The purpose of this blog is to create in one place anecdotes of members of the descendants of Charles and Elizabeth Knapp Snyderwine and extended family.

As this is written (December 2005) Evangeline Hoagland Snyderwine, wife of Leo Snyderwine is 103 years of age.

I will start With Charles Sebastion Snyderwine born in 1863. His parents emigrated from a small village in Bavaria. The village is Kraisdorf (God's Village) near Ebern.

They arrived in the USA on May 11, 1860. Most likely they were devout Catholics because Charles was devout. He may have worked in one of many shallow mines in the area, later he worked at the "hoop mill". Made wooden barrel hoops.

He and Elizabeth prospered and raised eight children.

Charles and nine of his fellow worshipers raised $1,000 apiece to build a "German" church. They especially loved to sing their German hymns during Mass.

Charles was a loving father and grandfather. I recall him giving me a dime if I would let him give me a haircut. He was an avid gardener. Tended a large garden. I have memories of visiting his garden, he cut a kohl rabi and trimmed it so I could eat it out of hand.

Both he and Elizabeth (Lizzie) would invite family to their house at 212 Wengler Ave. Sharon Pa. every Sunday. Most often there would be at least a dozen visitors. Oldest daughters Gertrude and Dorothy must have helped a lot.

Charles was fluent in German, knew a lot of English but often conversed in both languages. For instance, when leading a band they stopped in front of a mansion and Charlie said to his band "spiel like hell, this is Frank Buhl's house"

They had their own Cow, raised a lot of their own food. Made their own ice cream, cottage cheese. They even made horse radish and apple butter outside. They also made their own sauerkraut.

Elizabeth worked for a wealthy family as maid and cook, and learned to make many
dishes. When Leo and Evangeline married, Lizzie taught her Leo's favorite dishes.

We all used to say "if Lizzie doesn't go straight to heaven, God help the rest of us.

Some time in the late 1920's or early 1930's Charles suffered from cancer of the cheek and never fully recovered. He died in 1932.

Leo, born December 11, 1900 was the youngest of three older brothers.