John N. Snowdon and Eliza J. McSherry

---

---

Husband John N. Snowdon ¹

---

           Born: 15 Oct 1827 - Brownsville, Fayette Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Capt. John Snowdon (1796-1875) 2
         Mother: Mary Smith (      -      ) 1

---

       Marriage: 17 Jan 1853 3

---

---

Wife Eliza J. McSherry ³

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: James McSherry (      -      ) 3
         Mother: 

---

---

Children

---

1 M Charles L. Snowdon ³

---

           Born: 25 Jun 1854 - Brownsville, Fayette Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elizabeth Hogg (      -      ) 4
           Marr: 26 Jun 1879 3

---

2 M John Howard Snowdon ³

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

3 F Mary Snowdon ³

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Walter Bare (      -      ) 3

---

---

General Notes: Husband - John N. Snowdon

---

He was born in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and was brought up there; he attended the common schools of the borough. In 1845 he took a position as clerk in the forwarding and grocery house of George Cass, but remained there only a short time. In 1846 he went, as second clerk, on one of the packet boats, and remained on the river till 1854. During this time he had command of and owned several boats that were running on the Ohio river.
In 1854 he went into partnership, with his father and his brother Samuel, in the foundry and machine shops, and boat-building business; the firm name being J. Snowdon & Sons. This firm continued till 1860, when Samuel withdrew; the firm name then was changed to J. Snowdon & Son. This firm built two gunboats for the government during the war (the Umpqua and Manayunk), at a contract price of over one million dollars. The latter was so great a favorite in the navy, that when the gunboats were sold off, at the close of the war, she was retained in the service, and her name was changed to Ajax.
The firm of J. Snowdon & Son, besides their works at Brownsville, was running a foundry, machine shops and boat-yards at Pittsburgh, employing as many as two thousand men in the two towns; the two gunboats were built at Pittsburgh. In 1856 they turned out twenty-six steamboat engines. They took contracts to build and complete in all its parts, and to furnish an entire steamboat in sixty days, and finished and delivered it in forty-five days-fifteen days in advance of time. This firm confirmed till 1872.
In February, 1878, Mr. J. N. Snowdon was appointed postmaster of Brownsville, by President Hayes, and was re-appointed in 1882 by President Arthur. He held the office from February, 1878, to June, 1886, this being for a longer time than any other man, except Jacob Bowman, who was the first postmaster, and held the place for seventeen years; he was the only man, besides him, who was appointed to succeed himself in the office of the borough.
At the time that the erection of the public school building was in question, Mr. Snowdon was a candidate for director and was elected, against strong opposition, as in favor of the building, and was made chairman of the board, and held that position for eight years.

1 John M. Gresham, Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: John M. Gresham & Co., 1889), Pg 296.

2 John M. Gresham, Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: John M. Gresham & Co., 1889), Pg 294.

3 John M. Gresham, Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: John M. Gresham & Co., 1889), Pg 297.

4 John M. Gresham, Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: John M. Gresham & Co., 1889), Pg 278.