From $18.50 to a $3 Million Empire

Amos Jerome Snell (1823–1888)
Chicago Titan

Source: The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men, 1893

There is an interest in biography beyond that felt by relatives and friends. The records of success or failure possess an educational value as object lessons in the strange drama of life. Chicago is a city of self-made men — and Amos Jerome Snell stands among its finest examples.

Amos Jerome Snell is the son of John Peter and Maria (Scouten) Snell, and was born at Manheim, Herkimer County, New York, on December 28, 1823. Both parents were of Mohawk Dutch descent. They were strong, ambitious and hard-working, living on a farm — his father a member of the General Assembly of New York. From such an inheritance came the habits of industry, economy, integrity and business ability that would define Amos Jerome Snell.

In his early years Mr. Snell had but the common educational advantages of the community. In August 1841, he went with his brother-in-law to St. Marys, Ohio, where he was able to take charge of a school. He received nothing from home — he worked in the harvest field for money to make the journey.

On December 31, 1846, he married Miss Henrietta Sedam, the only child of Henry and Amanda (Palmerton) Sedam of Sedamsville, near Cincinnati. The young couple arrived in Chicago with only eighteen dollars and fifty cents. They counted it over and over — but could make the amount no larger.

They drove to Lake Geneva to visit a brother; not liking the outlook there, they started back to Chicago and on the way stopped at a small hotel in Palatine. The proprietor being discouraged, they bought him out — and a small beginning was made. Moving to Jefferson, Snell started a store and kept the post office in 1847, then entered into a contract to supply wood and lumber for the North-Western Railroad.

This proved to be a profitable business. He bought two thousand acres of timber land in Wisconsin, worked a large force of men and teams, and kept a supply store on the grounds. He always felt a friendly and personal interest for those in his employ, and encouraged them to save their wages and get a start for themselves.

It was in this way that he came to own his first lot in Chicago. One of his men had a lot on Harrison Street, far out on the prairie, and offered to trade it for a yoke of oxen and a wagon. Without knowing or caring much about its value, Mr. Snell — to encourage the poor man — made the trade. He did not see the lot for years after, and then built his first house in the city upon it and gave it to Mrs. Snell. She still held it and valued it as a memento of their earlier years of mutual struggle.

Mr. Snell was a producer rather than a speculator. He made his large fortune not by trading upon the values of others, but by himself creating values. He probably built and owned more dwelling houses than any other one man in Chicago — all confined largely to the West Side. His policy was to buy lots and build right in the heart of what is now near the center of the city. He bought and built, but seldom, if ever, sold. Intending to keep the property, it was in his interest to build well and never neglect needed repairs — and in this way he found little trouble securing good tenants.

Mr. Snell was ever the poor man's friend. When those who rented his farms had poor crops or fell behind in payment — if they were trying their best — he encouraged them and carried them over, saying: "It will be better next year." When he was gone, all of these said: "We have lost our best friend."

In personal appearance Mr. Snell was large and fine-looking. His personal tastes and habits were simple and unobtrusive; he loved his friends, but best of all he loved and enjoyed his own home. Large, strong, quick and aggressive in business, he may have seemed austere at times — but beneath all these was ever a true and tender heart of sympathy for the weak, the poor, the suffering.

What Mr. Snell would have done with his large property for public or benevolent purposes cannot be known, for his plans were cut short by his untimely death. But Mrs. Snell fulfilled, in part at least, what would have been his wish — by her gift of $50,000 to the University of Chicago.

The sudden and sad ending of the life of one so well and widely known was felt as a public loss and sorrow. Not by the hand of an enemy, for he had none, did he fall — but by that of burglars who had entered his home in the hours of night. Hearing the noise, and not knowing the sense of fear, he rushed downstairs and commanded them to leave his house. The only answer was the ball that pierced his heart, and he fell dead upon his own floor.

"He was a producer rather than a speculator — he made his large fortune not by trading upon the values of others, but by himself creating values."

To this home were born four children; one died in infancy. There survived one son, A. J. Snell, Jr., and two daughters, Mrs. Grace Snell Coffin and Mrs. Alice Snell Green. Mrs. Henrietta Snell, the widow, who through so many years was the strong and helpful companion of her husband in the early struggles and later successes, lived in the old home — and with wonderful strength and hope bore up under the terrible shock and great loss of February 8, 1888. From that day, through all the weeks of winters and summers, loving hands and hearts placed flowers upon the grave of this devoted husband and father.