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Portrait and Biographical Album of
Huron County, Michigan
Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884

           [311]

           HON. JOSEPH W. SNELL, farmer and dealer in real estate, resident
        at Albion, Calhoun Co., Mich., whose business interests are situ-
        ated largely in Huron County, was born June 2, 1826, in Lycoming
        Co., Pa. His parents, WILLIAM and EMILY (MOLINEAUX) SNELL, were
        natives of England. His father devoted his life to agricultural
        pursuits, emigrating early to the State of New York, where he died
        in 1839. The mother died in the same State in 1828.
           MR. SNELL is the youngest of six children, and was but two
        years old when his mother died. At the age of eight years he went
        to live with an uncle, JESSE P. HAINES, of Niagara Co., N.Y., under
        whose supervision he remained until he attained his majority.  MR.
        HAINES was a surveyor by profession and a prominent member of the
        Society of Friends. In character he was one of the finest examples
        of all that the principles of his creed tend to develop.  Always
        just and wise, pre-eminently solicitous for the welfare of the
        community of which he was a member, he exerted an influence that
        survives him even now in the character of those with whom he was
        intimately connected. Soon after attaining his majority, MR. SNELL
        went to Haldimand Co., Ont., and became interested in lumbering. He
        operated there 16 years, and during the time was married (May 17,
        1857) to FIDELIA HOLMES. She was born in May, 1827, in Haldimand
        County, and is the daughter of WILLIAM HOLMES, a wealthy farmer and
        lumberman of that county who has retired from active business. Her
        mother, MARY (HOOVER) HOLMES, was of German extraction and born in
        Pennsylvania. She died about 1869.  MRS. SNELL obtained a good
        common-school education and engaged some years in teaching. The
        family of Mr. and Mrs. SNELL includes six children. JESSIE H. is
        the wife of the REV. LYMAN BACON, a graduate of Albion college and
        a minister of the M. E. Church.  MRS. BACON was graduated at Albion
        College and was a successful teacher for some years.  MAUD, the
        second child, was graduated in the department of music in the same
        college. WILLIAM M. and THOMAS C. are students at Albion, where the
        two youngest children, JOSEPH W. and DAY H., are taking preparatory
        courses of study.
           MR. SNELL removed his family to Saginaw, Mich., in 1866. After
        a brief residence there, he came to Huron County and purchased
        several hundred acres of timbered land, making his location at Bay
        Port. Soon after he opened a mercantile enterprise, which he has
        since conducted, in conjunction with farming and lumbering.
        Together with his wife, MR. SNELL owns about 2,000 acres of land
        within Huron County.
           He is an active and prominent member of the Republican element
        in politics, and has been Supervisor of his township several years.
        In 1868 he was elected to represent the people of Huron County in
        the Legislature of Michigan, and served during the two sessions of
        his term. In 1872 he was again put in nomination for the same
        office, but owing to local divisions was defeated by a small
        majority.  MRS. SNELL is a prominent and zealous member of the
        Methodist Episcopal Church.

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