The life of this gentleman is a record of difficulties successfully overcome, adversities bravely combated and success finally won. Although possessed of but few advantages when beginning life for himself he has become wealthy, and his fine farm on section 19, Detroit Township, will be a monument to his industry and toil, long years after he has passed hence.

In tracing his lineage we find that Mr. Sneeden [Lewis H.] comes of a substantial stock, his father, Charles Sneeden, being a native of the Old Bay State and born in 1817. He followed the occupation of a stonemason, and on arriving at years of maturity married Mary Suddith, a native of Virginia and born in 1813. Prior to his marriage Charles Sneeden had emigrated to the Old Dominion and it remained his home until 1865, when he came to Illinois and settled in the village of Detroit, where he made a permanent home for his family. The wife and mother died in 1882 after a long life devoted to the welfare of her husband and children. The father still survives and now lives in Detroit. They both joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in their earlier years. He still maintains a hearty interest in political affairs and voted first with the Whig party but upon the organization of the Republican party became identified with that organization. His upright life is a priceless heritage he has given to his children, and he enjoys the esteem of all who know him.

The parental family included nine children, of whom five now survive whose record is as follows: Our subject was the first born; Sarah J., Mrs. William Reel, lives in Detroit Township and has nine children; Fannie, Mrs. Matthew Williams, lives in Hardin Township and has three children. By a previous marriage to William Manker she became the mother of two children: Miranda, Mrs. Burton Yelliott, resides in Detroit Township and is the mother of four children; Charles, who resides in Detroit Township, is married and they have three children.

In Fairfax County, Va., the birth of our subject occurred March 15, 1845. He passed his youth in the Old Dominion and attended a select school for a short time. He was fifteen years of age when the Civil War broke out and lived about fourteen miles from the famous battlefield of Bull Run. He well remembers the battle. During the war the family lost all their possessions and the father, on account of his Union sentiments, was taken by the rebels and imprisoned four months at Castle Thunder, Richmond, and twelve months at Salisbury, NC. After suffering all kinds of inhuman treatment he was released in 1865 and returning home soon started for the West."

Upon reaching the age of twenty-one years our subject commenced the battle of life for himself, and for one year worked by the month for James Stoner, and the following season rented a farm and worked for himself one year. In 1868 he went to Kansas and located in Shawnee County, whence after working by the month for one and one-half years he returned to Pike County. His marriage was solemnized September 11, 1870, in Detroit Township, when Miss Susan M., daughter of David and Melvina (Casteel) Shuler, became his wife.

Mr. and Mrs. Shuler were natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee, and were married in Montezuma Township, this county. After their marriage they settled east of Milton, and after a residence of a few years there removed Newburg Township. They sojourned there a short time then located in Detroit Township on the farm now owned by W. Scarborough. She died there in 1864 and Mr. Shuler subsequently married and passed from earth in 1886.

By his first marriage Mr. Shuler became the father of six children, of whom the following survive: Lucinda (Mrs. Gobble), Susan M. (Mrs. Sneeden) and Mary J. (Mrs. Scarborough). The mother was a sincere Christian and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was in the Mormon War at Nauvoo, Ill.,and was always interested in politics, voting the Democratic ticket and serving as a School Director. The daughter, Mrs. Sneeden, was born October 14, 1853, in Newburg Township, Pike County, and received her education in district No. 8, Detroit Township."

Unto Mr. Sneeden and his excellent wife there have been born eight children, namely: David, now a stalwart youth of nineteen years; Lewis, who was born in 1873; Maude, in 1876; Charles, a bright boy of twelve years; Edna, Cora, Hattie and Ethel, the latter a winsome child of two years. After marriage our subject lived two miles east of Detroit for one year, then rented a part of the farm which Mr. Scarborough now operates. After living there one year he removed one-half mile south on section 30. He only remained there one year, and then selling his household effects and farm implements removed to Kansas and located in Rice County.

Finding life in Kansas not congenial to his taste Mr. Sneeden returned to Pike County after a residence of two and one-half years in the Sunflower State, and bought a farm on section 31, Detroit Township. This place continued to be his home for eleven years and in the meantime he effected good improvements upon it and made it one of the finest estates in the vicinity. In 1886 he purchased the place where he now resides, paying for it $97 per acre. He has one hundred and ninety-five acres, of which one hundred and sixty acres are under excellent cultivation. Here he carries on general farming, also raises cattle, horses, hogs and sheep. The place is admirably adapted to the raising of stock and he has been quite successful in his ventures in that line.

Although devoting most of his time to the development of his farm Mr. Sneeden yet finds time for public duties, and has served as School Director in his district, and is now Township Trustee. He is socially, a member of the Masonic Order at Milton, of which he has been Steward. He has always voted the Democratic ticket and is thoroughly in sympathy with the principles of that party. He is deeply interested in the education of his children, who will receive all the advantages of a thorough training in the best schools of the county."

Contributed by Jeri Bokor from Portraits & Biographical Pike Co IL 1891