Source: The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois
Originally published 1896
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., Chicago, IL
Reproduced on CD purchased from OLD GLORY ACCENTS

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 389-391

Corydon P. Snow - Superintendent of the public schools of Princeton, comes of a family of educators, and is recongnized as one of the leading men of his profession in the state. He is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, born September 9, 1834. His father, Professor Thomas J. Snow, was a graduate of Harvard and Brown Universities, and although educated for the ministry and duly ordained, he did not follow that calling but one year, he left Kentucky in 1850, and moved to Peoria, Illinois, where he resumed his place in the class roots, establishing there a select school. Death, however, soon claimed him, he dying in 1851, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a thoroughly educated man, a great mathematician and lingquist and a natural born teacher. In early life he was a Methodist in religious belief, and as such was ordained to the ministry. Later in life his views changed, and he became identified with the followers of Swedenborg, dying in that faith. He was of a poetical turn of mind and well versed in general and poetical literature.

Thomas J. Snow married Miss Caroline Willbur, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, who survived him four years. She was an educated woman and a worthy helpmeet of a worthy man. The families of both herself and husband were long residents of New England and were proud of their country. By this union were born six children - Herman W., who now resides at Kankakee, Kankakee county, Illinois where he is engaged in banking, was a colonel during the late war, and for a time was provost marshal for the state of Georgia. He was elected by the democratic party to the Fifty-third congress, and was made chairman of the pension committee. In the Fifty-fourth congress he served as sergeant-at-arms of the house of representatives, being elected to that position by the democraticmembers. He is well known as a citizen and leading democratic politician of easter Illinois. One daughter, Mrs. A. C. Little, now of Aurora, Illinois, was one of the first teachers in the Princeton high school and filled the position some four or five years when she was Miss Bonnie Vera Snow. Another daughter is now Mrs. D. W. Starkey, of Wheaton, Illinois. She also seved as a teacher for some years. The remaining sons were Hector O., a teacher in a private academy at Allenville, Kentucky; he died at Trenton, Kentucky, June 9, 1896; Oren T., who was for thirty years a teacher in a public school at Batavia, Illinois, and died in 1894; and Corydon P., of this sketch.

On the death of the father, Hector O. and Oren T. succeeded him in the school at Peoria, which they continued two years, then moved to Chicago and established the Garden City Institute, which they conducted five years, and then engaged in public school work, the former going to Madisonville, Kentucky, and the latter going to Batavia. All the children were educated by the father and each of them selected the same profession as their life work.

Corydon P. Snow, our subject, was seventeen years of age when his father died. Two years late he went with his brothers to Chicago and sutdied and taught in the Garden City Institute for five years. The building burning, the brothers concludeed to abandon the school and seek positions elsewhere. Corydon returned to  Peoria, and for eight years was employed as principal in one of the city schools. In 1864 he assisted in raising Company H, of the Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned first lieutenant. With his regiment, he joined Sherman's army in the spring of 1865, in North Carolina, and remained with that command until the close of the war. He took part in the battle of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and was in many skirmishes during the march through that state. The fourteenth Illiniois took part in the grand review at Washington at the close of hostilities. Its term of service, however, was not over, and it was sent to Nebrasha, where it spent the summer of 1865, operating against the Indians. By a general order it was mustered out in September of that year, and its members honorably discharged. During the greater part of  his enlisment, Lieutenant Snow was in command of his company.

On receiving his dischaarge Mr. Snow returned to Peoria and resumed his place in the school room. Two years later he was called to take charge of the Princeton schools as superintendent, and September 1, 1869, entered upon the discharge of his duties. With the close of the present term, he completes his twnety-seventh year. That his work has been satisfactory is attested by his long service. When he came to the city he found the school facilities not of the best, although some improvements have since been made. Under the wise administration of Professor Snow, the public schools have been highly successful.

The public schools of Princeton have been kept at a high standard, the grading keeping pace with other cities. Two new buildings have recently been erected and every department strengthened. The people have just reason to be proud of the schools, the teachers of which laargely made up of the graduates of the high school. The best years of the life of Professor Snow have been given to the work here, and his reputation as a teacher is second to none in the state. He is a member of the local and state educational associations, and of the national educational association. In these socieities he has taken an active part, although he does not class himself as a public speaker. He is not a specialist, but endeavors to be a good all-round teacher and superintendent.

Professor Snow and Miss Elizabeth Paddock were united in marriage July 23, 1872, at Princeton. She is the daughter of Dr. Solomon Allen and Angelica Hamilton (Boyd) Paddock, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Boyd's Grove, Illinois. Her father died at Bloomington, llinois, some years ago. Her mother, who was a daughter of Charles S. and Elizabeth (Dixon) Boyd, early, settlers of Bureau county, after whom Boyd's Grove was named, is yet living, making her home at San Antonio, Texas, with her son, Captain George H. Paddock, of the regular army. The parents of Angelica R. Boyd were from Hudson, New York, but came to Illinois early in the '30's and were here married.

Dr. Paddock located at Princeton, where he formed a partnership with Dr. Chamberlain. Some time previous to the war he formed a company, known as the Harden Guards, and on the commencement of hostilities between the states, he raised a company for the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and on the organization of the regiment was commissioned lieutenant colonel, and the regiment ordered to Pilot Knob. While en route he died at Bloomington, Illinois, February 18, 1862, aged thirty-six years. His death resulted from apoplexy and occurred at the very hour of his thirteenth marriage anniversary. His remains were brought back and interred in Oakland cemetery. The old home in Princeton is yet owned by the widow.

Mrs. Snow was born n the house in which she was married. She was educated in the Princeton schools, and graduated from the high school in the class of 1871. A member of the People's church, she is quite active in its interests and is the organist. Few persons are better posted in standard and current literature and in all the general news of the day. A believer in equal suffrage, she has the courage of her convictions, which she expresses fearlessly and freely. An accomplished horsewoamn, she eeps a Kentucky thoroughbred, which she rides without fear of danger and with evident enjoyment.

Religiously, Professor Snow is a Swedenbortian, and fraternally a Mason, a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. Both himself and wife are members of the Eastern Star.