Obituary of George A. Snavely - July 15, 1926

Green Bay Press Gazette.

Thursday Evening July 15, 1926

GEO. A. SNAVELY DIES TODAY IN HOSPITAL HERE
Well Known Pioneer Citizen Dies Following a operation.

Failing to rally from on operation performed as a last resort yesterday morning, George A. Snavely, 78, of 418 Cherry St., died at a local hospital at 4:05 o'clock this morning. The end came peacefully. His three sons were at his bedside.

Mr. Snave ly was one of the oldest and best known citizens of Green Bay and was identified with numerous public and private activities. He was one of the original promoters of the present Bay Beach resort. With the late Mitchell Nejedio and others he converted a t ract of unattractive swamp land into the beginning of the present popular outing place and later was instrumental in bringing about the building of an independent carline to the Beach.

He represented the old Second and Fifth wars for a number of terms on the common council and the county board of supervisors. Mr Snavely was a member of the grand jury which investigated civic conditions more than 20 years ago. \

Funeral Sunday Afternoon

Burial will be conducted at 2:30 Sunday afternoon from the Findelsen & Gre iser chapel, with interment at Woodlawn. Services will be in charge of the Green Bay lodge of Odd Fellows, of which Mr. Snavely was an active member for half a century.

Surviving Mr. Snavely are three sons; L.C. and J. A. of Green Bay, G. Andrew of Minneapolis, a sister Mrs. Louis Bender of De Pere, a brother, O.W. Smith of Chicago and ten grandchildren.

George Alfred Snavely was born in Vera Cruz, Mexico, on March 5, 1848, under colorful surroundings, and as a boy teaming contractor, lumberman, miner, sol dier of fortune, hotel keeper, farmer, carriage builder, merchant, liveryman and as director and promoter of various business activities lived a long and varied career. Although born on foreign soil his birth occurred under the American flag, which then was planted over parts of Mexico so legally he was of native American birth.

His father John A. Snavely, was in the regular army as an officer on the staff of the late Col. William Chapman, who later became a leading citizen of Green Bay. His mother, who w as Jospehine B. Forsythe, was called from Green Bay to Mexico by the illness of her father, also with the army of occupation. There she met and married John A. Snavely. Her trip from Green Bay to New Orleans, a distance of about 1600 miles, was made on horseback over Indian trail.

Started Out with $600

Mr. Snavely's boyhood days were spent in the bay shore wilderness then known as Sugar Creek in the town of Union, Door county. At the age of 16, with as capital of $600 obtained from a brother, he started his business career as a teaming contractor on the building of the Sturgeon Bay canal. This was in 1864. Later he was associated in lumbering with the late John Leathem of Sturgeon Bay.

In 1871 Mr. Snavely decided to go to California to build a fortune. As he was about to buy a ticket at the Northwestern depot in Green Bay he met a friend who persuaded him to go to the Copper country. For a number of years he operated a hotel at Michigamme and also was identified with mining. Returning to Green Bay in the late 70's he bought and conducted for a number of years his father's hotel, the old Adams house. The new Adams house was built by him and only recently passed our of his hands.

Interested in De Pere Concern

Failing health turned him to farming-in the town of Ashwaubenon - in the early 80's. Returning to Green Bay a few years later he became a partner in the old Green Bay Carriage company, then known as Wagner, Snavely & Herbert. In turn he engaged in the livery business with James McKone operated t h e Adams house for a second and third periods, engaged in the hardware business, took over and conducted the old Snyder livery, now the Snavely garage, from 1896 to 1905, Later he became interested in the Western Steel & Iron Works of De Pere, now the Hud son Mfg. company, as well as being connected actively with various other activities.

Mr. Snavely was married at Negaunee, Mich., in 1872 to Miss Nellie Lundungroom of Boston, who died in Green Bay in 1884. A year later he was married to Miss Sarah Hinks of Green Bay. Her death occurred in September, 1923

Submitted by: Jan R Dorn