Celebrating the 153rd birthday of great-grandma Clara Eva Jarvis McNeil

My great-grandmother Clara Eva Jarvis McNeil was born on April 6, 1873 in Wilkes County, NC.

Eva had very long hair, as shown in the photograph below. According to her granddaughter, Carrie Snyder Disher, she had curly red/auburn hair, sky blue eyes, and a few freckles. Another granddaughter, Pam McNeil, said "When she was young she had beautiful long red hair. When she was 16 she decided she wanted to have her picture made, so she dressed up and walked into North Wilkesboro (6-7 Miles) to have her photograph done!" Lots of family members have a copy of that photo, shown here:

Clara Eva Jarvis approx. 1889

Beloved by her eight children and many grandchildren, Eva had a wonderful sense of humor and was an excellent rifle shot. She shot rabbits and squirrels, and warded off chicken thieves. She once shot at corn thieves, and they ran off!

Carrie wrote that Eva “was kind to everybody. She kept a lot of travelers [gypsy-like grifters or itinerant workers] but never let them leave until she asked if they were Christian. She always gave them a formula to get on God’s Highway and go on to Heaven. She never refused anyone a good meal, but seldom got a penny in return.”

Eva's granddaughter Dorothy Snyder Myers shared her memories of Eva. Eva only had two pictures on her wall: Jesus and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She took them with her whenever she stayed overnight at a relative’s house. She was a staunch Democrat. She hated Abraham Lincoln, probably because his army wounded and imprisoned her father. She called Abe a "dirty old man." Having lived through the Depression, she thought very highly of FDR. 

According to Dorothy, Eva was an avid needlewoman. She knitted, crocheted, sewed, and tatted. She made double-sided shawls for each of her daughters; one side was black and the other was a bright color such as rose. She crocheted enough yarn bookmarks (in the shape of a cross, in different colors) to raise $200 for charity. At 10 cents each, that's 2,000 bookmarks!

Crochet cross bookmark similar to ones Eva made

Sources:

• Birthdate is on her tombstone and is consistent with the 1880 census (she was 7).
• Conversations with Eva's grandchildren, Carrie Snyder Disher, George Paul "Red" Snyder, Dorothy Snyder Myers, and Pam McNeil.

Sad ending of “Blind” John G. McNeil

My great-great-grandfather John G. McNeil was blind, disabled, and had rheumatism in the 1880 census for Wilkes County, NC. He was 47 with a wife and six children (ages 8 to 18). (See my previous blog post about John in August 2025.)

Not surprisingly, he qualified for public assistance. The local newspaper published pauper claims and I filled in some gaps by perusing the minutes of county commissioner meetings.  In 1891, the Chronicle listed John G. McNeil, $1.25 per month, under “Pauper Claims Allowed.”  This amount was between the low of $1 and the high of $2 in this list.[1]  In 1895, the Chronicle said the county commissioners awarded John McNeil a pauper allowance of $2 per month.[2]  The last claim is in the Board of Commissioners minutes of January 1899: “John McNeil $1.50 per month.”[3]  After John’s death in 1899, Polly lived with their youngest son, George Thomas McNeil (my great-grandfather) until her death in 1908.

John’s obituary was published in the (Wilkesboro) Chronicle, 21 Jun 1899, p. 1, col. 1:

Mr. John G. McNeill, of Reddies River township, died last week and was buried Thursday at Pleasant Home church.  He was 67 years old, and a consistent Christian gentleman.  His wife and six children survive him.  For about 28 years, he had been a helpless invalid, confined to his bed, and for the last 20 years he had been blind.  Through it all he was patient and resigned to his lot.  The funeral services were conducted by Revs. McNeill and Pardue, at Pleasant Home Baptist church, of which the deceased was a member.

Did any of John’s children have similar health issues? Here are the causes of death for all six children. Only one death certificate listed rheumatism (but they don’t list every health problem):

• Louisa, age 65, apoplexy
• Nancy, age 66, myacardia or old age
• Zeb, age 40, cholera morbus
• Banner, age 77, prostate cancer
• George, age 60, heart trouble (also rheumatism)
• Mary Alice, age 79, mitral insufficiency

Here is the only known photograph of John G. McNeil and his wife Polly Nichols. This is a photocopy of a photocopy someone sent to my Aunt Bette. I don’t know who had the original photo or when it was taken. I asked ChatGPT to improve the clarity and sharpness. According to my cousin Dorothy, Polly wove the coverlet.

---

[1] "Pauper Claims Allowed," (Wilkesboro) Chronicle, 14 Jan 1891, p. 1, col. 4.

[2] "Pauper Allowances," (Wilkesboro) Chronicle, 17 Jan 1895, p. 4, col. 5.

[3] Wilkes County, North Carolina., Minutes of Board of County Commissioners, vol. 1884-1898:77, minutes of January term, 1899.

Grandma Nora born 125 years ago today but there's a problem with her delayed birth certificate

My grandmother, Nora Bessie McNeil Snyder was born on August 10, 1900, in Wilkes County, NC, to George Thomas McNeil and Clara Eva Jarvis McNeil.  The photograph of George and Clara McNeil with their two oldest children dates from about 1901. George is holding Ila, and Eva is holding my grandmother Nora. They later had six more children.

Since North Carolina didn’t require birth certificates until 1913, Nora didn’t receive a birth certificate in 1900. But she received a Delayed Birth Certificate in 1959, probably so she could apply for Social Security.  Here is my copy of her delayed birth certificate:

Nora had to supply three forms of proof of her birth. The first proof was the affidavit from her mother (highlighted in the image above). A mother’s affidavit is excellent proof since the mother is the one person who is certain of the child’s date of birth. However, when I applied this year for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the registrar noticed something I had never noted. Clara died on January 24, 1959, but Nora’s delayed birth certificate says Clara’s affidavit was dated February 24, 1959. So the DAR would not accept this delayed birth certificate!

Notice that February 24, 1959, is recorded several times in this certificate. It’s the date Nora and the Register of Deeds signed the certificate. I believe the typist mistakenly used the same date for Clara’s affidavit.

Fortunately, the DAR accepted the NC Birth Index on Ancestry.com:

Sources:

Photograph of George Thomas McNeil family, about 1901, Wilkes County, NC. Privately held by the author.

State of North Carolina, State Board of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, Delayed Birth Certificate, p. 66 (issued 1959), Nora Bessie McNeill, born 10 Aug 1900 in Wilkes County. Privately held by the author.

"North Carolina, U.S., Birth Indexes, 1800-2000," database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 August 2025); entry for Nora Bessie McNeill, born 10 Aug 1900 in Wilkes County.

Tom and Nora's Wedding - April 16, 1919

Here is the newspaper article about their wedding, followed by the photo taken on their wedding day.

[Wedding announcement in the Hustler newspaper in North Wilkesboro, April 18, 1919, page 1, column 2]

McNeil-Snider

A beautiful home wedding was solemnized at the home of the bride's father, Mr. G. T. McNeil, April 16th, 1919.  Miss Nora McNeil became the bride of Mr. W. T. Snider, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Snyder of Millers Creek, one of Winston's mechanics just returned from France, of the 81st Division.  The bride is one of Millers Creek's most beautiful and esteemed young ladies.

Among those present were Rev. and Mrs. R. F. Jarvis, of Adley, Mr. and Mrs I. R. Vannoy, of Wilbar, Messrs. J. B. and Jess Snyder, brothers of the groom.  After the ceremony by Rev. R. F. Jarvis they were ushered into the dining room where a most luxurious dinner was served.

The young couple left by auto for Wilkesboro to leave on the two-thirty train for his beautiful new home in Winston-Salem.

Showers of good wishes from their friends of Millers Creek.

One Present

 


Nora sewed her dress by hand.  Her maternal grandfather, Rev. Richard Franklin Jarvis, conducted the service at his home in Wilkes County.  I'm sure his wife, Nora's grandmother, Martha Ann Pardue Jarvis, was there too.  Other people mentioned in the article:

• G.T. McNeil was George Thomas McNeil, Nora's father.  I'm sure his wife, Nora's mother, Clara Eva Hettie Ellen Jarvis McNeil attended too!
• Mr. and Mrs. N.G. Snyder were Nicholas Grindstaff Snyder and his wife, Louise Jane Whittington Snyder..
• Mr. and Mrs. I.R. Vannoy were Isaac Ransom Vannoy and his wife, Ila Margaret McNeil Vannoy, his wife (Nora's oldest sister).
• Mr. J.B. Snyder was John B. Snyder, Tom's brother, who had just been discharged from the Army after serving in France.
• Mr. Jess Snyder was Tom's younger brother (too young to serve in the Army).

Courting Miss Nora - March 28, 1919 - Wedding Plans!

Tom is now back at his home on Devonshire Street in Winston-Salem.  He is very excited about his upcoming wedding.  Tom mentions:

• Nora’s father, George Thomas McNeil, was sickly but survived until 1930. 
• Jess was one of Tom’s younger brothers.
• Nora’s maternal grandfather, Rev. Richard Franklin Jarvis, would conduct the service.   
• Mr. Fisher rented Tom’s house in Winston-Salem while Tom was in the Army. 
• Tom’s brother Will and his wife Myrtle lived right next door. 
• The job Tom would return to was at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem.

[Friday] March 28, 1919

#719 Devonshire St, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Dear Miss McNiell,

I safely landed ok but I am not satisfied without you. Certainly do hope you are well and all.  The rest of your people hope your father is better by now.  I was over town today and picked out our stuff and will get it now or wait until you come either way.  I much rather you would see it first before we get it.  Anyway you say suits me you know. Did Jess give you your ring?  I hope he did. You wear it every day

[p. 2]

for it is solid gold. Now you be sure and let your Grandpaw know what time to come over to marry us and don't you fix up no large amount for dinner unless you want to for it is too much trouble. Listen, I've got more stamps than I knew and I am going to send you some and don't think hard of me. I've already told Mr. Fisher to move out of our house. He did hate to get out so bad I felt sorry for them but we have got to have it.  So happy will we be.  No one can tell my two bands now that we have on hand would now cost $100.00 dollars.

[p. 3]

Myrtle and Will is so glad I am going to get married. Don't be uneasy about me going with the girls down here for I won't go with any one [of] them for I think too much of you to do that and  besides all of my love is for you and all ways will be and no one else.   I am going to work Monday at 38₵ an hour at my same job I left behind go to France. I don't know how I am going to stay down here until Easter without you but I will tough it out some way maybe. Ha"  I will put in one of them pictures but they are not good ones.

[p. 4]

Are we going to stick to what we said about writing such long letters.  That will just suit me for I am no and to write letters anyway, long ones specially. I couldn't get my letter off in time for you to get it Sat. [I] don't think, for I don't know how the mail is running.  Now [I] hope you will get this one Sat. morn.  You ought to so if you go to the box supper think of me. So I will stop this time.  Hoping to hear from you soon. Remember the 16th day of April and write me soon as you can.

Your loving,

W.T. Snyder

Courting Miss Nora - February 9, 1919 - "Am real anxious to hear from you."

Tom hasn't gotten any mail from home since he left the U.S. on July 31, 1918, over 6 months ago.  He doesn't know if his brother John (also serving in the U.S. AEF in Europe) is safe or not.  He sent this postcard to Nora from the Army hospital at Camp Lee, N.J.

xx

[Postmark:  Feb 9, 1919]
Miss Nora MeNiell, Millers Creek, N.C.

Hello Nora,
Am now at Camp Lee, Va. Base Hospital Ward 26. Write me soon. Haven’t heard from you since I left the States.  Am real anxious to hear from you.
Mech W. T. S.

Courting Miss Nora - January 25, 1919 - "Just got back"

Tom’s service record shows he served overseas from July 31, 1918 to January 25, 1919.  That means he boarded a ship to Europe on July 31 and returned to American soil on January 25, which is 5 months and 25 days.  He sent this postcard on the very day he returned.

 

Miss Nora McNeill, Millers Creek, N.C.

Well I am glad to say I am in N.Y. City at the present time and going to Camp Merritt N.J. Will write you soon. Sweet Dreams. Bye.

Courting Miss Nora - December 1918 - "I am having a very good time"

Despite being hospitalized in France for 3 months, Tom writes that he is having a very good time.  He never mentions his wounds, but is eager to return home, and to hear news of his brother John.  Tom also has not received any letters from home since he was wounded.

[Dec 1918 – not dated – no envelope]
Base Hospital #17
 A.P.O. #721
    American E. F.
        France

Hello! Miss Nora,
Will write you a short note tonight as I am in a hurry.  I am hoping you the very best of health and plenty of fun.  I am having a very good time but nothing like if I was with you. "Ha" Say have you gotten any of the letters and cards I've written you. Listen I have never seen one of yours yet -Ha- and no one else. They have my mail somewhere in my regiment and I've not seen it. Say have you heard from John recently. Hope you have. I haven’t.  I have got something real nice to tell you when I come home. Hope to see you real soon.  Will write you more the next time.  Pardon me this time.  Hope you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.  I am with much love your true friend
    Mech. W. T. Snyder

Courting Miss Nora - December 11, 1918 - From Base Hospital 17, France

Tom wrote while recovering from his battle wounds.

Wednesday Night P.M.
Dec. 11_18
Base Hospital #17
    A.P.O. #721
        American E. F.
            France  

Dear Miss Nora,
How are you getting long, fine I hope.  I am well and enjoying life fine. They was lots of the boys left today for the States.  Wish I could have been in the bunch but I didn’t happen to that good luck.  But maybe my time will come soon.  I hope at least it will any way for I want to come home now. I haven’t got a single letter from any one since I have been in France. My mail hasn’t caught me yet, don’t guess. Say are you still at home yet?  Hope to see you real soon. I haven’t seen John yet.

[December 11, 1918 - page 2]

I am coming to see you when I come home this time for I have got lots for to tell you. Prepare yourself to take French. "Ha" Say did you get those cards I sent you.  Hope you did any way for they was French cards. So hope to hear from you real soon.  Also wish you a Merry Xmas and a "Happy New Year.  I am with much "Love, your true friend.
Mech. W. T. Snyder.

[Censor mark:]
Ok  Robt. F. Penn, 1st Lt USA

Courting Miss Nora - French Christmas Card 1918

Tom's prior letter was a postcard from France, dated September 1, 1918.  On September 14, his unit headed out for the front lines.  Clarence Johnson wrote:

On the night of September 19, under the cover of darkness, we took up our positions on the Raon l’Etape sector in the Vosges Mountains, north of St. Die. This sector was held by the 321st from September 19 to October 17...The companies took their turn in the front line trenches, serving from 10 to 20 days each. This was our first experience under shell fire.

Conditions on the battle field were bad. Johnson described the experience vividly:

Among the things of which we will ever have a vivid recollection are “Cooties” [lice], rats, mud, water, sleepless nights, endless guard duty, talking in a whisper, leaky, bunkless, overcrowded dugouts without light or heat. But nothing will be remembered with more vividness than the shells that came shrieking and flying through the air day and night, many of which played havoc with our trenches and dugouts. There is nothing that can more successfully divert the mind from the physical discomforts of guard duty in a muddy trench during a cold, rainy night than a Boche 77 that has your range and is placing a high explosive within a few yards of you every few minutes.

Soon after they arrived on the front, Tom was severely wounded. His discharge papers said it happened on September 21; his service card  in the North Carolina archives said it was September 23. I could find no mention of any specific battles on either of those dates for his company so evidently, it was just everyday shell fire. According to his daughter Kathy, he was wounded in the right shoulder during the night and had to wait until the next day for help. His medical report says, “gunshot wound, right shoulder acromion and scapula,” and “peripheral nerve injury resulting in atrophy right shoulder girdle and arm.”  The initial report was 40% incapacitated.

Tom wrote cards and letters, including two from Base Hospital #17, in Dijon, France. He never mentioned his injuries. Note that the fighting ended on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.

Here is the fancy French Christmas card he sent, presumably in December 1918.

Hello! Miss Nora
Hope you are in the very best of health and still single.  I am coming home as soon as they will send us back. Am coming to see you just as soon as I get home. So be real good.  I am yours Sincerely,
W. T. Snider

The front of the postcard has an embroidered fabric flap.  The upper part lifts up and two cards were inserted into the pocket formed by the lower part of the design.  "Heureux Noel" literally means Happy Christmas.

The back side of each card has a short message.

Hope to see you real soon. I am real anxious to see you. I am well and having a very good time. Hope to see you soon.

Mech W. T. Snyder
My Best Wishes to you. I remain yours.

References:

• Pension file for W. T. Snyder, file no. C 156 599; World War I pension files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Clarence Walton Johnson, The History of the 321st Infantry with a Brief Historical Sketch of the 81st Division (Columbia, South Carolina: The R. L. Bryan Company, 1919).