ROBERT BOGARDUS SNOWDEN, financier, Memphis, Tenn., son of
John Bayard Snowden, one of the early settlers and the leading dry goods
merchant of Nashville, was born in New York city, May 24, 1836, at the home of
his grandfather, Gen. Robert Bogardus. He is a descendant of Everardus
Bogardus, the Dominie, who married Anneke Jans, and, through his grandmother,
Susan Bayard Breese, is of the kin of Judge Sidney Breese, of Illinois Admiral
Breese of the Navy, and Samuel Finley Breese Morse, inventor of the telegraph.
The subject of this sketch graduated from a Western military institute in 1855,
and engaged in the wholesale grocery business in New Orleans with the firm of
Dyas & Co. In 1856, he joined the local vigilance committee, and took part
in the scrimmage with the “thugs” at Jackson square. In 1858, Mr. Snowden went
into business in Nashville, under the name of R. B. Snowden & Co., and, in
1861, was commissioned Adjutant of the 1st Tenn. Vols., and served with
distinction until the end of the Civil War. After service in Virginia, he went
through the Kentucky campaign as Adjutant General on Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson's
staff, and, in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., won promotion to the command
of the 25th Tenn., as Lieutenant Colonel, by desperate, gallant and persistent
fighting, this being followed with promotion to the rank of Colonel and being one
of the few occasions in which a staff officer was advanced over officers of the
line. After further active and gallant services in Tennessee and Virginia,
during which he often commanded his brigade, Colonel Snowden was surrendered
with Lee at Appomattox. After the War, he engaged in business in New York city
as an importer, under the style of Snowden & Riva. In 1870, he removed to
Memphis, and has since been occupied with land, real estate, banking, turnpike,
insurance, street railroad and other enterprises. He is president of The George
Peabody Real Estate & Improvement Co. Colonel Snowden commanded the
Interstate encampment in Memphis in May, 1895, and was made a Major General of
militia. In 1868, he married Miss Annie Overton, daughter of Robert C. Brinkley
and granddaughter of John Overton, the original proprietor and founder of
Memphis.
SOURCE: Henry Hall, Editor, America's Successful Men of Affairs: The United States at Large,
Volume 2, p. 736-7
