Mrs Nelle Snyder

Who was Nelle Snyder?

Nelle Snyder was a 23 (twenty-three) year old American first-class passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on January 15, 1889, in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Nelle embarked on the ill-fated voyage as a newlywed, returning from her honeymoon in Europe with her husband, John Pillsbury Snyder.

Early Life and Family Background

What was Nelle’s family like?

Nelle was born into a merchant family, with her father Thomas William Stevenson (1853-1927) and mother Cora Vincent (1857-1933) raising a large family in the Midwest. Her siblings included:

• Mable (b. 1880)
• William Claude (b. 1881)
• Maud (b. 1887)
• Jessie (b. 1890)
• Raymond Vincent (b. 1891)
• Cora Louise (b. 1894)
• Florence Lucille (b. 1895)
• Robert Louis (1896-1896)

Where did Nelle grow up?

While born in Wisconsin, Nelle’s family relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota around 1890, where she spent most of her childhood and young adult years. This move would prove significant in shaping her future connections and life path.

Marriage and European Honeymoon

Nelle married John Pillsbury Snyder, a Minneapolis native, on January 22, 1912. The couple embarked on a European honeymoon shortly after their wedding, visiting destinations such as:

• Gibraltar
• Italy (where John arranged a dealership for Fiat cars)

The Titanic Journey

How did the Snyders come to be on the Titanic?

For their return to the United States, the Snyders booked passage on the RMS Titanic, boarding at Southampton. Their ticket details were as follows:

Who did the Snyders meet aboard the Titanic?

During their time on the ship, the Snyders became acquainted with other passengers from Minnesota, including:

• Mr and Mrs Walter Donald Douglas
• Mr and Mrs William Baird Silvey
• Miss Constance Willard

The Night of the Disaster

What was the Snyders’ experience when the Titanic struck the iceberg?

On the night of April 14, 1912, the Snyders had retired to their cabin around 11:30 PM. When the ship collided with the iceberg, Nelle later recalled:

“There was not a great crash, not even a heavy jar when the ship struck the iceberg.”

The couple’s actions following the collision were as follows:

1. Left their cabin to investigate
2. Questioned a passing steward, who downplayed the situation
3. Overheard a passenger reporting potential danger
4. Decided to dress and go to the upper decks
5. Retrieved their lifebelts as instructed by crew members

How did the Snyders survive the sinking?

Nelle and John Snyder were among the first passengers to board Lifeboat 7, which was the first lifeboat launched from the Titanic. They reported that many passengers were initially reluctant to enter the boat. The Snyders described the launch as “leisurely and without any confusion or commotion.”

From their vantage point in the lifeboat, the Snyders witnessed:

• The lifeboat being tied to other boats during the night
• The iceberg in the distance
• Rows of portholes on the Titanic gradually disappearing underwater
• The ship breaking in two following several explosions (as reported by John Snyder)

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience impact the Snyders’ lives?

After being rescued by the Carpathia, the Snyders returned to Minneapolis where they:

• Settled and raised a family
• Had three children: John Pillsbury (1913-1989), Thomas Stevenson (1915-1976), and Susan (1918-1984)
• Lived at 2118 Blaisdell Avenue from 1920 to 1940
• Operated the Snyder Garage Inc. until John’s retirement in 1955

Did the Snyders continue to travel after the Titanic?

Despite their harrowing experience, the couple continued to travel. In 1938, they found themselves in Austria during a significant historical event:

• Witnessed Nazi troops marching into Vienna and the declaration of the Anschluss
• Retreated to the USA aboard the Queen Mary, arriving in New York on April 4, 1938

Nelle’s Later Years and Legacy

After being widowed in 1959, Nelle remained active in her community:

• Participated in various philanthropic organizations
• Served as a charter member of the Northwestern Hospital Board
• Became a member of the Titanic Historical Society
• Attended a Titanic Historical Society convention in the 1970s

Nelle Snyder passed away on December 9, 1983, at the age of 94 (ninety-four) in her home in Wayzata, Minnesota. She was laid to rest alongside her husband in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, leaving behind a legacy as one of the last surviving first-class passengers of the Titanic.