Reuben K. Schnader ¹

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: in 1851 in , Clearfield, PA. ¹

2. Residence: in 1869 in Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ¹

3. Book: Biographical Annals of Lancaster County: Schnader, 1903. ¹
REUBEN K. SCHNADER, a prominent tobacco merchant of the city of Lancaster as well as one of its keen intelligent business men, was born Aug. 16, 1832 near what is now Terre Hill, East Earl township, this county, son of Jacob and Lydia Clime Schnader.

The Schnader family originated in this country with the great great grandfather of Reuben K. who emigrated in the early part of the eighteenth century to East Earl township, this county, settling on a farm which is still in possession of the Schnaders. It is not known where he is buried.

Jacob Schnader, the great grandfather, was one of the organizers of the Centre Lutheran and Reformed Church, the site of which was the burial ground of one of his children. When Jacob settled four miles back from the Conestoga river in the virgin forest, all the surrounding country was a wilderness and he commenced to clear a farm with his axe. He worked with the energy of those men of iron who seemed to know no fatigue during his entire life and at his death, this sturdy pioneer was the owner of 1,000 acres of excellent land. Jacob Schnader was a most remarkable man, for he lived to his ninety-fifth year, being born in 1735 and died in 1829. He was married for the second time at the age of seventy five.

Baltzer Schnader, son of Jacob and grandfather of Reuben K., was born in 1765 at the old homestead where he resided until he married Barbara Kitzmiller, when be located in Franklin county, engaging in agricultural pursuits for a few years. He then returned to the township where he was born, the owner of a fine farm of 270 acres, and erected a stone house for a place of residence. This was the first stone house built in the neighborhood; the roof was imported tiles and the glass in the windows only four inches square.

Jacob Schnader, son of Baltzer and father of Reuben K., was born Dec. 25, 1800 and was one a family of fourteen children. His death occurred Nov. 13, 1861, when he was sixty years ten months and eighteen days old. He married Lydia Clime who died Jan. 11, 1878, aged seventy one years, nine months and twenty three days. Both were interred Terre Hill Cemetery.

During his active life, the father was a farmer of Terre Hill, East Earl township, but retired before his death. Both he and wife were consistent members of the Evangelical Church and most worthy and excellent people. To them were born: Caroline, deceased, who married the late John Bowman of Mt. Joy; Sophia, deceased wife of the late Jacob Flickinger; Davis, deceased; William, retired landowner of large means in Terre Hill, this county; Levi, a tinsmith, Adamstown; Reuben K.; and Lydia, who married Isaac R. Garman, an invalid retired from active business, residing at Reamstown, Pennsylvania.

The boyhood days of Reuben K. Schnader were similar to those of any hearty country boy, he working upon the farm in summer and attending subscription schools whenever opportunity offered. When he was nineteen, he went to Clearfield county to prospect for lime, and upon his return passed two years in his native township, in company with his father operating a dry goods, grocery and grain business at Terre Hill. His next removal was to Brecknock township, this county, where for eight years he devoted himself to farming. In 1869 he located in Lancaster, and began handling leaf tobacco, in which line he has built up a large and constantly increasing business, and he also deals in cigars. His goods are reliable and some of his special brands of cigars have a large sale. In his establishment, he gives employment to thirty men and all modern methods are used in the conduct of his business.

On Dec 27, 1855, Mr. Schnader was married at Mechanicsburg, Pa., to Eliza Killian, born July 8, 1837, near Mechanicsburg, daughter of Philip and Nancy Cunningham Killian, farmers of Lancaster county. Mrs. Schnader died Nov. 27, 1896, and was buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster. Three children were born of this union: Walter R., Albert P. and John J., the latter of whom died in infancy. Walter R. resides in the adjoining house to his father, with whom he is in partnership. On June 21, 1882, he married Clara, daughter of Philip Schum of this city, and they have one child -- Roscoe. Albert P. is unmarried and resides with his father, he, too, being in business with him. Since his sons were taken into partnership, Mr. Schnader has transferred the greater portion of the business to their shoulders, and has partially retired.

Fraternally, Mr. Schnader is a member of Earl Lodge No. 413, I. O. O. F. at New Holland and Lodge No. 68 K. P. at Lancaster. In political matters, he is a Prohibitionist and was school director in his native township six years and occupied the same office for three years in the city of Lancaster, giving the most complete satisfaction, his interest in educational affairs being deep and intelligent. For twenty five years, he has been Sunday School superintendent of the Second Evangelical Church, now as Bethany United Evangelical Church, of which he is one of the most honored members and he is justly looked up to as one of the leading and supporters of that congregation.

Reuben married Eliza Killian on 27 Dec 1855 in Mechanicsburg, Lancaster, PA.¹ (Eliza Killian was born on 8 Jul 1837 in Mechanicsburg, Lancaster, PA,¹ died on 27 Nov 1896 in Lancaster, Lancaster, PA ¹ and was buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster, PA ¹.)