My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH H. SNIFFEN. The name of this citizen of Seneca County is well known, for he has been successfully engaged in the arduous duties of a general agriculturist in this locality for many years and was formerly one of the most extensive land-owners in this portion of the state. His possessions at one time aggregated six hundred and twenty acres of some of the best and most productive land in New York. The greater portion of this he has given away to his children, as they started out in life. He is now living retired from active business, and enjoys to the full the peace and comfort which his earlier years of industry have made possible.

Born in Putnam County, N. Y., November 13, 1808, our subject is a son of John and a grandson of Joseph Sniffen. He was the eldest of twelve children born to the union of John and Asenath (Hopkins) Sniffen, the others being Sarah, Susan, Jane, Harriet, Nancy, Harry, George, Jefferson, Samuel, and two that died in infancy. Of this family only three are now living, namely: Joseph H.; George, who makes his home in the town of Covert; and Jefferson, also a resident of this town.

When ready to establish a home of his own our subject was married, in 1842, to Miss Emma Booron. To them were born six children, namely: Celia, now deceased; Helen, Mrs. James S. Scott; Louisa, deceased; John; Marion and Carrie, the latter of whom is deceased, Joseph H. was in his third year at the time of his parents’ removal to this county, in the year 1811. His father at once located in the town of Covert, where he purchased a tract of sixty acres. He lived on this property during the remainder of his life, dying when in his seventy-sixth year. There his son, our subject, grew to mature years, and when eighteen years old he went to Ketters Ferry, where he obtained work at building canal-boats, following this occupation for about twenty years. At the expiration of this time he abandoned it in order to engage in farming, his first venture at this vocation being on a forty-acre tract which he purchased at Ketters Ferry. There he lived until 1854, when he took possession of this property, and to say that he was successful would not convey to the reader the prosperity which was his, for he kept adding to his estate until at one time he was the owner of a large tract, comprising over six hundred acres.

To the operation of his farm our subject gave his personal attention, and when his children were grown he divided the greater portion of it among them, only retaining a small acreage for his own use. His home is a very pleasant one, and he is considered one of the best informed men of the county. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but has always been too busy with his own affairs to give much time to politics. Too much praise cannot be accorded him for the way in which he built up his farming interests, and it is the wish of all that he may live to see many more years pass.