Nettie Caroline Snodgrass

     Nettie was born on Tuesday, 24 April 1866 at Little York, Warren County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Ceburn B. Snodgrass and Anna Elizabeth McCurdy. Nettie married Rufus Cole circa 1885. Her married name was Cole. Nettie's husband, Rufus, died before 1895 in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas,, leaving her a widow. 1895, Nettie was listed on the Kansas State Census. Enumerated in this household were Nettie Cole [29 Illinois], Clarence R. [7 Kansas] & Ethel [4 Kansas].¹ Nettie married 2nd Joseph Smith circa 1898. Her married name was Smith. 6 June 1900, Nettie was listed on the U.S. Federal Census at 519 Van Buren Street, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Enumerated in this household were Joseph Smith [36 - Jan 1864 Illinois], his wife: Nettie [33 Feb 1867 Illinois], Step-son: Clarence Cole [14 - May 1886 Kansas] & step-daughter: [10 - Dec 1889 Kansas]. They have been married for 2 years. Nettie has had two children with 2 living. Joseph was a brakeman for the railroad.² Nettie's husband, Joseph, died before 1905 in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas,, leaving her a widow. Nettie married 3rd an unknown person circa 1905. Her married name was Bower. 21 April 1910, Nettie and her husband George were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at 1110 Polk Street, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Enumerated in this household were George H. Bower [56 Ohio], & his wife: Nettie [44 Illinois]. George was a merchant at a store.³ 12 January 1920, Nettie and her husband George were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at 717 E. McKinley Street, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Enumerated in this household were George H. Bower [65 Ohio], his wife: Nettie [52 Illinois], Clarence [30 Kansas], daughter-in-law: Ethel [28 Kansas] & grand daughter: Geraldine [6 Arizona]. George was listed as a house carpenter.⁴ Nettie's husband, George, died before 1930 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona,, leaving her a widow. 4 April 1930, the U.S. Federal Census listed Nettie in the household of her son at 1333 East Brill Street, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Enumerated in this household were Clarence Cole [42 Kansas], his wife: Daisy [41 Kansas], John [17 Arizona], Robert [15 Arizona], Clarence [13 Arizona], Richard [12 Arizona], mother-in-law: Nettie Bower [64 Illinois] & Lodger: Carl Libcap [20 Ohio]. Clarence was 21 when he married Daisy who was 20. They owned their home valued at $2500.00. Clarence was a conductor for the railroad, and Carl was a meat cutter. [Note - the census lists Nettie as Mother in law - she was the mother of Clarence - KLM]⁵ 7 April 1930, the U.S. Federal Census listed Nettie in the household of her daughter at 2302 5th Street, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California. Enumerated in this household were Ethel J. Bruce [35 Kansas - married], her daughter: Geraldine E. Bower [16 Arizona], her mother: Nettie C. Bower [60 Illinois] & her niece: Ethel C. Cole [20 Kansas]. She is renting their home for $25.00. Her niece, Ethel is working as a stenographer for an investment firm.⁶ 9 April 1940, the U.S. Federal Census listed Nettie in the household of her sister at 1318 E Filmore, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Enumerated in this household were Emma Thomson [69 Kansas], her son: Charles [44, Kansas], her sister: Nettie Bower [74 Illinois]. Emma owns her home valued at $3000.00; Charles is an assistant auto mechanic. Emma completed 4th grade, Nettie 8th grade and Charles completed 2 years of high school.⁷ Nettie departed this life on Sunday, 29 November 1942 at Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, at age 76 years, 7 months and 5 days.⁸ Nettie was laid to rest in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona.