Veteran Bio

Mr. Snell participated in the Storming and Capture of Bexar, December 5 to 10, 1835. In Comptroller's Military Service Record No. 6372 it is certified that he was appointed Captain, December 24, 1835. Captains Teal and Snell at Washington, March 15, 1836, were invited by the Constitutional Convention "to take seats within the bar of the house." (Note: Republic of Rio Grande?)

At San Jacinto Captain Snell served as First Lieutenant in Captain Teal's Company of Regulars. He was issued Donation Certificate No. 193 for 640 acres of land May 18, 1838 for having participated in the battle. He was again appointed Captain, April 24, 1836 and served as such to May 17, 1838, at $40.00 a month. He commanded a detachment at the funeral of Stephen F. Austin, December 29, 1836. Captain Snell was issued Bounty Certificate No. 8004 February 2, 1839 for 1280 acres of land for his services in the army from October 22 to December 14, 1835, and from December 24, 1835 to January 30, 1839. He was Captain of the Fannin Artillery at Houston, 1843-45 and of the Milam Guards in 1845. His home at that time was on a farm a few miles from town. On January 5, 1846 he was elected alderman of Houston. In 1849 he was Postmaster in Houston and in 1850 he was an officer in Lodge No. 46, Sons of Temperance. The Marriage Records of Harris County show that on May 30, 1849 he was married to Emma Hadnot by the Reverend James Huckins, A Baptist minister. (Note: Postmaster 1844-45; 1846- )

Captain Snell was living in Caldwell as early as November 10, 1853 and the records of Warren (Masonic) Lodge No. 56 of Caldwell show that he was a Past Master of the Lodge in 1856. In 1859 he was running a hotel in Hempstead.

Captain Snell became a Major in the Confederate Army in the War between the States. The Tri-Weekly Telegraph of Houston, April 16, 1862 stated that Major Snell was at that time raising a battalion of infantry under the authority of General Thomas N. Waul, for his legion.

Major Snell, then a captain, killed Lieutenant James T. Sprawl at Velasco, March 31, 1837. Governor Francis R. Lubbock in his published memoirs referred to the incident as follows: "A day or two after my arrival at Velasco, while in a billiard room, I witnessed a homicide. Captain Snell, commanding a company of regulars at the post, came in. He accosted Lieutenant Sprowl as to his absence from the post. Hot words ensued, and the lieutenant was shot down by his captain and killed. Snell was exonerated, as Sprowl probably attempted to draw his sword. He afterward had several unfortunate difficulties and was himself many years afterward killed in Hempstead."

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