Evangeline Eiza Snyder dau Of John and Mary "Blunt" Snyder Verm.Co, Illinois
ELIZA. (SNYDER) CASSEL in the relict of the late John Cassel, a former prominent citizen of Pilot Township and one of the leading farmers of this part of Vermilion County, owning a large farm and carrying on stock-raising quite exteisively during many years of a busy and useful life. Our subject makes her home on this farm, which shehelped her husband to place among the best and most desirable estates in this locality in point of size, cultivation and style of buildings.
Mrs. Cassel is a native of Muskingum, County, Ohio, born in May, 1827. Her parents, John and Mary (Blunt) Snyder, were natives of Virginia, and pioneers of Ohio, and subsequently early settlers of this county, coming here in 1831 and locating in Blount Township. The father died in 1848, thus ending a life of usefulness, and leaving a name that is held in respect by his descendants. Both he and his wife were ofIrish antecedents. .The latter died in 1872 at a venerable age. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living, as follows: our subject, of whom we will speak further; Cenith, living in New Pontiac, Illinois., a widow, who has been twice married, Mr. Alfred Lane being her first husband and Isaac Norman the second husband, she having three children by her last union John, Charles and Wesley: John. a farmer, married Rachel Robinson, and is the father of ten children; Charles married Margaret Allhands, of this county, and they have eight cliildren; Wesley, living retired in Danville, married Mary Cunnigan, and they have seven children. Margaret married James Gilliland, a farmer in Cherokee County, Kan., and they have twelve children. Our subject was a small child of scarcely four years when her parents brought her to Vermilion County, therefore she can have but little recollection of any previous home, and she was reared amid the pioneer scenes of those early days of the settlement of this section, of the country to a strong, self-relient, useful womanhood.When quite young she assumed the reponsibilitieg of married life by uniting her fate with that of Henry Bailey, a young farmer of the neighborhood, his parents coming from South Carolina in early days and settling among the pioneers of the county. Three children blessed our subject and her husband, namely: Melissa, Mary and William. Melissa married F. M. Ogle of this county, now living, in Linn County, Kansas, and they have ten children; Mary married James Goff., of Wilson County, now living in. Wilson County, Kansas; and they have six children; William enlisted in the army in 1861, and gave up his life to his country, dying at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, in 1862. Mr. Bailey departed this life about 1848.
Our subject was united in marriage to John Cassel in 1850. He was born in Georgia, his parents being John and Martha (Dark) Cassel of this marriage ten children were born, of whom the following is recorded: Columbus, a farmer in Gray County, Kan., married Eva Dark, of Champaign County, Illinois, and they have three children; Caroline married Alien Kirkpatrick, a farmer of this county, and they have 11 children; Ann Marriert .lames Nichols, a farmer of this county, and they have two children, Charles is at home, unmarried; Alice, Frank and Martin are deceased; Martha married Harry Canaday, of Champaign County, Illinois, now a merchant in Gray County, Kan., and they have two children; Rosa married John McAllister, a farmer of this county, and they have two children.
Mr. Cassel came to this county when a young man, and commenced life on his own account. He had absolutely nothing to depend on but the labor of his own hands, but in the course of a life of extraordinary industry he accomplished a great deal and placed himself among the men of wealth and solid standing in the county. He owned 640 acrea of valuable land, all well improved, with substantial buildings, and all the appointments of a well managed farm .
In the death of Mr, Cassel, which occurred July15, 1880, Pilot Township sustained a severe loss, as he was in every way a fine man and a desirable citizen, who had taken a strong interest in the township and had done a great deal to advance its material prosperity. He was a considerate husband, a loving father and a good neighbor, ever just and upright in his dealings, lie was a sound Republican in his political views, and in working for thegood of his party deemed that he was promoting the highest interests of his country. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, contributed liberally to the support of thr Gospel, and was prominent in the management of the affairs of his church, holding its various offices.
Mrs. Cassel has shown herself to be in every way worthy of her husband. She is a quiet, unobtrusive lady. wlio lias conscientiously done her duly in the various departments of life that she has been called on to fill as wife, mother and friend, and her place in this community is among our best and most warmly esteemed people. .She possesses excellent judgment and sound common sense, and is a wise manager, so that her husband's estate has not diminished in value since it came into her hands.
A view of her pleasant home is given on another page of this volume, and is a good representation of one of the most comfortable country residences in tlie county.