Talley, of Media, who finally deserted the cause and violated the trust reposed in him by supporting what was known as "the fusion" electoral ticket.

As soon as the war broke out, 1861, Mr. Moore, seeing the halting loyalty of many Democratic leaders, at once allied himself with the Republican party, and assisted that year in nominating its ticket. In 1862 he entered the volunteer service, and was appointed by Governor Curtin Quartermaster of the 138th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, with the rank of Lieutenant.

In the summer of 1864 he was appointed a Captain of Commissary by President Lincoln, with that rank, and assigned to duty on the staff of General John F. Hartranft, with whose command he served until the end of the war. While filling that position he was awarded the higher rank of Major by brevet.

After the close of the war in December, 1865, he purchased the American Republican, of West Chester, which had occupied the honored position of "Democratic organ" of Chester county from near the commencement of the century, but which before and during the war, through the sterling loyalty of editor G. W. Pearce, and under the lead of Forney's Press, had become a Republican paper-Mr. Moore taking possession of it the ensuing January.

In 1870 Major Moore was appointed by President Grant Appraiser of Customs at the port of Philadelphia, a post of great responsibility, which he held till 1885, almost sixteen years, the best evidence in the world that he filled it with scrupulous courtesy to importers, and fidelity to the government. There is probably no other office in the gift of the President that requires such inflexible integrity, or more exacting prerequisites of judgment.

Upon taking possession of the Appraiser's office he found the records in a very chaotic condition. Strange as it may appear, of the numerous volumes of records, not a single one was supplied with an index. The official letters had been copied into large ledgers, but not being indexed were useless for all practical purposes as references. These deficiencies were all supplied under his direction, and when he left the office some eighteen months since (July, 1885), it was univers

ally accepted by the authorities at Washington as one of the most efficiently equipped and systematic offices in the service.

On assuming direction of the time-honored Republican, as before stated, he was careful to maintain its recent high tone as an organ committed to the broadest platform established by the results of the war. Its lofty adherence to principle, and successful exposure of local disloyalty, sustained Major M.'s former high reputation for intrepid political editorials, and it was soon found that through the influence of the paper and other causes, the early Republican majorities of the county were nearly doubled. It is a matter of record, moreover, that the resumption measures, including “free national banking,” afterwards adopted by Congress, was first suggested in a carefully written editorial published in the Republican in 1872, being in advance of any other journal in the Union, as is believed.

It is proper to state that during the ten years he filled the editorial chair at West Chester, as of the previous ten of like service at Norristown, he was generally on the lead, both as to policy and adroitness of party management.

Finding, however, that both official and editorial duties were too exacting and injurious to his health, he was induced in 1876 to retire from the latter by disposing of the Republican and attending strictly to the duties of his federal office. Thus he continued for nine years longer until displaced by Cleveland's administration, when he at once assumed presidency of a number of business enterprises, representing large capital, with their affairs at 1017 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, which he still holds. Major Moore's business life hitherto may be summed up about ten years editorial service at Norristown; four years service in the army; ten of newspaper work at West Chester, and over fifteen worthily filling a Federal office of great trust and responsibility, at Philadelphia. It only remains to add our subject's domestic affiliations.

While he resided at Norristown, he was married in 1856 to Miss Mary Norris, daughter of Colonel A. W. and Eunice Shearer, of Norriton, Montgomery county, she being a lineal descendant of the famous Norris family that gave name to Norristown. By her he had one son and one daughter, the

latter dying in infancy. The wife and mother died a few months after giving birth to the latter child, when the boy was taken into the family of his maternal grand-parents.

After settling in West Chester, in 1867, Major Moore was again married to Miss Mary H., daughter of the celebrated Dr. John B. Brinton, deceased, of that place, and there have been born to them a daughter and a son, the former of whom only survives.

JOHN C. SNYDER, ESQ.

The above sterling surname, which has given Pennsylvania one of her best Governors, "Honest Simon Snyder," is German, of course, and probably at first spelled Schnider, "tailor" in English. He is of that plain, industrious, persevering stock, which has done so much to develop our state and make it what it is, the pride of the American Union. The peculiarities of this race for a century and a half forming the web and woof of our population are industry, blunt honesty and quiet stability of character.

John C. Snyder, well known about Norristown as "Squire Snyder," was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, May 17, 1834. His father's name was Michael, and his mother's Anna, who were also born and reared in the same county. The former died there at the age of forty-six and the latter survived till her seventy-third year.

Up to the age of seventeen our subject worked on a farm, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a smith, and after acquiring his handicraft, very soon removed to Norristown, still working at his proper calling. Being public spirited and patriotic he not long after joined the military corps known as Wayne Artillerists, and as the company celebrated Washington's birthday, 1857, while firing the cannon at the eleventh round, a premature discharge occurred, when he was ramming the piece, prostrating him to the earth, destroying his right eye and costing nearly all use of his right hand. This

shocking accident created profound sympathy in his behalf among comrades and throughout the community. The terrible mishap, however, did not destroy his patriotic ardor or drive him from the company. Governor Packer had already commissioned him Second Lieutenant, which position he held at the time refered to. Being thus deprived of the full use of his hand, and therefore unable to work for some months, during his recovery he sold books for a living until March 26, 1858. The following autumn he was elected Coroner and the Governor again commissioned him to serve in that office for three years. Feeling, however, the need of constant employment, encouraged and assisted by some confiding friends, in January, 1859, he started at Main and Walnut streets, the grocery business in a small way, almost without capital. The same year he was elected Brigade Inspector of uniformed militia, Governor Packer further honoring him with a new commission for the same. This command embraced the Second Brigade, Second Division, composed of Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties, the selection then being by the votes of the volunteer militia themselves of contiguous counties. All these offices our subject filled to public acceptance, and although still providentially disabled, energetically pressed forward in life's duties. Accordingly, April 17, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary B., daughter of Christopher and Catharine Rittenhouse, of Norristown, and thence with renewed energy continued to build up his grocery trade into a paying concern.

Very soon after coming to Norristown Lieutenant Snyder had joined the "American movement," which had for its aim the discouragement of interference by foreigners in our domestic concerns, and passed through the Presidential contest of 1860 as an adherent of Bell and Everett, the "native" candidates. The election over, the mutterings of war were heard on every hand, and while the attitude of Bell, a Southern man, and Everett, the embodiment of New England conservatism, threw those statesmen (pending the "irrepressible conflict") rather into the defence of slavery, or at least non-intervention against the efforts to introduce slavery further into the Southwest, still the moment Beauregard at the mandate

of the new Confederate government trained his guns upon our dear old flag at Fort Sumter, then our military sprang to arms almost as one man, and party lines were forgotten or given to the winds. The Wayne Artillerists, on offering their services to the government, were necessarily reorganized, and Lieutenant Snyder, not being "able-bodied," retired, as did the Captain. But when the first reverse to our arms came, and our territory was threatened with invasion, September, 1862, militia regiments were hastily organized under the call of Governor Curtin, and Lieutenant Snyder was elected Captain of Company D, 11th Regiment, commanded by Col. Charles A. Knoderer, on the promotion of Captain Walter H. Cooke from the post of Captain to that of Major. This enlistment, which was for the emergency, growing out of Lee's threatened invasion of Pennsylvania, passed away on his repulse at Antietam September 17, and actually lasted only from September 12 to 24, of the same month; and yet perhaps over a month was employed in organizing and returning, as it was part of a considerable force, which had gathered on the border of Maryland in haste within supporting distance of McClellan when that battle was fought.

Again in July, 1863, the Confederate commander invaded our state, burned Chambersburg, was rapidly advancing on Harrisburg and Philadelphia, when the alarm in our locality was greater than before. The Governor implored citizens as before to spring to arms and help repel the enemy. This time a feeling almost of despair seized the people, and many shrank back, saying, "they will overrun and devastate us in spite of all we can do." But on Sunday the court house bell rang out long peals of alarm, and the people came together in multitudes, patriotic speeches were made, wealthy citizens stepped forward with large subscriptions to aid families of men enlisting, and before Tuesday morning three companies were organized at Norristown to march to the menaced front. At Governor Curtin's mandate they temporarily organized and left for Reading, were mustered into the United States service as the Forty-third Regiment, under Colonel William W. Stott, of Chester county, July 6. Of this command Company I was nominally commanded by Captain Joseph L. Allabough, of