Frank Snyder, the second son of Samuel and Clara (Courson) Snyder, was
     born in 1881 in a dougout at the farm home near Glen Elder, Kansas. The
     Snyders came to Iowa in 1870, from Pennsylvania, then to Glen Elder in
     1876. The Coursons also came by covered wagon in 1870 to Glan Elder from
     Illinois, crossing the Mississippi on the ice. In 1895, the Samuel Snyders
     moved in a covered wagon to their claim 9 miles southwest of Hardtner, in
     Oklahoma Territory. For a while they lived in a dugout. Frank, his father
     and brother, Fern, helped build houses and school houses to earn money for
     living expenses.
       At a neighborhood gathering, Frank met Margaret "Maggie" Hart. Her parents,
     the Eusebius Harts, came to Barber County by covered wagon from their home
     in Eureka, Kansas, where Maggie was born in 1886. They lived north of Hardtner
     where her father worked while he was building a house on his claim 12 miles
     southwest of Hardtner in Oklahoma Territory. After they moved to their new
     home, her father carried mail on a star route from Winchester to Alva. Frank
     and Maggie were married at her home in 1903. They began their married life 
     at the Brownback ranch 9 miles west of Hardtner on Hackberry Creek in Barber
     County. Later he rented the land and lived there until they moved to a farm
     6 miles northeast of Medicine Lodge in 1940.
       While living in Hackberry, eleven children were born to the Snyders. They
     were: Agnes, Eva, Mabel, Alfred, Earl, Wilbur, Merl (stillborn), Inez (died
     at 14 months), Bethel, Leora (died at 7 months), and Eleanor. Frank and
     neighbors built a company telephone line from Hardtner. He was interested in
     schools and served on the Hackberry school board for 26 years. All the children
     attended high school.
       After moving to Medicine Lodge, the Snyders raised more cattle and lots of
     Alfalfa hay. Alfred was in partnership farming with his father.
       Earl, Wilbur and Bethel served in WWII. Earl was an Aviation Machinest Mate
     in the Navy Air Corps. Wilbur was a supply truck driver in the Marines in the
     fighting in the Philippines area. Bethel was in the Army Air Corps and remained
     in after the war, receiving the rank of Major.
       Frank and Maggie celebrated their Golden Wedding at the farm home in 1953.
     All the children were there except Earl and Bethel. They had 21 grandchildren,
     2 step-grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 3 step-great grandchildren, and
     6 great great grandchildren.
       After Frank died in 1954, and Alfred in 1957, Maggie and Mabel moved to
     Medicine Lodge in 1958. The next year they bought a house on Cedar Street.
     They med new neighbors and friends. Margaret joined the Methodist Church and
     belonged to the Golden Age. She and Mabel made 3 trips to Florida to visit
     Earl and family. They made a trip to California to visit Bethel and family.
     Margaret died in 1970 after living a good full life.  Even though the Snyders
     had hard times, sorrow, and lots of hard work, they enjoyed their large family,
     friends and neighbors. They also took part in all worthwhile community affairs.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 428 
     Submitted by: Mabel Snyder