Dr. Snyder was born in Burlington Co., N.J., July 29, 1821 and is the
son of James and Sabilla
(Cowperthwait) Snyder. His father was a native of
New Jersey; and descended from one of the old Holland families of that State. His mother was born
in Medford, Burlington Co., N. J., and descended
from the well-known English family of Cowperthwait. William C. left New Jersey in April, 1845,
and came to Lyons, Iowa, arriving there in May of
that year. He entered the office of Dr. Bassett, of
that city, as a medical student, and pursued his
studies there about two years. He removed to
Union Grove, this county, in June, 1847, where he
entered upon the practice of medicine. He subsequently took a course of lectures at Rush Medical
College, of Chicago, and continued the practice of
his profession at that place till June, 1854, when he
removed to Fulton, Ill., and engaged in business as
a dealer in general merchandise. He continued in
that line two years, when he built the large warehouse at the steamboat landing, and engaged in the
warehouse and forwarding business, which he has
continued, with the exception of limited intervals, to
this date, covering a period of nearly 30 years.
He was elected the first Supervisor of Union
Grove Township; in 1852 he was re-elected, and
served in 1853. Also from 1850 to 1853 inclusive,
he was Postmaster at Union Crove. In he
was elected Supervisor of Fulton, and in 1858 was
appointed Drainage Commissioner of Whiteside
county, serving in that capacity till 1872. While
occupying this responsible position he discharged its
important duties with fidelity and satisfaction to all
concerned. He was elected Collector of the township of Fulton, Ill 1857, and re-elected in 1858-59.
In 1861 he was appointed Postmaster of Fulton, by
President Lincoln, for the term of four years, and
re-appointed each succeeding term till December,
1882, when he resigned to qualify as State Senator,
to which office he had been elected in the fall by
nearly 3,000 majority.
Dr. Snyder has always taken a warm interest in
matters of public importance, and has, as his record.
shows, held many positions of honor and trust, In
1866 he was elected Mayor of Fulton; but, as it
was found that he could not discharge the duties of
the office while holding an office under the United
States, he resigned the position.
He the spring of 1876 he bought the printing office of the
Fulton Journal, published that paper
three years, and sold out to his son, J. C., and son-in-law, T. J. Pickett.
He was foremost in organizing the Fulton Business Association, and the Cemetery Association, and
has served as Secretary of both for many years.
In politics he is an earnest Republican, and for a
number of years has been Chairman of the Republican County Committee. He was also a member of
the Republican State Central Committee one term.
He was married in the city of Lyons, Iowa, in
1849, to Miss Isyphene C. Pearce, daughter of Jonathan L. and Mary E. (Gardner) Pearce. Mrs. Snyder
was born in Rhode Island. Her parents were natives of the same State.
Dr. and Mrs. Snyder have a family of seven
children, four daughters and three Sons: Kate C. is
the wife of Thomas J. Pickett, Jr., son of Senator
T. J. Pickett, of Illinois. and is now a resident of
Ashland, Neb. Martha C. is the wife of J. C. Neff,
Agent of the Northwestern Railway, at Rochelle,
Ill.; J. Clifton is the present Postmaster of Fulton,
Ill., he having succeeded his father to that office in
December, 1842. He married Miss Hattie L. Noble
in March, 1885. Annie E., J. Justin, Henry G. and
Lena V. are residing with their parents. He has
been actively and prominently identified with the
movements of the temperance element for many
years, and is an uncompromising foe to the traffic in
and use of intoxicants.
Dr. Snyder was made a Freemason in Fulton City
Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., in 1857, and has
served as Master many years. He is one of the
charter members of Fulton Chapter, No. 108, R. A.
M., is the present H. P., and has presided over the
work of the Chapter several terms.
As State Senator he served on seven prominent
committees, and acted in the capacity of Chairman
of Committee on Warehouses. He was a member of
the managing committee on the part of the Senate,
whose watchfulness and sagacity was instrumental
in the election of Gen. John A. Logan to the United
States Senate.1
Dr. Snyder's portrait, which is given on another
page, is a copy of a photograph taken in 1884.
Portraits and Biographical Pg 501-502
(Photo contributed by Corkey Waite)
William C. Snyder, State Senator,
representing the 19th Senatorial District of
Illinois, which includes Whiteside and Lee
Counties, is one of the early settlers of
of Whiteside County, and was a practicing physician at Union Grove in the early history of this part of the State.
Dr. William C Snyder was born in Haddenfield, Hunterdon County New Jersey July 29, 1821, and was educated as a physician and admitted to practice in his native State. In June 1847 at the age of 26 years, he came to Whiteside County and settled in Union Grove, where he practiced his profession until June 1854, when he moved to Fulton. During the Doctor's residence in Union Grove he represented the town in the Board of Supervisors in the years 1852-53 and 54 being the first Supervisor of the town. From 1850 to 1853 he was Postmaster at Union Grove. In 1856 he was elected Supervisor of Fulton and in 1858 was appointed Drainage Commissioner for the county, and held the office until 1872. This was a position of peculiar trust and one of great interest and importance to the County. The Doctor entered upon its duties with the full determination of discharging them with fairness, fidelity and to the best interests of all concerned; and that he did so is the universal expression of all conversant with his official acts. In the years 1857-58 and 59 he was Collector of the township of Fulton. In 1866 he was elected Mayor of the city of Fulton, but it being ascertained that he could not perform its functions by reason of holding a United States Office, he resigned. In May 1861 was appointed Postmaster at the city of Fulton by President Lincoln, and the appointment unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. The term was for 4 years and at its expiration he was re-appointed and this has been the case at the expiration of each term up to the present time, a period of 16 years. Previous to his appointment the Postoffice had been moved from one place to another in the city, as the convenience or opportunities of the different postmasters seemed to dictate or demand, but upon his assuming the position he permanently located it in his own building on Base street, and fitted it up in a manner to fully answer the requirements of the public. A more convenient or more tastily arranged and fitted up Postoffice cannot be found in this section of the country. The Doctor has always been a public-spirited citizen, and whenever any movement in behalf of the interests, growth or prosperity of the city of his home, or of the county, was projected, he was one of the first to be consulted, and the first to act. He is at present Secretary of the Fulton Business Association and the Cemetery Association, positions which he has held from the organization of these bodies. He has also held the position of Chairman of the Republican County Committee for quite a number of years, and was for one term a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
Bent-Wilson 1877 Pg 188
