ISAAC BURROWS SNOW – Forty years of experience in the insurance business, preceded by several years of pioneer railroading in the West, represents the experience of Isaac Burrows Snow, who is now living retired in Bernardston.
Mr. Snow is a member of the Mayflower Society, being a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, and of Stephen Hopkins, of the “Mayflower.” Nicholas Snow, the immigrant ancestor of Mr. Snow’s line, came to Plymouth in the ship “Ann” in 1623, and had a share in the division of land in Plymouth in 1624. In 1634 he settled in Eastham, Massachusetts, where he was prominent in town affairs, serving in various public capacities, including the offices of deputy to the General Court and assistant to Governor Prince (or Prence). He married, at Plymouth, Constance Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins, who came in the “Mayflower,” and the line descends through their son Mark, who married Jane Prince (or Prence), daughter of Governor Thomas Prince; their son Nicholas; their son Jonathan; their son Isaac; their son Deacon Prence Snow, born in Rochester, Massachusetts, June 1, 1746, died April 23, 1828, removed to Bernardston, Massachusetts, in April, 1782, married Content Doty; their son, Deacon Thomas, who was the grandfather of Isaac Burrows Snow.
Deacon Thomas Snow, son of Deacon Prence and Content (Doty) Snow, was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, November 9, 1771, and died June 20, 1858. He married, January 20, 1801, Sybil Parmenter, who was born in 1778, and died in 1865, daughter of Elias Parmenter. Their children were: Thomas Anson; Ransel Sheldon; Sophronia Parmenter; Content Doty; Jonathan; Frances Newcomb; Edward Hoyt; Barnabas, of whom further; Sybil S., and Hamit L.
Barnabas Snow, son of Deacon Thomas and Sybil (Par-enter) Snow, was born May 18, 1818, and died in September 1899. He was a farmer in Bernardston, where his home, “Elmhurst,” was located. He married, April 22, 1845, Julia Louise Burrows, who was born in 1826. Their children were: Josephine; Isaac Burrows, of whom further; Julia Ida, and Frank H.
Isaac Burrows Snow, son of Barnabas and Julia Louise (Burrows) Snow, was born in Westminster, Vermont, June 28, 1850, and received his education at Powers Institute, in Bernardston. As a young man he went to railroading, serving as baggage master at Toledo, Ohio, for two years on the Wabash Railroad, as conductor, and later on the Kansas Pacific (now the Union Pacific) Railroad, in the land and emigration department. He was one of the pioneers in railroading in the western country, and conducted excursion parties. He was active in the settling of Kansas land grants, and as his activities in the West covered the period during which the Indians were troublesome, his reminiscences include a most interesting chapter of pioneer experience. He followed railroading nine years, but in 1879 became associated with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, and organized the Kansas branch of that concern. He was manager eight years at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1889 he was made superintendent of agencies, with offices in Topeka and Chicago, and later made Chicago his headquarters, permanently in 1896, as that city was more central. For twenty years, while superintendent of agencies, he discharged the duties of that position with energy and efficiency, doing a large amount of pioneer work in opening up new fields of operation, including the Pacific Coast. He retired in 1909. In addition to his association with the Mayflower Society, Mr. Snow is a member of the Society of the Colonial Wars, and of the Sons of the American Revolution. Fraternally, he holds membership in Republican Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Greenfield; Franklyn Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Connecticut Valley Commandery, Knights Templar; and is a Noble of Melha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Springfield. He is also a member of the Union League Club of Chicago, and of the Winthrop Club, of Springfield. His religious affiliation is with the Congregational Church of Chicago, which he has served for many years as trustee and deacon, and with the Forty-first Street Presbyterian Church of Chicago.
Isaac Burrows Snow married, September 9, 1874, Jeannie Knight, of Hatfield, Massachusetts, daughter of Dr. T. Franklin and Frances (Morton) Knight. Mr. and Mrs. Snow became the parents of the following children:
- Dr, Morton Snow, who was born in Hatfield, Massachusetts, and after graduating from the University of Kansas with the degree of A. B., took up the study of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, and received the degree of Medical Doctor. He is now head of the medical department of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Springfield, Massachusetts; was a major surgeon in the 1st Illinois National Guard Cavalry. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the Rotary, Nayasset, Springfield Country, University clubs of Springfield, and Winthrop Club. Mr. Snow married Elizabeth Stark, daughter of James Stark. and has two daughters: Katherine and Sybil.
- George Burrows Snow, died at the age of eight years, September 22, 1892.
