A Profile of Merton F. Snyder

The Parents of Merton F. Snyder

James M. Snyder and Mary E. Brophy Snyder

Snyder Family Tree

Brophy Family Tree

The Obituary of Merton F. Snyder

13 July 1911 - 27 October 1920

From the Springwater Star, 18 November 1920

Springwater - Not in the history of Springwater has so severe a shock come to the community as came on Tuesday night, October 26, when it was learned that little Merton Snyder, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Snyder, had been accidentally shot by his brother, Marian, aged 14, while they were strapping on some old, supposedly unloaded revolver with a view to playing cowboy.

A reception was being held at the M. E. parsonage and a part of the Snyder family had gone earlier while Mrs. Snyder went late or about 9 p.m. She had been from the house scarcely fifteen minutes when a phone call announced the terrible accident. The family rushed home, Dr. Skinner was hastily summoned and gave first aid after which the little sufferer was rushed to Colonial Inn hospital, Dansville, where Drs. Driesbach, Dorr and King said that an operation was the only chance as the bullet had penetrated the stomach and bowels. The operation took place at once or about 11 p.m., lasting two hours. The little fellow rallied toward the early morning and although the physicians gave little hope, the heart broken parents and brothers, who had been called from Wallace watched by the bedside hoping and praying God would spare their darling boy.

During the forenoon he knew all who spoke to him. But after the noon hour he became more restless and though rational most of the time, friends feared for the outcome. During the day he inquired about school, playmates and things in general.

About 4 p.m. he grew rapidly worse and in about his last conscious moments very quietly repeated the Lord’s prayer closing with Amen! He failed rapidly from 5 p.m. and at about 6:15 p.m. the little spirit took its flight.

Merton was born in Dansville, July 13, 1911, and celebrated his last happy ninth birthday at Wallace with his brother, Hadley Snyder, and wife who had invited him for a surprise as well as a little niece of Mrs. Snyder who was also nine years old on that date.

For nearly three years he had lived with his parents and brothers at the pleasant farm home in Springwater, where he has been unusually happy. Although the youngest of five sons, three grown up, he was not a spoiled child, but a lovable charming faced, unselfish little man, greatly admired by all who knew him. While permitted to live but nine short years he was in the fifth grade of the high school and his teacher, Mrs. Harold White, with her grade, and the remainder of the school attended the sad funeral in a body.

The little body was taken from Colonial hospital, Wednesday evening to the home in Springwater where it rested until Saturday at 2 p.m. when the funeral took place, Rev. J. E. Tallant of the M. E. church speaking words of comfort.

Almost every home was represented at the sad affair and the messages of love and sympathy from neighbors and friends far and near, and masses of flowers and kindly assistance in every way possible helped to lighten the burden of this almost unbearable grief. Never can the bereaved family forget the kindnesses of the hosts of friends, not only at home but from adjoining villages.

The immediate family left are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Snyder, and four brothers, Waldo, Burdette and Marian, of Springwater and Hadley C. Snyder of Wallace, N.Y. There were friends present at the funeral from Bath, Wallace, Cohocton, Dansville, Conesus and Sodus, N. Y.

The Burial of Merton F. Snyder

Mt. Vernon Evergreen Cemetery in Sprngwater NY

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