Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: GUSSMAN, BAXTER
is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, born March 17, 1843, his parents being Philip and Elizabeth (Gussman) Snyder. When Jacob was but six years of age his parents emigrated to America, sailing from Antwerp to New York. They soon located in Essex County, New Jersey, where the subject of this sketch was reared. In 1864 he left New Jersey, for California, coming by water and the Isthmus of Panama. He arrived in San Francisco August 27, and about two days later came to San Jose. About two weeks afterward he entered the employ of James Lick, with whom he remained for three years and two months. He then rented a place for one year, at the end of which time he went to Salinas. He rented land there for six years, and then bought seventy acres where he now resides, on the San Felipe road. He formerly devoted his land to farming, but in 1883 commenced fruit planting, in which year he set out ten acres, six acres of which were in apricots and peaches, the remainder in choice table grapes—Muscats, Rose of Peru, etc. All these trees and vines have done well. In 1887 he picked a ton of apricots to the acre. He has since planted about 18,000 wine grapes on thirty-three acres. These are all leading foreign varieties, such as the Zinfandel and Matero. In 1885 he set out 200 prune trees, and in 1886 300 more. All these are in splendid condition. He intends to plant five acres more in peaches and prunes. He is entitled to much credit for the impetus he has given to fruit-growing and viticulture in that vicinity.
Mr. Snyder was
married, May 15, 1875, to Miss Laura Baxter, a native of San Francisco. They
have two children: Mamie A. and Gertie. Mr. Snyder is a member of Salinas Lodge,
No. 204, A. F. & A. M.
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 606
SANTA CLARA COUNTY The Valley of Heart's Delight