Snell Family
Shapshot of Snell Family Drama
No examination of the Amos Snell story is complete without a few words on what became of the well-to-do family.
In 1901, Snell’s son, Albert, was penniless and living in the barn on the property. He was committed to an insane asylum and died in a rooming house a few years later.
Mrs. A.J. Stone, one of Snell’s daughter, sued for a share of the estate. Her claim was struck down on the grounds that she was allegedly an adopted daughter (I don’t know all the particulars of the trial, but what a horrible verdict!)
One of his daughters married several times, beginning by running away with a coachman at 16. She eventually left him and was forgiven by the family (daughters of rich men who married servants could generally be expected to be kicked out of the family in those days). She was married often, including being married and divorced from the same guy three times. She was eventually known as Mrs. Grace Snell-Coffin-Coffin-Walker-Coffin-Layman-Love-Love. Papers called her The Most Married Woman in the World. The second marriage to Mr. Love appears to have lasted; her name was still Mrs. Love when she died in 1941.
Given the number of properties that Snell owned in life (including most of what is now Milwaukee Avenue, which he turned into a toll road), legal wrangling over the estate went on for years – shares were still being argued over in 1943!
Snell Family History & Drama
Henrietta Snell-Wife & Mother
BIRTH 5 JUNE 1828 • Peru, Huron County, Ohio, USA
DEATH 24 FEB 1900 • Cook, Illinois, United States
Henrietta had her hands full with her two daughters, Alice and Grace who were always making the news for their marriages. She later did not support Mary who tried to sue her after Mr. Snell died. Her only son Albert and her had serious issues later over money and the will. Henrietta was dedicated to preserving the legacy of her family and her husband, Amos. . She was in attendance at the University of Chicago for an event where she donated $50,000 dollars to the school for Snell Hall.
Monmouth Republican Atlas - March 9, 1900:
Mrs. Henrietta Snell, widow of the Chicago millionaire, who was shot down and killed in his home 11 years ago, died in Chicago recently, at the age of about 70 years. Her death recalls the unsuccessful efforts of the detectives to locate Tascott, the supposed murderer. Mrs. Snell offered $50,000 for his capture and fruitless search extended over five years.
In an article published in the The Representative, December 14, 1886 a headline appeared: Will Pay $50,000 for Tascott’s Capture. Chicago, Dec. 6-Mrs. Henrietta Snell, widow of the late Amos J. Snell, has issues a notice increasing the present reward of $20,000 for the capture of Tascott, the supposed murderer of her husband, to $50,000, the latter reward to hold good for four months.
It appeared Mrs. Snell was a supportive and devoted wife dedicated to her husband and family.
Henrietta Snell, Wife of Amos Jerome Snell
SON
Albert J Snell
BIRTH 27 JUL 1857 • Chicago, Cook, Illinois
DEATH 23 MAY 1910 • Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Albert Jerome Snell, the only son of Amos and Henrietta, seems to have had a difficult life. He later dies in a lodger house, with no money. Albert did not get along with his step sister, Mary and her husband, and wanted to make sure that Mary did not get any of the families wealth after his father died. There was no formal legal adoption of Mary, he believed that Mary's husband Albert Stone killed Amos. It was determined that Albert died from heart disease, after living in seclusion for years. It is also reported that he was abusive to his wife who claimed he was a drunk and had authorities question his sanity. Alberts wife reported him to police and authorities because she believed her life was in jeopardy.
Daughter
Mrs Grace Snell Coffin
BIRTH ABT 1864 • Chicago, Cook , Illinois
DEATH 1941 • Los Angeles
Mrs. Grace Snell-Coffin-Coffin-Walker-Coffin-Layman-Love-Love. Papers called her The Most Married Woman in the World.
Grace Henrietta Snell makes the headlines for marrying seven times. She married the same man, Franc Coffin five times, and later married Love, two times. She had more divorces than any other woman in Los Angeles at the time. "I have been a society woman, I kept a fine stable of horses, mother taught me to spend, spoiled...,
Daughter
Alice Snell McCrea Green
BIRTH 1867 • Illinois
DEATH 07 NOV 1898 • New York, New York, USA
Voted one of Chicago's most beautiful women, Alice Snell Mccrea, married Wiley Mccrea when she was young. The older husband and Alice did not work out, she divorced him, claiming cruelty. Alice had two children from Wiley, a boy, named Snell McCrea and a daughter, named Henrietta McCrea. The son, Snell made headlines for trying to shoot his dad Wiley, and instead committed suicide. The daughter, Henrietta, married landscape artist Metcalf. Alice later married Green, who she eloped with while he was married. The headlines indicated that she had stole another woman's husband, and he was insane, perhaps he got lost in her beauty. Alice later died at an early age of 31.
Biography
Alice Eva was born 3 Jun 1867 in Chicago, Illinois, to Amos and Henrietta Snell.[1][2]
As a young woman, she was one of Chicago's "acknowledged beauties, and was considered by many in New York to have been "the most beautiful woman ever sent from the west to the east." Artists raved about her beauty and clamored for the privilege to paint her. She was also a woman of talent, one obituary noting that "her sketches with brush and pen were greatly admired and her voice, an exceptional soprano, had been carefully trained in Europe. At some point in her life she wrote a song called Autone (Springtime) as well as a book entitled From London to Paris in a Two-Wheeler.[3]
At age 17, Alice married Willey G. McCrea at Chicago, Illinois, in 1884.[4] They had two children:
Willey and Alice were divorced in 1888 on the grounds of severe physical abuse on the part of Willie McCrea. Alice's father, who was then one of the richest men in Chicago, had been murdered earlier that year and had left her a fortune of $500,000. This may have been part of what gave her the sense of security she needed to leave her husband. Eventually the father received custody of the son, while the mother received custody of the daughter.[7]
Alice married Douglas Green on 3 February 1890 at Hampton, Virginia.[8]The elopement of Alice (Snell) McCrea and Dougal Green caused a sensation for several reasons. Not only were they married in secret by a colored minister, but while Mrs. McCrea was divorced, Mr. Green was still married and the father of two children. The news of the marriage forced Green to resign from his prestigious job at a brokerage firm, his wife files for divorce, and the couple fled to Europe. When they returned the following June, they were ostracized by the social elite.[9] Alice and Douglass said their vows again on 4 June 1891 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[10]
She passed away at age 31, 6 Jun 1898 in the New York Hospital in New York City, from the effects of an unexpected operation following a lengthy illness.[11] [12]
Alice Snell McCrea Green, daughter
More information about Alice Snell McCrea
Alice Obit
Alice Snell
Alice Snell
Alice Snell
Alice Snell
Alice Snell
Step Daughter
Mary Snell Stone
BIRTH 31 MAR 1851 • Illinois, USA
DEATH 7 MAR 1928 • Oak Park, Cook, Illinois
Mary Snell, the Snell family raised her as a daughter when she was five years old. After Mr. Snell died, she and her husband fought over the will, she believed she was entitled to the money like her siblings. Mrs. Snell did not feel that way and fought her in court. Mary's husband, Albert Stone, fought to make sure his wife would get her inheritance.
Mary Snell Stone, Sued for inheritance