Tyrus Snyder -173rd Pennsylvania Infantry

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 21, 2020

The obituary of Civil War veteran Tyrus Snyder appeared in the Lykens Standard of 23 May 1919:

CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIED SATURDAY – FUNERAL WEDNESDAY

Tyrus Snyder, an aged citizen and veteran of the Civil War, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Paul Yentsch, on East Main Street [Lykens], Saturday, at 4 P.M. from infirmities due to old age. He was aged 80 years, 4 months, and 5 days.

On October 16, 1962, Mr. Snyder enlisted and was mustered into the United States service as t Harrisburg as Private to serve in Captain Cornelius A. Harper‘s, Company K, 173rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry [173rd Pennsylvania Infantry], under the command of Col. Daniel Magel. The regiment proceeded to Washington, D. C., and from there to Norfolk, Virginia, where they were engaged in drill and doing guard duty at various points until July 9, 1863, when they joined Meade’s Army in pursuit of Lee who was retreating from Gettysburg. During his enlistment he was subjected to long and tedious marches and received a citation for guard duty done on Orange and Alexander Railroad. He was honorably discharged August 18, 1863, at Harrisburg.

Mr. Snyder was a member of Heilner Post, G.A.R. 232.

Surviving to mourn their loss are the following children: George Snyder, of Coatesville; Calvin Snyder, Shamokin; Andrew Snyder, Lykens; Harry Snyder, Inglenook; Ellen, Mrs. Brady Klinger, Wiconisco; Carrie, Mrs. Grant Ritzman, Shamokin; Mary, Mrs. Richard Clough, Wiconisco; Etta, Mrs. Paul Yentsch, Lykens; and Katie, Mrs. Richard Davidson, Williamstown.

There are fifty-seven grandchildren and fifty-seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held from the home of his son Andrew Snyder, where the body was taken after death, on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with services in the Baptist Church, Rev. A. H. Souillard, of Minersville, officiating. Burial was made in the Wiconisco Cemetery, which is now referred to as the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery.

On 4 October 1892, Tyrus applied for a pension under the name “Cyrus Snyder.” The record card, above, from Ancestry.com, shows that he received the pension award, which he collected until his death, which occurred (according to other information), on 17 May 1919.

At the time of his death he was a widower. His wife, the former Sarah Specht, had died in 1904, and she was buried in the plot Tyrus had purchased in the Wiconisco Cemetery. When Tyrus died in 1919, he was buried next to her. See photo at top of post.

For his service as a veteran of the Civil War, Tyrus Snyder was recognized on the Lykens G.A. R. Monument. and his name appears among the privates who joined the G.A.R. post there after its organization.

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