Husband Dr. Samuel Gustine Snowden, M.D. 1 2
Born: 21 Dec 1837 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 1 3
Christened:
Died: 22 Aug 1884 - ? Asheville, NC 4
Buried: - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 4
Father: Dr. Nathaniel Duffield Snowden (1803-1864) 5
Mother: Jane McClelland (1804-1867) 6 7 8
Marriage: 12 Sep 1867 1 9
Wife Mary Judson 1 9 10
Born: 4 Mar 1840 10
Christened:
Died: 21 Sep 1905 10
Buried: 22 Sep 1905 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 11
Father: Dr. William Judson (1807-1895) 1 9 12 13
Mother: Clarissa King ( - ) 12 14
Children
General Notes: Husband - Dr. Samuel Gustine Snowden, M.D.
He obtained his early education at the public and private schools of that place, and subsequently took a three years' course of study under the Reverend William White, D. D., LL.D., rector of the Episcopal church of Butler and principal of the Butler Academy. This included in addition to the usual academic studies a full collegiate course in Greek and Latin. Doctor Snowden came of a family of physicians. His father and three of his father's brothers were physicians, as also were his great-grandfather, Samuel Gustine, and his great-great-grandfather, William Hooker Smith, the two last mentioned well known among the Wyoming patriots and sufferers in the early history of Pennsylvania. In boyhood he had chosen his profession, and spent many hours in his father's office, under his supervision, studying the elementary principles of medical science at an age when most boys spend their leisure time upon the playground. After returning from Butler he read medicine regularly with his father, and before he was twenty years of age assisted him in his large practice.
In October, 1857, he matriculated at the Philadelphia College of Medicine, an excellent institution numbering among its professors at that time D. Hays Agnew and Henry Hartshorne. But the withdrawal of southern patronage during the late war so reduced its numbers that it was finally merged in the University of Pennsylvania, thus leaving the doctor without an alma mater. He graduated March 3, 1859, receiving his diploma soon after his twenty-first birthday. He established himself permanently at Franklin and continued in the active duties of an extensive practice until 1883, when failing health compelled him to relinquish professional work. Early in that year he spent several months in Philadelphia, hoping that rest might restore him to health. In June he returned to Franklin no better, and the rest of the summer was spent at Waterford, the early home of his wife. On Christmas day, accompanied by her, he bade adieu to Franklin and went to Asheville, North Carolina, hoping against his better judgment that the bracing mountain air of that place might prove beneficial; but it was of no avail, and in the presence of his wife and only brother, he passed quietly away. His remains were brought to Franklin and interred in the cemetery there.
Death found him in the full vigor of his intellectual growth, and while still a comparatively young man, cut short a career that had already won him an enviable reputation as a physician and an honorable standing among men. Perhaps no one in this community was ever more generally or sincerely mourned. Fond of research and fortunate in possessing a retentive memory, he was fully abreast of the times in the progress of medical science and in all the current matters and literature of the day, was conversant with that branch of law known as medical jurisprudence, and in the midst of a large practice he yet found time to master the German language so as to translate it with ease, and in the days of waning health found recreation in reading the works of Goethe, Schiller, Heine, Auerbach, Spielhagen, and other German authors, and toward the last read Luther's version of the New Testament and Book of Psalms. He was often called to give testimony in the courts as an expert, and his statements were always so concise, technical and clear, that the court, the bar, and the jury listened to him as one speaking with authority.
His reputation as a skillful surgeon, and especially as a physician possessing in an unusual degree the faculty of unerring diagnosis (that rare gift which more than any other indicates true professional genius), was wide-spread, and he was often called beyond the limits of his own county and state in consultation. He regarded his profession a high and sacred calling, and always practiced in strict accordance with the “code of ethics,” which he called the “code of honor among physicians.” He was a member of the county and state medical societies, also of the American Medical Association, and in 1876 was a delegate to the international convention of physicians at Philadelphia. He enjoyed to an exceptional degree the confidence and esteem of his professional contemporaries. The soul of honor, frank, outspoken, and independent, a stanch friend and loyal to old friends, he had a rare faculty of winning new ones. Beneath a somewhat brusque manner he carried a very sensitive nature and a sympathetic heart. Although not devoted to society he was very fond of informal social intercourse, and was a fluent, racy, and entertaining conversationalist. In politics he was a life-long Democrat.
Upon religious subjects Doctor Snowden was a liberal thinker. Though never a church member he admired the observances of the Episcopal church, and requested that when his time should come its solemn burial service should be used and its clergyman officiate. Upon being asked a few days before his death if he wished the counsel or intercession of any of the clergymen of the town, he answered in the negative, saying: “God understands me. My faith is fixed and I need no mediator. This” (producing a little piece that he had clipped from some paper), “expresses the substance of my faith.” It contained the last words and prayer of Judge Jeremiah S. Black. “How can I fear to cross the dark river when my father waits for me on the other shore? Would I were as comfortable about all I leave behind unfinished in this world! Oh, Thou most beloved and merciful heavenly Father, from whom I have had my being and in whom I have ever trusted, if it is Thy will, grant that my suffering may end, and that I may be called home to Thee, and Oh, bless and comfort Thee my Mary.” [HVC 1890, 193]
Notes: Marriage
They were married by the Reverend J. F. Spaulding (later Episcopal bishop of Colorado).