Silas H. Elder and Mary C. Snyder

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Husband Silas H. Elder ¹

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           Born: 16 Jun 1854 - Parkers Landing, Armstrong Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 5 Mar 1934 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 3 Sep 1880 1

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Wife Mary C. Snyder ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Aug 1936 2
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Grace Elder ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt 1908
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Herman Digel (      -      ) 2

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2 M Floyd Elder ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1943
         Buried: 

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3 M Frank Elder ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1943
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Silas H. Elder

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When hardly more than a boy he followed the oil rush into McKean County, Pennsylvania, and located at Coleville in the mid 1880s. This early boom passed; oil operators went to new fields, and Coleville shrunk to a small hamlet. Mr. Elder believed that the oil industry would be rehabilitated and remained through the long, lean years of diminishing production by wells and unstable markets. The profits were small until the first World War raised prices and later came the application of flood methods, and Mr. Elder proved to be one of the county's biggest producers. His interests grew to be of such importance that his sons and grandsons were associated with him, and S. H. Elder & Company was formed, consisting of Mr. Elder, his wife, Mary C. Elder, and his grandsons, Robert A. Digel and Howard M. Digel.
Besides heading his own company, Mr. Elder was the owner of the Farmers' Valley Gas Company; vice-president of the First National Bank of Fort [sic] Allegany; director of the Producers Bank & Trust Company, of Bradford, and took an active interest in the McKean County Fair, of which he was vice-president. He attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Bradford, and for many years was affiliated with the Smethport Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Somewhat delicate of health as a youth, he had spent a year in the woods building, up his physique. At that time was born a love of the out-of-doors that grew stronger with the years. He was a skilled fisherman and enjoyed hunting. At the time of his death, a contemporary wrote: "Mr. Elder was a man of sterling qualities, a true oil country pioneer, a commoner and a gentleman, who was not changed by riches. He was a kindly, companionable individual who had a legion of friends in all walks of life. His passing was mourned by all."

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General Notes: Wife - Mary C. Snyder

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from Butler Co, PA

1 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 25.

2 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 26.