The Newtown bee., 1907-02-08
William Bigelow
 Sniffen. HIS DEATH OCCURRED ON FRIDAY LAST. POSTMASTER A T SANDY
 HOOK. Held This Office Under Presl- dents Arthur, Harrison, Mckinley, Roosevelt.
A VETERAN OF THE CIVIL
 WAR.
His Burial Takes Place at snatford

A useful and well-loved citizen has passed from our midst in the death on Friday, just before the midnight hour, of William Bigelow Sniffen, postmaster
 Postmaster Sniffen was stricken with pneumonia the Friday before his death. He left the postoff1ce on that day and went to his home complaining of feeling chilly, and at once took to his bed. His physician, Dr. A. L.. Schuyler, was summoned, and all that medical care and nursing could do was done for him. But it proved unavailtng, for in his delicate state of health he was lilly prepared to withstand the rigors of 8 siege with pneumonia.
 MT Sniffen will be greatly missed in for 31 years he had made his home. AS postmaster he was universally es- teemed, his conduct of the affairs of the office winning him the respect and regard of all classes. In St Johns parish his death will be mourned, for he was steadfast supporter of all it's interests and services, and was mem Der of it's vestry at the time of bis death.
 MT Sniffen possessed qualities of character that are often lacking in others. He was not cumulative oI assertiVe by nature. and loved the ways of peace. He respected the opinions of others, and was not one who delight ed in speaking i'll of a neighbor, or rolling as 8 sweet morsel under his tongue a fresh bit of scandal. Would that men of this happy tenn, Weak in bodily frame he has outlived | scores of strong, able men in our time, who have burned out the fire of thetl life at the gilded forge of intemper- ance and dissipation. What a tes timony is such career to the temper ate lifel Surely godliness with con tentment is great gain.
 William B. Sniffen was born in | Stratford, March 30. 184O, the son ol Isaac .Sniffen and Sarah o. Birdseye His bOyhoOd days were passed in Strat ford. He learned the jewelry business under Philip B. Seegee, who is still living in Bridgeport. For a time he was employed as machinist in the Wheeler 6 Wilson shop. In 1878 he came to Sandy Hook and opened 8 | jewelry store in Augur's building, ir the apartment recently occupied by MT COnover as a restaurant. Later | he moved across the bridge to the the disastrous fire of two years age which cleaned out the row of build | ings. MT Sniffen was first appointed postmaster August 2, 1883, succeeding Ezra Patch. He served till the coming | in O. the Cleveland administration when he was succeeded by George l Winton of Zoar. MT Sn1ffen was agafr appointed postmaster by Presiden, Harrison and displaced by MT Bradley | on the advent of the second Cleveland administration. He became pOstmas ter for a third term by appointmen, of the Mckinley administration an6 has continued in office ever since tC the satisfaction of all.
 MT Snifen's war record was marked by the same spirit of fidelity to duty that was apparent in all his life. Ht enlisted July 31, 1862, in the Second Connecticut Light battery and wa, discharged on August 10, 1885, The battery saw service at Gettysburg, New Orleans, in the engagements before Ft Gaines and Fit Morgan in Alabama John w. Sterling was the captain of the battery at the time of his enlist ment. His discharge papers bore the signature of Capt Walter s. Hotchkiss He was one of the charter members ol Custer post, No. 46. G. A. R., and wal It's ad1utant at the time of his death.
 MT Sniffen was married June l2, 1867 to Harriet R. Rarnum of Stratford who survives him with two sons, Er nest w. Sniffen of Newport News Va, and Assistant Postmaster Henry Birdseye Sniffen of Sandy Hook.
 | Despite the intense winter weather of Sunday St Johns church was well