George B. Snyder

Birth: He was born in 1928 at Reading, Pennsylvania.  

Family Information: Married to Mary Snyder.

Other survivors (at his death)  included his father and two sisters who lived in Los Angeles, California and two brothers who lived at Trinidad, Colorado.  

Description: He believed in peace on earth and good will to men and suffered persecution during the world war on account of his outspoken peace sentiments. Colonists felt that by the time of his death, his stand for peace would have been better understood and appreciated. They felt it was obvious by that time, that America could have saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of her young men and the twenty-seven billion dollars that it had cost America.  

Pre-Colony History: At the age of 10 he moved with his parents to Norton, Kansas where he attended a common school and was was indoctrinated with co-operative ideals by an uncle who still resides at Norton.

He attended college in Chicago where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar and for 10 years practiced his profession in that city but his heart wasn't in that line of work.

He returned to Kansas, organized the Co-operative Insurance Company with headquarters at Columbus, Kansas, and for 21 years served as its efficient secretary, saving the farmers millions of dollars that they would otherwise have had to pay to the old line insurance companies had it not been for the sagacity and good work of George W. Snyder and his mutual insurance system. He also assisted in organizing the Co-op Telephone Company that extended its low-cost lines in many directions in Kansas.

He and his wife had visited the colony around 1921, but at that time had returned to Kansas, though they always held the colony in their hearts. They returned in November 1928.  

Home in Colony:  

Job in Colony:  

Other Info: In 1928 he was one of the founding members of the local Conscientious Objectors Union; Theodore Atworth served as the first Secretary-Treasurer with O.E. Enfield serving as the President. The organization was planned to be international, composed of people who refused to go to war as a matter of conscience. Charter members included: Theodore Atworth, Mary H. Atworth, Emily H. Dougherty, I.A. Dougherty, Carl H. Gleeser, S. Weislander, Charlie C. Black, John Hight, Lowell H. Coate, W.A. Shutt, F.O. Jernberg, Reka Jernberg, Anna Tabb, Peter Kemp, F. Rosenburg, B. Wade Hewitt, Hamilton H. McClurg, W.J. Hoag, Theodore F. Landrum, C.N. Butts, Mary and George Snyder, Anna Garrett, Emma Shutt, M.A. Brattland, Richard P. Condon, Jr., Emily Swenson, W.J. Newman, George T. Pickett, Raymond DeFausell, S.E. Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Molenar, Earl L. Bosch, Guy F. Rogers, Ora E. Newman, James J. Miller, Bert Busick, Mabel D. Busick, Ole Synoground, C.C. Mickey, Fred A. Jensen, Katie Mickey, F. Rahn and Isaac H. Keyes.  

Post-Colony History:  

Death: He died on Dec. 24, 1928 at Newllano, Louisiana from a ruptured gall duct. His faithful wife was at his side when the end came; he was perfectly rational to the last moment and told his wife not to grieve for him.

He was buried under the shadow of the long leaf yellow pine in the colony cemetery on Christmas Day. His casket was handmade from the native cypress of the Southland, stained with mahogany varnish, and decorated with wreaths of holly, ferns and evergreens which he loved so much. There was vocal and instrumental music and flowers; Comrade O.E. Enfield delivered a well-deserved eulogy in honor of the departed.  

Sources: "Llano Colonist": December 22, 1928; January 5, 1929