Surnames: Snowdon, Smith, McSherry, Bare
John N Snowdon was born in Brownsville, October 15, 1827, and was brought up there; he attended the common schools of the borough. He was the son of Captain John Snowdon and Mary Smith Snowdon.In 1845 he took a position as a clerk in the forwarding and grocery house of George Cass but remained there but a short time. In 1846 he went as second clerk on one of the packet boats and remained on the river until 1854. During this time he had command of and owned several boats that were running on the Ohio river. In 1854 he went into partnership with his father and brother, Samuel Snowdon, in the foundry and machine shops and boat building business; the firm name being J Snowdon & Sons. This firm continued until 1860 when Samuel Snowdon withdrew; the firm
name then was changed to J Snowdon & Son.This firm built two gunboats for the government during the war, the Umpqua and the Manayunk, at a contract price of over one million dollars. The latter was so great a favorite in the navy that when the gunboats were sold off at the close of the war, she was retained in the service and her name was changed to Ajax.
The firm of J Snowdon & Son besides their works at Brownsville was running a foundry, machine shops and boat yards at Pittsburgh, employing as many as two thousand men in the two towns; the two gunboats were built at Pittsburgh. In 1856 they turned out twenty six steamboat engines. They took contracts to build and complete in all its parts and to furnish an entire steamboat in sixty days; and finished and delivered it in forty five days, fifteen days in advance of time. This firm continued until 1872.
In February, 1878, Mr J N Snowdon was appointed postmaster of Brownsville by President Hayes and was re-appointed in 1882 by President Arthur. He held the office from February, 1878, to June, 1886, this being for a longer time than any other man except Jacob Bowman who was the first postmaster and held the place for seventeen years; he is the only man besides him who has been appointed to succeed himself in the office of the borough.
At the time that the erection of the public school building was in question, Mr Snowdon was a candidate for director and was elected against strong opposition as in favor of the building, and was made chairman of the board and held that position for eight years. At present Mr Snowdon is in the office of his son, C L Snowdon, whose sketch is in another place in this work.
Mr John N Snowdon was married January 17, 1853, to Miss Eliza J McSherry, daughter of James McSherry, who was a tailor of Brownsville. They have three children: Charles L Snowdon; John Howard Snowdon; and Mary Snowdon. John Howard Snowdon is at home and clerks for his brother, Charles L Snowdon. Mary Snowdon is married to Walter Bare, who resides in Lancaster, where he is engaged in the tobacco business with J Wolf & Co.