SAMUEL FRISBEE SNIVELY 1921-1937

(From the November 8, 1952 Duluth News-Tribune)

Samuel Frisbee Snively, Duluth pioneer and former mayor, died yesterday morning. He would have been 93 Nov. 24.

Death came at the home of his niece, Mrs. W. E. Overland, 1002 North 12th avenue east. Last Tuesday, Mr. Snively voted in the presidential elections.

Widely known for his 16 years as mayor, his large real estate transactions and civic philanthropy, Mr. Snively was noted for the skyline driveway that bears his name. An early dream, he invested his own money in the driveway when city funds were depleted.

Mr. Snively came to Duluth as a young lawyer in 1886, after graduation from Dickinson college, Pennsylvania. He was born in the Cumberland valley of that state.

An acute observer of Duluth's economic future, Mr. Snively was a heavy investor in real estate in the 1880's, when land prices boomed. Like many others, he lost a fortune in the panic of 1893.

He amassed several fortunes in his lifetime, becoming known as a "plunger." At one time, he held a financial interest in the Duluth Herald.

Five years after the panic, Mr. Snively went to Alaska, where he gained a small fortune. He lost it to swindlers in Nome and friends helped him get back to Duluth for a new start.

Real estate again was his major interest. He acquired several thousand acres behind Lakeside, where he developed a huge farm. It was wiped out in the 1918 forest fire.

Early in the 1900's, he purchased 200,000 acres of land in St. Louis and Carlton counties from the Northern Pacific railway. He also was interested in about 150,000 acres between Superior and Bayfield on Lake Superior's south shore. He aided in construction of the road now known as U. S. highway 2.

His first entry into politics came in 1917 when he ran unsuccessfully for city commissioner. He was elected for his first mayoralty term in 1921.

Mr. Snively was an honorary life member of the Minnesota Arrowhead association.

Mr. Snively never married but was a great lover of children. Often he entertained orphans of the city at picnics.

The first Snivelys came to Pennsylvania from Switzerland. The family received two counties of land from William Penn on his death. That started the family fortune.

Surviving, besides Mrs. Overland, are two nieces, Miss Alice Snively, Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Eulalie MacLagan, Denver, and a nephew, S. F. Snively, Pittsburgh.

Burial will be in Sunrise Mem- p.m. (Note error in obit) Monday in Trinity Lutheran church with the Rev. D. Walter Lingdahl officiating. The Rev. O. M. Grimsby also will participate.

Burial will be in Sundise (sic) Memorial cemetery. The body will lie in state Sunday at Bell Bros. Funeral home and from 10 a.m. Monday until the services.