Henry Snook (1794 - 1860)

Born 24 Nov 1794 in Maryland, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1860 at age 65 in Decatur, Iowa, United States

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Biography

Henry was born in 1794, the son of John Snook and Nancy Brion. In 1842, Henry was one of the first settlers of Powesheik County in an area called Snook’s Grove. He is listed as an original entry (first to purchase) of 200 acres in Powesheik County on 11/4/1848. Snook was a blacksmith and during the 1849 Gold Rush, his house was located on a busy road and found much business repairing wagons and shoeing horses of those who were going West to seek their fortunes. When the travel along this road stopped, he sold his property and moved to Texas. According to the book Powesheik Heritage, Henry Snook sold all his property and moved to Texas in July of 1853. He passed away in Iowa in 1860. He is buried in the Hamilton Cemetary, Decatur Co., Iowa.

CRIMES & CRIMINALS  :

THE FOX AND LONG GANG

“The fact has already been stated that at the time the first settlement was made in Poweshiek county there was an old cabin discovered in a grove a few miles north of the present site of Montezuma. A number of strangers were accustomed in those early days to occasionally visit the cabin, and, from the character of certain things which were afterward found in the ruins of the cabin, the early settlers were led to believe that it was originally the resort of a number of desperadoes known as the Fox and Long gang of counterfeiters and horse thieves. This supposition was confirmed by Mr. Snook, a blacksmith who early lived on Bear Creek, and who was frequently called upon by members of the gang to shoe their horses and repair certain tools for them.

On account of the supposition that the aforesaid cabin was the resort of counterfeiters and thieves the grove was named Bogus Grove by the settlers, and it went by that name for many years. From the fact that this gang undoubtedly had its headquarters in the county a local interest attaches to the history of these noted desperadoes. The members of the gang were the persons who murdered Colonel Davenport; they were afterward hunted down by a man named Bonney.” (Pg. 450-452)

Notes

There was a Henry Snook in Finley’s 1st Regiment Mounted of the Ohio Militia during the War of 1812.

Sources

• Ohio Marriages, extr. from Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly Publication: Heritage House Publishing, Rt. 1, Box 211; Thomson, Illinois Page: 295 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8780:3717
• Early Marriage Bonds of Ohio; Marriage Records 1818-1865 of Jackson Co. OH Editor: Captain John James Chapter of DAR Page: 17 Source Locality: Newberry Library, Chicago, IL https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/30132/images/dvm_LocHist013756-00098-0?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=96
• Gateway to The West, Vol. I Jackson Co., Marriages, 1816-1825 pg 658 Ancestry.com
• Ohio, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998 for John Snook. Vinton Wills, Vol 1, 1853-1876. pg. 333/image 199 of 209. Ancestry.com
• John W. Snook letter to other genealogists December 5, 1980 in possession of EJ Snook
• Decatur County, Iowa WPA Grave Registrations Historical Society of Iowa in Iowa City
• Professor L. F. Parker History of Powesheik County S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1911 Vol. 1 Page: 311
• E-Mail Message from Betty S. Welliver 5/22/2001 in possession of EJ
• E-Mail Message Title: Descendents of John Snook 8/22/2001 in possession of EJ

Acknowledgement

This person was created through the import of Jenkins Family File w:sources 9.ged on 04 October 2010.