Thomas E. Snyder, a kind face from the past. He put on his best (and probably only) suit, tied a flower-patterned tie around his neck and had his photo taken in his namesake photo studio in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. At first I thought he might have been the photographer himself, or a son of his. But Thomas’ story was quite different.
Thomas Evan Snyder was born on July 23, 1884 as the third of 14 children of labourer William E. Snyder and Fietta née Everett, a daughter of a stone mason. There is a photo of Thomas' parents in a public tree on FamilySearch.
On November 5, 1910, Thomas married Gertrude E. Stitzel, whom he lovingly called “Gertie”. They said their vows in the the St. Luke’s United Chrurch of Christ in Shoemakersville in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Gertie had been born in December 1882 in Albany, Pa., to Ellen née Lewars and farmer Jacob Stitzel. Before her marriage to Thomas, Gertie worked as a seamstress. Gertie had at least 4 older siblings and 1 younger brother Clayton.
In 1917, Thomas was drafted to the US Army. He and Gertie were living in Kutztown at the time where Thomas was working on the farm of one Joel Dietrichs. Perhaps Thomas had his photo taken just before his departure and gave it to his family to remember him by.
Upon Thomas’ return from service, he and Gertie moved to Richmond 5 miles away. Thomas and Gertie didn’t have children of their own, but in 1920 Gertie’s 9-year-old nephew Ralph Stitzel was living with them.
In the 1930 Census, I find Thomas and Gertie in Maxatawny in the same Berks County. Thomas continued to work as a farm-operator. The 1930 Census lists an adopted son for the couple, a 9-year-old Steward Snyder. I believe he might have been the son of Thomas’ brother James Snyder. Stuart H. Snyder had been born on June 5, 1922. James and his wife Edna had two older sons, Kenneth and John. I don’t know the circumstances why the youngest, Stuart/Steward, was adopted by James’ brother Thomas. Perhaps Thomas and Gertie had wanted a child of their own for so long but it hadn't worked out, and with so much love to give, James knew Stuart would be loved dearly by them. And by adoption, they could also make Stuart their legal heir.
On November 16, 1933, Thomas and Gertie got into an automobile accident on the highway near their home. Gertie’s clothes caught the flames as she was trying to extinguish fire on the car. Gertie suffered 30 burns and died in the hospital 2 days later as a result of that, just 2 weeks before her 51st birthday.
Link: newspapers.com
And tragically just a month later, on December 18, Thomas died of an acute dilation of the heart. Heart-breaking! Literally... I believe Thomas died of a broken heart. There was not enough room for all the grief in his heart and it stopped beating. He was buried next to his beloved Gertie at the Zion United Chruch of Christ Cemetery in Perry, Berks County.
Link: newspapers.com
I have added Thomas’ photo to FindaGrave and to FamilySearch.
I don’t know what became of Thomas and Gertie's adopted son Stuart/Steward H. Snyder. He didn’t return to his biological parents, James and Edna, or at least I didn't find him living with them in 1940. I hope he was cared for by another family member since there were so many.
Regarding the photographer of this photo, I believe the photo was taken in the studio of Charles Wanner Snyder who was a well-known photographer in Kutztown until his death in 1927. I don’t know if or how the two were related.
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