Grandma's Photo Album Page 75 - Snyder Brothers from Wilkes in World War I

These are photos circa 1917-1919 of two sons of Nicholas Grindstaff Snyder (1863-1944) and his wife, Louise Jane Whittington (1863-1933).  The family lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina, so I believe these photos were taken there.

Standing in the left photo is Russell Jess Snyder (1896-1984).  Seated, and in the photo at the right, is John B. Snyder (1894-1969). 




Jess registered for the draft on September 12, 1918, in Wilkes County.[1]  He was a single farmer of medium height and build with blue eyes and light hair.  He never served in the military.

John registered on June 5, 1917 in Wilkes County.[2]  He was also a single farmer.  He was tall, with a medium build, dark blue eyes and dark brown hair.  He was initially in the 16 Company 4 Training Battalion 156th Depot Brigade until April 24, 1918. This company was in the 1st Battalion, 59th Infantry Brigade, 30th Division.  He was initially sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina, for training, where he and Tom met up. 

On April 24, John was transferred to the 118^th Infantry, Company B.  Just one week later, on May 1, the 59^th Infantry Brigade left Camp Sevier for Europe, via Camp Mills, NY.  May 11, they set sail to England on the SS Canada, a miserable British troop ship, arriving in Liverpool on May 23.  They immediately headed to Calais, France, arriving May 24.[3]

 

They trained with the British near Calais and then at Dirty Bucket Camp in Flanders (Belgium).  By August 17, the 59^th Infantry Brigade was on the front lines in Belgium in the Canal d’Ypres sector.  From September 22 to October 20, they were on the front line in the Somme Offensive.  On October 8, the 59^th Infantry Brigade, assisted by tanks and one battalion of the 60^th Infantry Brigade, attacked and captured Brancourt-le-Grand and Premont, and reached a line from the Farme de la Piete to the eastern outskirts of Premont.  They remained on the front lines until October 23, 1918. [4]

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[1] Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005; card for Jess Snyder in Wilkes County, N.C.
[2] Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005; card for John Snyder of Wilkes County, N.C.

[3] Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War, 5 volumes (1931-1949; reprint, Washington, DC: Center of Military History, 1988), 2: 163.

[4] Order of Battle, 2:165 - 169.

Grandma's Photo Album Page 74 - Nick Snyder family in Wilkes County

(Left) My great-grandparents, Nicholas Grindstaff Snyder (1863-1944) and his wife Louise Jane Whittington (1863-1933).  They were both born and lived their entire lives in Wilkes County.  But Nick's parents and older siblings were born in Johnson County, Tennessee.  In 1861, Nick's father Noah moved his family to Wilkes County.  Noah joined the Confederate Army (5th N.C. Senior Reserves), while 4 of his brothers back in Johnson County joined the Union Army (Co. I, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry). 

(Right) Two of Nick and Lou's sons.  At left is my grandfather in his WWI U.S. Army uniform.  He was Wiley Thomas Snyder (1892-1988).  Tom was inducted into the Army on September 18, 1917. He was sent to Camp Jackson (now Fort Jackson) in Columbia, S.C. for training. in Company D, 321st Infantry, 81st division (the "Wildcats").  After about a year of training, he was sent to France to fight in the trenches and was severely wounded the first week.  He spent 6 months recuperating in the Army.  He was honorably discharged on March 3, 1919.  He didn't waste any time - he married my grandmother on April 16, 1919.

Perched on the arm of the chair is his younger brother, Jess. Russell Jess Snyder (1896-1984) was not drafted.  He moved to Winston-Salem and was a carpenter and builder.

Grandma's Photo Album Page 73 - Snyders about 1920

(Left) I think this is Ruth Mae Snyder Tomlinson (1920-1995), niece of my grandparents.  I believe this photo was taken in Winston-Salem since that's where she was born and lived.

(Center) The man on the right is my grandfather's brother, John B. Snyder (1894-1969).  I believe he's with a comrade from the army.  I imagine this photo was taken in South Carolina when he was in training in 1917.

John registered for the draft on June 5, 1917.  His was a single farmer with no dependents.  He was tall with a medium build, dark blue eyes, and dark brown hair.  He signed the card “John Snider.” (1) 

John was inducted into the U.S. Army in Wilkesboro on March 30, 1918.  He was initially in the 16 Company 4 Training Battalion 156th Depot Brigade until April 24, 1918.  Thereafter, he was in Company B, 118th Infantry.  This company was in the 1st Battalion, 59th Infantry Brigade, 30th Division. (2)

His daughter Dorothy told me that while on the S.S. Canada crossing the Atlantic, John stole a cabbage from the officers and shared it with the other guys to avoid scurvy.

I get chills whenever I read this account which was published in a tribute after John's death in 1969:
Mr. Snyder had a distinguished term of service in World War I with the American Expeditionary Forces where he saw active service in France.  He was actively engaged in several major battles, one of which occurred on October 8, 1918, wherein his company consisting of 256 men entered into battle and out of this number only five returned alive, Mr. Snyder being one of the five to return. (3)

After the war, John was a barber and owned his own shop in North Wilkesboro.  He was also a founder of a savings and loan.

He eventually married my grandmother's sister (Toyce Etta McNeil), so Dorothy is my mother's double first cousin.

(Right)  Is this also Ruth?  I think it's her, just a bit older.  She had 2 brothers (no sisters that I'm aware of), but this baby could be a boy!



References:
(1) Adjutant General World War I Cards, microfilm publication Army and Marine Corps Series (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service, 1987 - 1988), roll S.1.120.37, John Snyder card. North Carolina State Archives.

(2) Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War, 5 volumes (1931-1949; reprint, Washington, DC: Center of Military History, 1988), 2: 163 - 169.
(3) "Late J. B. Snyder is Honored By Savings And Loan," (North Wilkesboro) The Journal-Patriot, 29 Jan 1970, p. 3, col. 3.