on the brain" -- which led to an over-enlarged skull for his entire life. He never married and died of kidney ailments on April 23, 1957 at the age of 52. Burial was in Normalville Cemetery.
~ Daughter Mabel (Snyder) Richter ~ Daughter Mabel Snyder (1906-1993) was born on Jan. 29, 1906 in Saltlick Township, Fayette County. On May 14, 1923, at Freed or Stauffer near Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, the 17-year-old Mabel was united in marriage with 19-year-old Earl Richter (1903-1974). The ceremony was preformed by Jim Wiltrout, said to have been "a one armed justice of the peace." Earl was the son of Allen and Harriet (Robbins) Richter, and at the time of marriage worked as a laborer. They had five daughters -- Beulah Berger, Helen Nicholson, Grace Kooser, Mae Grimm and Erma E. White. The family moved to a farm near White and remained there actively farming for decades. Said the Connellsville Daily Courier, Earl "was a retired farmer and conducted a farm products route in Connellsville for more than 35 years. He also was a former coal miner. He was a member of the Clinton Church of God, and was choir leader, a former elder, Sunday school superintendent and teacher of the Men’s Bible Class.” Mabel had a deep love for family history and retained in he memory many stories she had been told by her parents, uncles and aunts. She kept a collection of hundreds of Daily Courier obituaries of family and friends.
Sadly, Earl was stricken and died on arrival at Connellsville State General Hospital at the age of 70 on March 28, 1974. Survivors included 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mabel outlived him by nearly two decades. She passed away at home on Sept. 6, 1993, at the age of 87. An obituary in the Greensburg Tribune-Review noted that she was survived by 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Interment was in the Normalville Cemetery, with Rev. John L. Woods officiating at the funeral. Daughter Erma E. Richter (1923-2013) was born on Aug. 15, 1923 in Normalville. When she was age 20, on Aug. 10, 1944, at Donegal, PA, Erma married 21-year-old farmer Ivan L. White (1923-1999), son of Spurgeon and Mary J. (Whetzel) White. They had two children -- Judy Kalp and I. Robert "Bob" White. They lived in Acme and were members of the Clinton Church of God. A member of Local 1058, Ivan spent many years working in road construction for Vipond and Vipond and later became a coal miner and member of the United Mine Workers of America. He loved to hunt and fish and belonged to the Normalville Rod and Gun Club. He passed away on May 27, 1999, in Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant. Erma survived her husband by 14 years. She died on April 7, 2013, at the age of 89, the last surviving member of her family of siblings. Following a funeral led by Rev. Joseph Wingrove Jr., she was laid to rest beside her spouse in the Normalville Cemetery. At Erma's death, she was survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Daughter Beulah Harriet Richter (1925-1994) was born on April 11, 1925 in Melcroft. She married Denver Berger (1921- ? ) in about 1946, and the couple remained married for 48 years. They produced six children -- Betty Ann Stauffer, Bonnie K. Newcomer, Connie Stauffer, Susan Lorene Berger, Becky Lynn Berger and Brian D. Berger. They belonged to the Clinton Church of God and made their home in White near Normalville. Sadly, they endured the death of their daughter Susan who died April 2, 1964 (or 1965) at the age of about seven. Beulah died in Pittsburgh's Allegheny General Hospital on Dec. 4, 1994, at the age of 69.
Daughter Helen Lorene Richter (1927-1990) was born on March 26, 1927 in or near Normalville. On Sept. 21, 1945, she married 19-year-old farmer Teddy Wilson Nicholson (1926-1979). He was the son of Jesse and Bessie (Miller) Nicholson of Saltlick Township. The Nicholsons produced four children -- Teddy W. Nicholson Jr., Kenneth E. Nicholson, Janet Bird and Patricia Wigfield. Teddy Sr. "was a life-long resident of Clinton and for years was a self-employed general construction contractor," said the Daily Courier, and "for the past two years he was a heavy equipment operator for the Laurel Ridge Coal Company." Helen belonged to the Clinton Church of God, and Teddy to the Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witnesses. Teddy died at the age of 53 in Connellsville State General Hospital on April 30, 1979. Helen died at home at the age of 63 on Nov. 26, 1990.
Daughter Grace Kooser (1929-2009) was born on March 18, 1929. She wed John "French" Kooser Sr. (May 17, 1931-2017), son of Henry and Bertha (Dull) Kooser of Mill Run. Their children were John French Kooser Jr. and Tamera Jo "Tammy" Jordan. They resided in Normalville for many years and then in Mill Run in the early 1990s. The Koosers were members of the Indian Creek Baptist Church, where French sang in the church choir and served in various leadership roles, and they attended the Poplar Run Church of God of Prophecy. French was employed for 34 years at Anchor Hocking Glass in South Connellsville. After retiring in 1986, he worked at Seven Springs Resort, where he retired (again) in 2006 after two decades. He also earned extra income driving school buses for the Colborn company, serving Connellsville Area School District, and he and his son John owned and operated a beer cabble farm. Sadly, then endured the early death of their son John in July 2009. Just under three months later, Grace joined her son in death on Sept. 29, 2009. French survived his wife by almost eight years. He passed away six days after his 86th birthday on May 23, 2017. His remains were placed into repose in the Indian Creek Baptist Cemetery, with Rev. Randy Winemiller and Rev. Christ McLaughin jointly officiating at the funeral.
Daughter Mae Fern Richter (1931-2010) was born on May 11, 1931. She married Edward Grimm (1928-2015), son of Sarah Grimm Hardy of Bobtown, Greene County, PA. The couple is seen here in a photograph taken in mid-September 1953. They resided in Acme, Fayette County, and had two children -- Peggy Ritenour Mansberry and Kerry Grimm. During the Korean War, Edward served in the U.S. Army and for a time was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany. After the war, he worked for many years for Franco Construction as a carpenter. Mae was employed as a presser for Union Apparel in Norvelt and Carolee in Connellsville. They were members of the Clinton Church of God, where Mae played piano during worship services. Sadly, Mae died on April 29, 2010. Rev. Joseph Wingrove Jr. preached her funeral sermon, with burial following in Normalville Cemetery. Edward survived her by five years.
In 1993, during an initial visit by the founder of this website, escorted by cousin Jack Campbell, Mae and her elderly mother welcomed strangers into the old family home and told important stories about the family's earlier years. In 2000, Mae and her family came to our national reunion and posed for a five-generation photo with her mother's cousin Frank Enos, daughter Peg, granddaughter Lori and great-granddaughter Alyssa. Sadly, Mae passed away at the age of 78 on April 29, 2010, ending 56 years with her husband. She was laid to rest in the Normalville Cemetery. Edward survived his bride by five years. He joined her in eternity on March 26, 2015, while a resident of Eicher's Family Home in Normalville.
~ Daughter Verda (Snyder) Firestone ~ Daughter Alverda "Verda" Snyder (1911-1985) was born on Jan. 30, 1911 near Indian Head. As a young girl, she occasionally provided house-keeping chores for her widowed great-aunt, Amanda (Williams) Miner of Normalville. On Nov. 22, 1933, when she was age 21, Verda married 19-year-old Carl L. Firestone (1914-1983), son of Jerry M. and Sarah (Murray) Firestone. They made their home in Melcroft, Fayette County. Their three daughters were Jenny Davison, Patricia Wilders and Geraldine Keyser.
Carl was "a lifelong resident of the Indian Creek Valley and a retired coal miner," said the Courier. "He was formerly an employee of Marsolino Construction Co.; a member of UMWA; a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army; and a member of the Donegal American Legion." A typical Connellsville region coal mining operation is seen here. Carl died at home at the age of 69 on Nov. 3, 1983. Burial was in Normalville Cemetery. Rev. James Vanderworn and Rev. Robert McNeel led the funeral service. At the time of Carl's passing, he and Verda were just 19 days shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. Verda lived in widowhood for two years. She died on June 25, 1985, in Pittsburgh's St. Francis Hospital. An obituary in the Daily Courier reported that she was survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Daughter Jenny Firestone married Abraham Davison of Friedens, Somerset County, PA. Daughter Patricia Firestone wed William Wilders and called Melcroft home. Their one known daughter was Tammy Wilders. Daughter Geraldine Firestone was united in marriage with Charles Keyser. They lived in Somerset, Somerset County, PA.
~ Daughter Pauline (Snyder) Brown ~ Daughter Pauline Snyder (1914 -2002) was born on March 29, 1913 in Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County. She married David H. Brown (1908-1962), son of Charles and Minnie (Shoemaker) Brown. Their longtime home was in Scottdale, Westmoreland County, PA, at 709 Parker Avenue. They had two children, of whom she outlived both -- Charles David Brown and Dottie Dalessio. Said the Greensburg Tribune-Review, Pauline "was a former employee of the former Scottdale Casket Co., where she worked as a seamstress. She then worked as a waitress at the Howard Johnson's in New Stanton and then at the former Blue Ridge Restaurant in Bullskin Township." Pauline was a longtime member of the Church of Christ in Scottdale. David was a machinist. David died of heart failure in 1963, at age 54, on Sept. 18, 1962. He died in Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh's Oakland section, after an aortic aneurysm of 20 hours' duration. Pauline outlived her husband by almost four decades. She maintained her residence in Scottdale during that time. She died at the age of 89 on April 9, 2002. Burial was in Green Ridge Memorial Park. Son Charles David Brown (1933-1964) was born on May 30, 1933 in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County. He married a distant double cousin, Betty Ann Craig (Aug. 22, 1940-2014), daughter of Frank K. and Rachel Goldiean "Goldie" (Crabtree) Craig of the family of James M. and Mary "Agnes" (Younkin) Crabtree. See the Craig biography for more. Daughter Dorothy "Dottie" Brown (1943-1993) was born on May 25, 1943 in Scottdale. She married Louis E. Dalessio (Oct. 1, 1943-2024), son of Frederick and Margaret Mongelluzzo Dalessio. The Dalessios lived in Connellsville and became the parents of an only son, David Scott Dalessio. Dottie was “a partner/owner of the former 711 Auto Sales which later became Louis Motors and Total Image Mobile Electronics” in Connellsville, said the Connellsville Daily Courier. Sadly, Dottie died on June 2, 1993, in Connellsville's Highlands Hospital, at the age of 48. The Courier printed an obituary including her photograph. Louis outlived his wife by more than three decades and remained in Connellsville. For 20 years, he earned a living with United States Steel Corporation and maintained ownership of the family's Louis Motors. He also held a membership in the Sons and Daughters of Italy. With his health in decline at the age of 80, he was admitted to the Ruby Memorial Hospital at West Virginia University and died there on April 5, 2024. A private burial was held at Green Ridge Memorial Park.
~ Daughter Kathryn (Snyder) Prinkey ~
Daughter Kathryn Snyder (1915-1989) was born in about 1915. She married a distant cousin, Kenneth W. Prinkey (1915-1980), grandson of John R. and Rachel Ruamy (Long) Pritts of Normalville. They resided in Normalville and produced two children -- Kenneth Dean Prinkey and James D. Prinkey. Kathryn was church clerk and pianist for the Poplar Run Church of God. She also was a Sunday School teacher and missionary band leader,” said the Connellsville Daily Courier.” Kenneth was a coal miner and steelworker early in his career, then became a truck driver for Mastowski and Fullem Lumber Company. He was a member of the Normalville Volunteer Fire Department and of the Sunday School of the Church of God of Prophecy Church. Tragedy struck when Kenneth died while driving his car in October 1980. Reported the Courier, he “drove off the road after suffering an apparent heart attack and struck a tractor trailer parked in the Mastowski and Fullem Lumber Company driveway, near Normalville.” She survived her husband by nine years, and died in 1989. They are buried together at Normalville Cemetery. Son James D. Prinkey (1944-2007) was born on Oct. 23, 1944 in Normalville. In about 1965, he married Elva Jean Brown ( ? - ? ). They made their residence in White, and had these children: Shawn Prinkey and Jeffrey Prinkey. James was employed for 17 years by McIntosh Steel Company and later worked for Leeper's Market. His last job was in Mt. Pleasant for Pritts Feed Mill, from which he retired. He was a longtime Sunday School secretary at the Poplar Run Church of God of Prophecy and a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. James died at the age of 62,on Jan. 5, 2007, at Excela Health Frick Hospital. Burial was in Ulery Cemetery following funeral services led by Rev. Larry Winemiller, Rev. Clyde Forbes and Rev. Colin Koch.
Son Kenneth Dean Prinkey married Nancy White. Their three daughters were twins Trudy Prinkey and Judy Prinkey, and Lisa Prinkey.
~ Son James Ernest Snyder ~ Son James Ernest Snyder (1916-1949) was born on March 4, 1916 in Bakersville, Somerset County, PA. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 21, 1942, and spent nearly all of his four years of service in Hawaii. After the war's end, he returned home and pursued his interest in timbering by securing work in a saw mill. James married Irene Laymon (1924- ? ). They were eight years apart in age and lived in Clinton near Normalville. The couple is not known to have reproduced. Tragically, James was afflicted with cancer of the testicles, and the disease spread to his lungs. He was admitted to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Aspinwall, near Pittsburgh, but the case was too far gone. He died 12 days later on May 29, 1949. Burial was in Normalville Cemetery, with Rev. F.J. Papiernik officiating.
~ Daughter Dollie (Snyder) Laymon ~ Daughter Dollie Snyder (1918-2011) was born on April 1, 1918. On Jan. 9, 1938, when she was 20 years of age, Dollie married Myers I. Laymon (1916-2004), son of John H. and Elizabeth (Myers) Laymon. Rev. Merrill L. Cadwell officiated. At the time of marriage, Dollie worked as a maid and Myers as a coal miner. Their three children were Twila Balsley, Irvin W. "Buzz" Laymon and Sarah Frances Laymon. Sadly, daughter Sarah Frances died in infancy. The Laymons resided in Normalville for most if not all of their married lives together and were employed at Laymon's Auto Sales of Normalville. Dollie also worked at Laymon's Store in Clinton, which they owned. In November 1987, a few months early, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and were pictured in the Connellsville Daily Courier. In 1994, Dollie read a local news article naming her grandfather who was to be honored among other Civil War soldiers at the annual Minerd-Miner Reunion. She called the reunion president (founder of this website) and said she and her sister would have liked to have come. When the reunion official sent her a booklet with her granddad's photo, the two of them talked again, with Dollie providing valuable memories which helped add stories to this biography. Myers passed away on Sept. 28, 2004. Dollie lived for another seven years after her husband's death. She succumbed on June 24, 2011. Daughter Twila Laymon ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). Circa 1964, she married James E. Balsley (1935-1995) of Normalville. James was a distant cousin on the Younkin side of the family, the son of Lester and Grace (Younkin) Balsley, grandson of John Scott and Emma Jane (Thomas) Younkin and great-grandson of John X. and Eliza Anne (Rose) Younkin of Connellsville. Twila and James had one son, James E. Balsley Jr. Early in his working career, James was employed with Western Union Telegraph Company and the Betty Louise Coal Company of Smithfield, Fayette County. Later, he accepted a job with Purco Coal Company of Monongahela, Washington County, PA, and for 20 years remained there for the rest of his life. James died in Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital on Aug. 14, 1995, at the age of 60. His remains were brought back to Normalville for burial. Son Irvin W. "Buzz" Laymon (1945-2006) was born on Dec. 13, 1945 in Clinton. He spent his life in Normalville and married Kathryn F. Keslar (Sept. 28, 1944-2020), daughter of Stewart and Mary (Umble) Keslar and a native of Connellsville. They produced one daughter, Pamela Laymon-Smith. Irvin and Kathryn also were very fond of Johnny Knopsnider whom they loved as their own son. Said the Daily Courier: "He worked as a self-employed mechanic.... He was a member of the Trent-Bakersville-Lavansville Rod & Gun Club and loved the outdoors. He would spend many fulfilling hours hunting, fishing, coon hunting and riding horses. Among all his outdoor activities, the one that he looked forward to the most was spending time with his faithful pet dogs." Kathryn also earned income through her work at Connellsville Sportswear and the Volkswagen plant in New Stanton. That was followed by a shift into health care, where she was emplyed as a certified nursing assistant at Hilltop Manor Nursing Home in nearby Donegal and then at Highlands Hospital in Connellsville as a nurse's aide. She belonged to the Highlands Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Red Hats group and was a member of the Popular Run Church of God of Prophecy and the Greenwood Heights Church of God. Sadly, Buzz died on Aug. 20, 2006, at the age of 60. Kathryn survived her spouse by 14 years and made her home in Normalville. As her health went into decline, she was admitted to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and succumbed there on Sept. 20, 2020, just two days shy of her 76th birthday. An obituary was printed in the Connellsville Daily Courier. Interment of the remains was in the Dan Snyder Cemetery, where generations of Laymon/Enos ancestors sleep for all time.
~ Daughter Erma (Snyder) Laymon McCue ~ Daughter Erma Snyder (1920 - ? ) was born in 1920. At the age of 18, on Dec. 10, 1938, Erma wed 31-year-old Otha B. Laymon (1907-1967), son of John H. and Elizabeth (Myers) Laymon of Saltlick Township. There was a difference of 14 years in their respective ages. Rev. Merrill L. Caldwell led the nuptials ceremony. Their three children were Gerald Laymon, Wendell Laymon and Brenda Laymon. In about 1953, the Laymons relocated to Painesville, Lake County, OH. There, they remained for the next 14 years until Otha's death. Otha died in Painesville in February 1967, at the age of 60. Funeral services were held there. An obituary was printed in the Connellsville Daily Courier. In 1993, Erma's home was in Ohio. She married again, to (?) McCue.
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