The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-03
GEORGE BOWERS SNYDER

Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, June
20, 1853, and died in Chicago, on
February %, 1921, at the age of 81
years, 8 mos.
In 1876 he graduated from the
medical department of the University
of Pennsylvania, and in October of
the same year, came to Hays, Kansas.
He was the first physician in the town
and in the early days served as cor
oner. Hays was then a frontier town
and the coroner was an important and
busy official. His sense of humor and
keen intelligence made the telling of
his early day experiences a real and
never-ending delight to his family
and friends. 1t was rare treat when
some few of the old timers like the
late Simon Motz, Jack Downing, Mrs
Gilkeson, Mrs. Middlekauff and DR..
Snyder would, when together, re-
count the events of old Hays.
For forty-two years DIR. Snyder
practiced in Hays and for twenty
seven years he was Union Pacific Sur
geon at that point. The friendships
he enjoyed with the officials of that
road is proof in itself of his ability
and faithfulness. The recent cpl
denies of influenza were a severe
drain upon his strength and in Octo-
Der 1919, he decided to retire from
active practice and go to Chicago to
live with his daughter, Mrs. H. R.
Phalen
After considerable urging on the
part of his friends, he appeared be-
fore the medical board of Illinois and
was licensed to practice in that state.
He quickly built up a nice neighbor-
hood practice and was happy with
work and friends.
DR.. Snyder was an unusual scholar.
In his profession he was tireless in his
reading and study. The civil war was
his hobby and he was unusually
familiar with the most minute details
of that struggle.
The services were held at the
Woodlawn Masonic Temple under the
direction of Woodlawn Commandery
No rs Knights Templar Exquisite
floral pieces covered the casket and
filed the room, testifying to the
many friends he had made during his
short residence in Chicago. He was
laid to rest in nwoer covered grave
in the Masonic section of Mt. Green
wood Cemetery, Chicago, in a lot
selected by himself last summer.
DIR. Snyder was twice married. On
May 1st, 1878, ne married Miss Lucy
Chadwick, a sister of Mrs. A. D
Gilkeson and Miss Ella Chadwick
She died in 1880. On August 9Th
1884, he married Miss Emma Anr
| Decker, who survives him. The re
manning family is small, consisting
only of one daughter, Mrs. Harold R
| PhaIen, of Chicago; one granddaugh
ter, Carolyn Phalen, and brother
Senator Plymouth w. Snyder of Hol
lidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Of cheerful, kindly disposition, DR.
made friends quickly and easily
From the first days of his arrival il
Chicago he found Woodlawn Masonic
Temple a never ending source of de
light and pleasure. He Identified
from Aleppo Commandery to Wood
lawn Commandery, and from Hays
| Chapter to Jackson Park Chapter
but retained his membership in the
Blue Lodge at Hays.
Last spring he was given his letter
from Trinity Lutheran Church, Hays
to WoodIawn Park Presbyterian
Chicago, and each Sunday morning
found him in his place at church. The
| pastors remarks were based on the
words or theme "He was a man, he
was gentleman, he was Christian.
Tuesday March 1st, Neva, Aber
crombie celebrated her twelfth birth
| day. In honor of the occasion sh'
invited her teacher and class and {
few friends to her home from to
| O'Clock. After games were played
/ the following refreshments were
! served: ice cream, cake, candy anC
oranges. Mrs. Winters and Mrs. c
A. Miller assisted Mrs. Abercrombie
in serving. Neva received many nice
gifts and after wishing her many
more happy birthdays, the happy
guests departed. Those present were
Miss Pearl Wilson, Dyole Miller
Orono Henderson, Marie Campbell
Dorothy Henderson, Mary Katherine
Miller, Evelyn Henderson and Mrs
Henderson, Charles Ball, Verse
King, Opal Tourtillotte, Elizabetl
Early, Rosalind Ward, Margery Nc
Leod, Helen Blake, Floyd Lee, Clar
ence Kent. Robert Bird, Davit
/ Markell. Iceland Cook, Arthuli
Blender. Herbert Chittenden, Ann;
DreiIing, George Jewell, Alfre,
Shuts, Dorothy Ellis, Bessie Lydi;
Cranda1l George Honest, Lawrenc
Kirknan, Freda Winters, Eleano
Winters, Haza Curry, Dorothy King
Helen Cowao Rorothv Morrison