Historical Names and Locations4

Bedford County , Pennsylvania

Historical Names & Locations

Croyl's Valley - Snake Spring Valley - Snake Spring Twp.

Jacob Snyder (1754 - 1848) Brickhouse Tract
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Jan. 23, 2010 update:
Rod Burket writes to give us a bit more info on the history of the "Brick House"and in addition
Rod writes that he and his mother Mary Louise Miller Burket have a copy of this picture and she
has identified many of those in the picture for us. The modified and additional text will appear below
in this color to identify their updated information.

We wish to thank Rod and his mother Mary Louise Miller Burket for supplying this information
about this Historical Bedford Site. It's great to have the family faces identified. Thank you !

In 1811 Jacob Snyder built a huge brick house over the Snake Spring in Bedford Co., Pa. He kilned the bricks from a field still called the old brick field to this day. His daughters were his
hod carriers. The house was torn down by Marshall Ritchey Van Horn, youngest son of Daniel and
Susanna Ritchey Van Horn, when he purchased the "Brick House" and farm from Isaac and Albert
Snowberger Ritchey between 1925 and 1935 and now only a few bricks, the spring which
still trickles from the mountains, and the huge bank barn built by Andrew E. Snowberger, remain.

Jacob's daughter Rosannah Snyder married Andrew E. Snowberger. Andrew had a daughter Rosannah {she went by the name of Rosan}. Rosannah Snowberger married John A. Ritchey, a neighbor boy in
1862. John and Rosan emigrated to Indiana the year they married. They are my great grandparents. - - -

Doris O. Sink onale@comteck.com ________________________________________________________

Doris has just recently sent in a photo of the "Old Brick House" as well as the barn and surrounding area.


Unfortunately the photo is quite faded and difficult to reproduce, however, it contains a lot of information.
Wouldn't it be great to know who all the people in the photo might be? Note the group by the house
standing in front of the "dinner" bell. Rod's mother agrees that the bell was indeed a dinner bell.



After staring till my eyes water, it looks like there are two adults (each holding a baby) and four children
(to the left of the adults) with a dog between the third and fourth child to the left. .
Starting from the right: Suzanna Ritchey Van Horn holding Sara Van Horn Cowan (her daughter), next is
Catherine Ritchey Foor holding her son William Ritchey Foor, Fanny Ritchey Weaver, Hannah Ritchey Funk,
Ellis Ritchey Van Horn, Albert Snowberger Ritchey (youngest son of William and Sara Ritchey)
and behind him is Rod's grandmother Ada Ritchey Miller.



September 4, 2000 addition: Wanda Stoltzfus wcs@sunlink.net has been in recent contact with Doris O. Sink
and shared some of her photos with Doris who suggested that Wanda add them to the webpage.
Thank you Wanda & Doris!!
The first photo is a clearer picture of Jacob Snyder's "Brickhouse".


photo supplied by Wanda Stoltzfus
Jacob Snyder's "Brickhouse"

Features of the house that couldn't be seen in the previous picture can be readily seen now. Notice the chairs
sitting in the area under the front porch. Probably cool on a warm day and sheltered on a windy cold day.
Is that a grape arbor or trellis to the left of the house?

Further to the left in the picture is a horse and buggy with two occupants, probably husband and wife?
Perhaps they are the owners of the farm??
William and Sara Snowberger Ritchey are in the buggy.

Moving further to the left in the picture, there appears to be four more people with horses.
The first, a young boy, then perhaps a slightly older young lady, and another lady and man.
From the right: Albert Ritchey and Elizabeth Ritchey Bowman holding the first horse; Rosanna Ritchey Steele
holding the second horse; then Isaac Ritchey (who wrote the poem below) holding the last horse.

Finally here's an enlargement of the barn. It almost looks like there is someone looking out the barn door.
Doris says that the barn still stands on the property, however the house is no longer there.

Wouldn't it be great to find a copy of this photo that was not so faded, so that we could enlarge it
and fill in thefaces of these people?

If you would like to reach Doris to comment on this photo, you may contact her at:
onale@comteck.com
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(Doris sent the following poem written about Jacob Snyder's brickhouse - by Mr. & Mrs. Isaac S. Ritchey)
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THIS OLD HOUSE SPEAKS

Between the slopes of the Mountains Side, I was built and have stood with love and pride.
One hundred twenty were the years I spent, serving you all with sweet content.
My brick was baked from yonder hills, the mountains gave the stone and sills.
The casing and glass were slowly hauled, from Fredericksburg, you will recall.
Sturdy hands, with love and care, fashioned the rooms and winding stair;
And when complete, I proudly stood, a stately mansion of brick and wood.
Great crowds have often gathered here,sometimes for church,sometimes for cheer.
My roof has sheltered the poor and great, from lowly beggar to men of State.
The old clock that stood against the wall, has many memories,and can recall,
The happy days of young and old,throughout the summers and the cold.
Often, at night my beds were filled, and pallets were on the floor and still,
The stairs were full of girls and boys,who would not sleep,nor make a noise.
My well kept lawn was full of flowers, that blossomed from the summer showers.
The white picket fence that ran around,kept the cattle from off the ground;
And children have romped and played there on,but now the children are grown and gone.

I am only a heap of bricks and weeds, no sign of my glory nor kindly deeds. No friendly windows to beckon to you, no cherry smile nor a greeting true. But our memories are dear to one and all, of the old brick house so sturdy and tall. And I welcome you back where you oft' have trod, on this holy ground, You can worship God.
..Mr/Mrs I.S.Ritchey

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"Andrew E. Snowberger & Rosannah Snyder Snowberger had a daughter Sarah who married Wm. S. Ritchey. Sarah Snowberger and Wm. S. Ritchey had 11 children including: Isaac S. Ritchey, born 22 May 1876 in Snake Spring Valley. Isaac died 7 Mar 1951, not sure
where he died, maybe Colorado. Isaac Ritchey first married Orpha Maust, second marriage
to Florence Gambill. It was Isaac and Florence who wrote the above poem in memory of the 'Brick House'"


September 4, 2000 addition: Wanda also sent a copy of Mr / Mrs. I.S.Ritchey's wedding photo!


photo supplied by Wanda Stoltzfus
Isaac & Orpha Maust Ritchey's Wedding Photo



"Isaac Ritchey and Orpha Maust Ritchey are the parents of two children:

Paul M. Ritchey and John Albert Ritchey."

"John Albert Ritchey became a doctor and practiced in Marion, Indiana with his brother in law, Dr Hunter Stewart. Dr. John A. Ritchey left Marion about 1943
and practiced in Oregon. John was born, 31 Dec 1906 in Scott Co Kansas.
He married on 23 Sept 1932, Rebecca Stewart b. 2 Oct 1907 in Marion, Indiana.
Rebecca is still living...Dr. John died 3 Mar 1972 in Salem, Oregon. Interred Portland, Oregon."
- - - - - Doris O. Sink
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Doris has sent many other items relating to the Snider/Snyder - Snowberger - Ritchey Lines.

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Does anyone have a photo of the Jacob Snyder Brick House? I've seen some, but they were in newsprint and they do not copy well. If anyone has a picture of the house and would be willing to scan it and send it, I'd like to put it on this page. Thank you!


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If you have questions, comments, or something you would like to submit for posting on this page, please contact - clabaugh@richnet.net