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| Quintina Snodderly Gravesite |
As of Spring, 1987, this pioneer grave was virtually unknown. There is no mention of the grave in early or current Overland Trail guidebooks. The grave was first discovered during road construction work in the summer of 1974 and now, through the persistent efforts of Bill and Kathy Fritts, the identity, family, and the sad death of Quintina Snodderly, mother of eight, are known.
Following the discovery of the grave, Quintina Snodderly's remains were removed for an extensive archaeological examination. After that examination was completed, OCTA helped finance a pine box coffin and the remains of Quintina Snodderly were finally laid to rest here on June 16, 1988 by Jim Rankin, Jacque Downs and Randy Brown. For more information on this grave, see the article by Randy Brown in Vol. 7, Issue 1 of the Overland Journal.
This grave is located west of Glenrock, Wyoming, about five miles west of the Ada Magill grave. It is not easy to find and is located on private property. Permission must be obtained before visiting the site! To find the grave from the Magill site, turn off Highway 20/26/87 north, onto County Road 21 (Coal Shadow Road). Go about one mile across the river and railroad tracks. Turn west on an unnamed county road and proceed about 3.2 miles to a gate on the left. You can also reach the grave from I-25. Take the Hat Six Road Exit, turn north and cross the river. Continue 2.5 miles to Geary Dome Road. Turn east and proceed five miles to a gate on the right.
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A pioneer mother, Quintina Snodderly died near here on June 25, 1852. A native of Tennessee, Quintina with her husband, Jacob, and their eight children (five girls and three boys) had lived in Clarinda County, Iowa for several years before embarking on their trip across the plains. They were members of a wagon train captained by Rev. Joab Powell which had left St. Joseph, Missouri in the spring of 1852.
Quintina's grave was discovered and excavated in 1974. An examination of the skeleton revealed the cause of death. Most of the ribs had been crushed, probably by the heavy wheels of a covered wagon. The skeleton was in otherwise perfect condition, with fragments of a green ribbon bow still around her neck. The Powell wagon train probably crossed the North Platte River at this point and the accident may have occurred as the wagons climbed the river bluffs to enter the north bank trail. Jacob and the children reached Linn County, Oregon where several descendants still reside.
The grave was restored and fence constructed here in 1987 by the Oregon-California Trails Association. It is a few feet from the original site.
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