Aunt "Dutch"

Gertrude Madeline Snider, daughter of Otto Daniel Snider and Cecilia Rose Corwin, was born on November 19, 1902 in Tipton, Tipton County, Indiana. Gertrude was nicknamed "Dutch" in her toddler years by her mother Cecilia, because her speech was difficult to understand.

Gertrude and her older sister, were very close and inseparable. She and Ceotice, always vied for their grandfather's attention. John Wesley Snyder, a Civil War Veteran, who served with Company I, 130 Regiment, Company A, Indiana, had an apple orchard on his farm, at Independence, just west of Tipton. He placed a sturdy swing in that little plantation for them to play when they visited. Each would complain to him about who's turn it was to get possession of the childhood structure. John Snyder wounded in the left hand during the war, received a pension of $18.00/month in 1882. He was a contractor, carpenter, and was employed as foreman of fence building for the old I. P. & C railroad in Tipton. In later life he made cider form his apple orchard, and was known around Tipton county as the "cider man".

John Snyder was the keeper of photos, memories, and a black and white transfer ware teapot, c.1850, belonging to his Native American wife, and the grandmother Ceotice and Gertrude never knew. He warmly told them about Harriet Amilda Goodnight, her life, and their heritage. Their step-grandmother, Pricilla Smith Snyder, also had great and loving influence on their lives. She was stylish, loving, intelligent, and supportive of her grandchildren. A little red schoolhouse sat across the road from John and Pricilla's home. Ceotice yearned to attend when she was five years old. With the approval of the teacher, Ceotice was allowed to sit in on the classes when staying with her grandparents. Their great-grandparents, William Goodnight and Julia Ann Stewart came from Fayette County, OH around 1850 to Clinton County, IN. Their great-grandmother, Julia Ann Stewart, was born Miami Indian in the area of Fayette County, OH. Harriet was the granddaughter of Christopher Goodnight, the brother of President Obama's fourth great-grandmother, Catherine Goodnight. With knowledge of her Native American ancestry, photos, oral histories, Gertrude would become an integral part of family history

Her father, Otto, was closest to Gertrude then to any of his other children. Otto was a good husband and provider, but distant, strict in discipline, and did not display affection to his children, or grandchildren. Her mother, Cecilia, of Irish descent, was a loving, encouraging, positive, and nurturing parent. Otto's mother died when he was fifteen, his only sibling, a sister married, but died early in her life, and his father remarried. These events probably had a profound affect on his life. He served in the Spanish-American War, in Company I, 160th Regiment Indiana Volunteers and saw service in Cuba. He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad all his working life. He would often bring his wife, Cecilia, a beautiful hand painted china plate from places he traveled with the railroad. Ceotice told her granddaughter, Paula Bourff Couture, that families of railroad employees could get free passes to travel to cities such as Lafayette, IN; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; St. Louis, MO; and any cities the Pennsylvania RR had routes. The Snider family did take trips to various places, and this proved to be the one pleasant memory of their father, and where Gertrude found her love for big city life.

The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy," the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the largest railroad by traffic and revenue in the U.S. for the first half of the twentieth century.

Around 1905, the Snider family moved to Kokomo, Howard County, IN The first three girls were raised Catholic, and signed their surnames Snider. The last five siblings, spelled their last names Snyder, and were raised Protestants.

Ceotice completed eighth grade, and then was told to find a job by her father. Gertrude completed two years of high school.

As a teenagers, Gertrude, and Ceotice, (named for the combined name of her mother Cecilia and father, Otto), found a love for the latest fashions, dances, and songs. It was a time for loose-fitting chemise dresses with belts, the first bras, revealing bathing suits, head bands, bloomer pants, and dresses with hemlines above the ankle. Out with the corset!

(See photo of them doing the Turkey Trot dance, and wearing the latest in young fashion.

They would again be photographed together performing a dance in the mid-sixties.)

Women’s rights and the national struggle had begun. The first woman was elected to Congress. These young women noted their world changing and became strong and independent. Gertrude and Ceotice were sisters, and best friends for life. Family always came first. Gertrude fell in love with a young man named William around 1920. They dated, but tragically, he died suddenly and unexpectedly. She remained single the rest of her life. Ceotice entered the dry cleaning business, became an excellent seamstress and eventual co-owner of Victory Dry Cleaners. She married Edgbert O' Conner Bourff on November 3,1923 in Kokomo, IN. Gertrude was her maid of honor.

Gertrude set her sites on Chicago, IL Alone, she moved to the city around 1925, and was photographed looking the part of socialite in a red satin evening gown. She began working for Marshall Field and Co. Department Store, and by 1940 was Division Manager of Selling. Marshal Field, is the second largest store in the world, was both declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1978

Family would visit her on occasion, and stay in her apartment, but little is known of her social life. Chicago in the 1920's and 1930's was a place of great criminal activity. Speakeasies, jazz clubs, and dark alleyways dotted the city. She did "bobb" her hair and wear shorter skirts, as evidenced in a few family photos, but "unladylike things" were never in her nature. Movies were very popular, and women could now vote. Being the patriot she was, it would be unimaginable for her not to have done so. Bootleggers, racketeers and other organized-crime figures such as Chicago gangster, Al Capone roamed the city. She traveled to work by way of the "Loop", an elevated transit system, which would take her to State Street, the location of her employment with Marshall Field & Company, major shops, theaters, and numerous subway and elevated rapid transit stations. She was a loyal to her Catholic faith, and attended church. She was cautious about her safety, but never expressed any fear of living alone or walking downtown.

On November 23, 1942, she left her job, and enlisted in the Womens Army Corps, earned the rank of PFC, and was assigned to Scott field (now Scott AFB), Belleville, IL. Her duties were that of clerk. Her Grade Code: Aviation Cadet (one who trains to become an officer in an air force). Three brothers, Otto Jr., Mort, and Malcolm also served in WWII.

After the war, she returned to Kokomo, IN and was employed by Sears Roebuck and Co.

She became godmother to Ceotice's first grandchild, Paula Bourff Couture in 1946, and then returned to Chicago and gained employment with a stationary company until her retirement. Whenever Gertrude came home from the "Windy City", she would come into town on the Pennsylvania RR.

Family was at the station to greet her, and she would always be dressed in the latest style and fashion. At Christmas, she would bring great-nieces and nephews ball point pens and pencils of every description. She always had advice about the big city like, "a woman should always wear a tight girdle and carry a can opener when walking downtown Chicago."(vintage kitchen can openers had a knife like blade on the side).

To family, she was always called "Dutch", and to all nieces and nephews, she was just Aunt Dutch. She was a kind, caring, loving, and a fun to be around person. She was always at family weddings, graduations, funerals, and home for the holidays. Her camera captured many special moments, both home movies and stills. In 1968, she moved to St Petersburg, FL and found an apartment in a new housing complex. Her namesake, Gertrude Bourff Titus and husband, were managing the Sea Rocket Motel on North Redington Beach, Clearwater, FL, and lived close by. Family vacations to Florida, included visiting Aunt Dutch, and catching up on the latest family news and events.

In 1975, Gertrude came home to Kokomo, Indiana to attend a family gathering at Highland Park. It was at this time she presented a tin photo of her grandparents, Harriet Goodnight and John Snyder to her great-niece, Paula Bourff Couture. It also included tin prints of her father, Otto. It was a precious, inspiring moment for Paula. The Bicentennial of our Country had just begun and the entire United States was in great preparation for the anticipated celebration.

Gertrude was always a patriot and supporter of her fellow Veterans. In 1977 she was press agent for The National American Veterans Association of Post 9, St Petersburg's, FL Their objectives are to serve all service members and veterans who served and are serving in the United States Armed Forces in the following areas: benefits, giving them access to information on education, employment, housing, nutritional and spiritual wellness, medical care information, and job training and career coaching. serve as advocate, and supporting the timely processing of VA disability claims.

In 1978, Gertrude suffered a stroke. She was unable to care for herself, and requested her family take her home to Kokomo, Indiana. Her great-niece and godchild, Paula an R.N., took her on a flight home from Tampa to Indiana. She lived in a nursing home near her family, and then passed away on September 9,1979.

She is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Kokomo, IN

Unknown to her, she and her siblings would one day become fourth cousins to the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Sources:

Paula Bourff Couture: great-niece

Mark A.Bourff: nephew

Rose Janusz: niece

Gertrude M Snyder