Person Page 1,952

Joseph Alvy Snowdall was born on 30 Dec 1876 in Edwards Co., IllinoisG.^4,5,6,7 Joseph appeared with his mother, Mary A. Glover, on the 1880 Federal Census of Edwards Co., IllinoisG, in the household of Eliza, his grandmother.¹⁵
     Joseph married first Mable Bowers on 10 Aug 1898 in Edwards Co., IllinoisG.^8,9
     Joseph and Mable Bowers appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Edwards Co., Illinois G, enumerated 15 Jun 1900, reporting that they owned their farm, which was mortgaged. Nina Snowdall, a three-year-old niece, was listed as living with them.¹⁶
     His wife died in Sep 1904.^17,18
     Joseph married second Ethel Maud Gordon, daughter of John Gordon and Sophia Katherine Snur, on 28 Jan 1908 in Sandusky Co., OhioG, with Rev. J. H. Hollingsworth, pastor of the Baptist Church in Clyde, Ohio, officating.^10,11,12
     Joseph adopted Douglas Gorden Snowdall before 1910, whether formally or not is unknown. Douglas consistently used the Snowdall surname after that. His birth parents are unknown, but since he was born in Ethel's hometown, which was quite distant from any place Joseph is known to have lived, it seems likely he was her son or the son of a relative of hers.^19,20,21
     Joseph and Ethel apparently lived in Kansas for a time after their marriage, as their first son was born there. Then moved to Missouri by 1910. They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of West Elm, Putnam Co., Missouri G, enumerated 27 Apr 1910, reporting that they owned their farm, which was mortgaged. Their son Joseph was listed as living with them, as were his daughter by his prior marriage, Vera, and his adopted son, Douglas.²²
     Joseph and Ethel moved their family to Iowa about 1912, settling near Randolph.^23,24 They appeared on the 1915 State Census of Riverside Twp., Fremont Co., IowaG, reporting that they did not own their home. Their children Joseph, Wava, Clifford, and Helen were listed as living with them, as was his adopted son Douglas. He reported that he was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, while she reported affiliation with the Baptist Church.^{25,26,27,28,29}
     Joseph registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Randolph, Fremont Co., IowaG, reporting he was a self-employed farmer.²
     Joseph and Ethel appeared on the 1925 State Census of Tarkio, Page Co., Iowa G. Their children Joseph, Wava, Clifford, Helen, Robert, Marguerite, Winfred, Mildred, and John were listed as living with them.³⁰
     Joseph and Ethel appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Morton Twp., Page Co., Iowa G, enumerated 21 Apr 1930, reporting that they were renting their farm and did not own a radio. Their children Clifford, Helen, Robert, Marguerite, Winfred, Mildred, John, Myron, and James were listed as living with them.³¹
     Ethel died on 22 May 1935 in Iowa City, Johnson Co., IowaG.^32,33,34
     Joseph appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Coin, Page Co., Iowa G, enumerated 3 May 1940, reporting he was renting his home, for $7 per month. His children Mildred, John, Myron, and James were listed as living with him, with Grace shown as married and her name as Grace Ludington. The reported they had lived in the same town in 1935.³⁵
     He was a farmer on his own farm in Illinois and Missouri. He was a farm hand after moving to Iowa, reporting he had earned $420 in 1914. He was operating a farm again, on rented property, by 1930.^{16,22,25,36,37} He was a common laborer, working for the W.P.A in 1940. He reported he had worked 8 hours the last week of March, and 36 weeks the prior year, earning $525. He reported in the 1950 census he was a farmer, and had worked 14 hours the prior week.^35,38
     Joseph appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Ellery, Edwards Co., Illinois, at Mitchell Rd. G, enumerated 11 Apr 1950, listed as a boarder in the home of James M. Woodham and his wife Esabella, both 77 years old, and apparently not relationed to him.³⁹
     Joseph died in 1966 at age ~90.¹³ He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Coin, Page Co., IowaG.¹⁴

Ethel Maud Gordon was born on 25 Feb 1885 in Elmira, Otsego Co., MichiganG.^4,5,6,7
     Ethel moved to Clyde, OhioG, before her marriage, when she was living there with an uncle.¹⁶
     Ethel married Joseph Alvy Snowdall, son of Joseph Snowdall and Mary A. Glover, on 28 Jan 1908 in Sandusky Co., OhioG, with Rev. J. H. Hollingsworth, pastor of the Baptist Church in Clyde, Ohio, officating.^8,9,10
     Joseph adopted Douglas Gorden Snowdall before 1910, whether formally or not is unknown. Douglas consistently used the Snowdall surname after that. His birth parents are unknown, but since he was born in Ethel's hometown, which was quite distant from any place Joseph is known to have lived, it seems likely he was her son or the son of a relative of hers.^17,18,19
     Ethel and Joseph apparently lived in Kansas for a time after their marriage, as their first son was born there. Then moved to Missouri by 1910. They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of West Elm, Putnam Co., Missouri G, enumerated 27 Apr 1910, reporting that they owned their farm, which was mortgaged. Their son Joseph was listed as living with them, as were his daughter by his prior marriage, Vera, and his adopted son, Douglas.²⁰
     Ethel and Joseph moved their family to Iowa about 1912, settling near Randolph.^21,22 They appeared on the 1915 State Census of Riverside Twp., Fremont Co., IowaG, reporting that they did not own their home. Their children Joseph, Wava, Clifford, and Helen were listed as living with them, as was his adopted son Douglas. He reported that he was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, while she reported affiliation with the Baptist Church.^{23,24,25,26,27}
     Ethel and Joseph appeared on the 1925 State Census of Tarkio, Page Co., Iowa G. Their children Joseph, Wava, Clifford, Helen, Robert, Marguerite, Winfred, Mildred, and John were listed as living with them.²⁸
     Ethel and Joseph appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Morton Twp., Page Co., Iowa G, enumerated 21 Apr 1930, reporting that they were renting their farm and did not own a radio. Their children Clifford, Helen, Robert, Marguerite, Winfred, Mildred, John, Myron, and James were listed as living with them.²⁹
     Ethel died on 22 May 1935 in Iowa City, Johnson Co., IowaG, at age 50.^11,12,13 She was buried on 25 May 1935 in Elmwood Cemetery, Coin, Page Co., IowaG.^14,15