Discovering my 3rd Great Grandfather, Amos Jerome Snell
Amos Jerome Snell, Murdered Chicago Titan
You never know what you will discover about your family roots until you start doing the research. During my ancestry research, a big concern I had was uncovering those ancestors that might have been slave owners, confederates or or even members of the KKK dangling off my family tree. I am sure those relatives still may exist, but this is not that story that I am sharing today.
For many years I have been digging into my families history, as if Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. host and creator of one of my favorite shows, “Finding Your Roots,” was guiding me along the way. I launched this website to share the story of my 3rd great-grandfather, Amos Jerome Snell, born December 28, 1823, he was tragically murdered in his mansion on Chicago’s west side on February 8, 1888 at the age of 64. During the height of his success, Amos, who was considered one of Chicago’s leading business men and a real estate tycoon, was regarded as probably one of the largest individual landowners at the time. It is reported that he owned over 360 marble front houses and other commercial listings in Chicago, making him one of the most successful entrepreneurs. This high profile case resulted in his family offering up to $50,000 in cash rewards for the arrest of any suspects in this crime, “the largest amount ever offered for the capture of any human being in the world.” A key suspect in the case rises to the top of the list, William Tascott, who was never convicted of the crime, because they could never catch him, “...more than 40 people were eventually arrested. One suspect was eventually pinpointed, but never captured."
With my extensive news reporting background, and love for family history research, I continue to dig deep for answers, hoping someone in the crime scene world can help me crack this case that is considered to be one of the top unsolved murder mysteries in Chicago. It seems Snell did have many admirers because of the help he provided. "Mr. Snell was ever the poor man's friend; he recognized the fact that all men had not the same ability to plan and get along, and when those who were renters upon his farms had poor crops or fell behind in payment, if they were trying to do the best they could, he encouraged them and carried them over, saying, "It will be better next year." As a toll roll owner, Snell also had just as many enemies because of the exorbitant fees he was charging to use the roads that were unregulated at the time."Because Snell had a monopoly on all the major roads that led from the Gateway of Chicago into the city center, he gave northwestern farmers and merchants no choice but to pay whatever he wanted if they wanted to market their goods."
After arriving in Chicago, around 1844, Amos and his wife Henrietta had about $18.50 cents to their name, Snell would emerge as one of Chicago’s leading pioneers and self made millionaires. Today, he would have been worth over $75 million, and I wonder if his life was not cut short in 1888 what else would he have accomplished. "Amos had lived in Chicago and vicinity since 1844, during which time he had accumulated a fortune of at least $3,000,000, through the ownership of at least 400 substantial residences and commercial buildings on the West Side. He also possessed large tracts in Jefferson and Park Ridge, Illinois and in Schaumburg, Iowa, and was the owner of the toll road that ran through Jefferson, Illinois. His own residence, on the corner of Washington Blvd. and Ada St., was one of the finest in the community."
Through all my years of researching my ancestors, I keep coming back to the story of Snell, because I am interested in learning more about who killed him as well as how did he create his wealth. Was he a capitalist that was given lucrative contracts that were made available only to white men at the time? And, just how did he secure those contracts? Worst of all, as a toll road baron, did he make money at the expense of poor people and farmers wanting to use his toll roads that eventually led to an uprising. Amos built his empire after creating many business ventures, he opened a store, and again, he was fortunate to be able to secure a contract that allowed him to supply wood and lumber to the North-Western railroad, this turned out to be very profitable. The habits of industry, economy, integrity and business ability of Amos Jerome Snell., it was a part of his nature to do whatever he did well; the old "plank road" that he built and owned for so many years was always kept in good condition."
Digging deep into Snell's story, there is the murder mystery that is still not solved some 136 years later, and to this day many murder mystery enthusiasts are still trying to crack the case. There is also the family drama involving his beautiful daughters and the unfortunate situation involving his depressed son who drank his life away dying alone in a lodgers house. It is reported, if Snell had faults, it may have been providing too much for those he loved. "His personal tastes and habits were simple and unobtrusive; he loved his friends, but best of all he loved and enjoyed his own home, and if he had a weakness it was his over-willingness to gratify every wish of those most near and dear."
Snell was in the prime of his life, worth millions, building a great fortune while creating jobs and discovering opportunities to live the American Dream, and just like that, his life was cut short based on a senseless crime, or was it revenge or greed, no one knows for sure. It seems he had the wealth and exposure that would lure any robber to his exquisite mansion located on the West Side of Chicago, but today some question if the man that was reported to have killed him was really the murderer. While he had many supporters in the community who appreciated the fact that he created jobs and did help the poor he also had just as many enemies.
As philanthropists, Snell’s wife Henrietta made sure to give back to the community, in various ways, in one big gift, she gave fifty thousand dollars to the University of Chicago to build a male dormitory, Snell Hall which is still being used today in his memory. "Snell, the oldest continuously operating dorm on campus, was built in 1892 as a dorm for the University’s football team and was funded by donations from affluent Chicagoan Henrietta Snell. The money Snell had donated for the new dorm was from unclaimed reward money for the unsolved murder of her husband Amos Jerome Snell. The dorm’s first resident head was Amos Alonzo Stagg, a famous football coach who led the Chicago Maroons to seven Big Ten championships and became the namesake of U Chicago’s Stagg Field..."
I created this site, to learn more about Amos and his legacy, was he a self made man who understood how to seize the moment? “Whether men make the times in which they live, or does the times make the men? Perhaps they move along together, through judgement, energy, acquaintance, and self determination.” Amos Jerome Snell emerged during a time in Chicago as a pioneer who helped to build the city to its greatness, when times got tough, he got tougher. "He understood how to be a producer rather than a speculator, he made his fortune, not by trading upon the values of others, but by himself creating value."
When I started my ancestry research, no one in my family ever shared with me anything about Amos Jerome Snell. I was just as surprised to discover his story, after my ancestry.com research and DNA tests. I am related to Amos through my maternal side of the family. It was really interesting to discover that my grandfather William Gordon McCrea, was one of 11 heirs to receive an inheritance from Amos’ will when they divided it up in 1941.
I also wonder as an African American woman, my father who is black, and my mother is white, what would Snell, of German heritage, have to say about me being his blood relative. "Following the end of Reconstruction in 1877, African Americans flowed from the Deep South into Chicago, raising the population from approximately 4,000 in 1870 to 15,000 in 1890. In 1853, John A. Logan helped pass a law to prohibit all African Americans, including freedmen, from settling in the state."
When researching Snell’s story, it is mentioned that he had a feeling that someone was coming for him, he might have pissed someone off, that’s why he slept with a gun next to his bed. While he was hugely successful at accomplishing some of his business goals, at what price? "Large, strong, quick and aggressive in business, Mr. Snell may have seemed austere and even severe at times, but it was the hurry and intensity of his great nature to accomplish results; beneath all these was ever a true and tender heart of sympathy for the weak, the poor, the suffering, and he planned and worked for their relief. His presence seemed to be an assurance of success, for others unconsciously felt his power to overcome all obstacles and were inspired by his courage and fortitude."
As the largest individual owner of real estate in the city during the glorious guilded age, Amos Jerome Snell emerges as a titan that understood how to use his his god given talents, political connections, and privilege as a white man during a tough time in Chicago, to build wealth and overcome dangerous obstacles. He was a multimillionaire that had the power and prestige because he created wealth, but it came at a huge cost and he paid the ultimate sacrifice, his life cut short.
Robin Beckham
3rd Great Granddaughter, Amos Jerome Snell
See how I am a direct descendent to Snell
Amos Jerome Snell in a Snapshot
Biography
Murder Mystery
Snell Family
A millionaire real estate tycoo, the owner of a toll road from Chicago to suburban Wheeling, who was murdered in his home on February 9, 1888. Willie Tascott was suspected in the killing but he fled Chicago and was never seen again.
Snell Family
Murder Mystery
Snell Family
During the 1800's the Snell Family in Chicago, Illinois was periodically featured in the news headlines for various social and news related stories. As one of the wealthiest families in the city, there was constant focus on the family members lives.
Murder Mystery
Murder Mystery
Murder Mystery
The murder of Amos Snell was one of the most covered cases in 1888. The family put up one of the largest rewards to capture the suspect, the case is still a mystery today.
Snell Toll Road
Snell Toll Road
Murder Mystery
Snell bought from Cook County the right-of-way which extended from Chicago’s city limits to what was then the village of Jefferson, giving Snell a monopoly on all the major roads that led into Chicago.
Legacy
Snell Toll Road
I am related
On behalf of her husband, Henrietta Snell donated $50, 000 to the University of Chicago to build the men's dormitory Snell Hall as a memorial to her late husband, Amos J. Snell. Designed by the architect Henry Ives Cobb, the building was completed in 1893.
I am related
Snell Toll Road
I am related
How I am related to the Snell family, the process of digging into my family tree was very exciting and there was always something new to discover about a family member. This process helped me better understand who I am today.