This small and almost forgotten maker of woodworking machinery was in business by 1879 as Sniggs & Myrick, a partnership of Edward Sniggs and John H. Myrick. Sometime between 1880 and '82 the name had changed to Sniggs & Co. (we have also seen the name Edward Sniggs & Co.), with Edward's brother Robert F. Sniggs apparently replacing Myrick. The firm was still in business in 1897 but does not seem to have lasted much beyond that time.

From March 1887 issue of The Wood-Worker

Information Sources

• The January 14, 1870 issue of the Buffalo Courier & Republic carried a brief writeup of the "tenth annual ball of the Machinists' and Blacksmiths Brotherhood and Protective Association". "Ed. Sniggs" is listed as a floor manager of the dance. The January 14, 1875 issue of the same paper carried a writeup of the fifteenth annual ball, when Edward Sniggs was a member of the "Committee of Arrangements".
• A genealogy page on one Kate De Young (1853-1941) mentions that "She and Edward De Young and Edward Sniggs were enumerated in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in the household of Joseph De Young and Hannah (?) in Buffalo, New York". The page linked from Edward's name provides more information. "Edward Sniggs was born circa 1846 in Canada or New York. He served in the military as a Seaman aboard the frigate St. Lawrence, a Union warship, from 6 October 1862 to July 1865... He was a machinist, according to the 1870 census. He was enumerated in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in the household of Hannah (?) in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 456 Fargo Avenue. He was a machinist, according to the 1880 census. He and Hannah (?) appeared in the 1890 Buffalo, New York, City Directory at 456 Fargo Avenue with Sniggs & Co. at 39 Clinton. Edward Sniggs appeared in the US Veterans Schedule of Civil War Union Veterans and Widows of June 1890 in Buffalo, New York, at 456 Fargo Avenue."
• Early Settlers of New York State, by Janet Wethy Foley, mentions the marriage of Kittie Benedict and Robert F. Sniggs on Nov. 7, 1876.
• The 1880 census shows Robert Sniggs of Buffalo, age 30, married. His occupation was "wholesale fruit".
• The 1880 Buffalo City Directory from Courier Co. has the following listings:
  • Myrick, John H. (Sniggs & Myrick) 210 Terrace h. 62 Fifteenth.
  • Sniggs, Edward (Sniggs & Myrick) 210 Terrace, h. 456 Fargo av.
  • Sniggs, Robert F. (Sniggs & Stickney) 163 Scott, h. 113 Oak.
  • Sniggs & Myrick (Edward Snigg, John H. Myrick), wood working machinery, 210 Terrace.
  • SNIGGS & STICKNEY (Robert F. Snigg, Edward W. Stickney) com. mchts. 163 Scott.—see adv. p. 91
  • Stickney, Edward W. (Sniggs & Stickney) 163 Scott, h. 41 Sixth.
  The advertisement for Sniggs & Stickney identified them as wholesalers in butter, eggs, cheese, and other groceries.
• The Pennsylvania State Business Directory & Gazetteer of 1882 has an ad from Sniggs & Co. of Buffalo, featuring their Pony Planers. The directory listing for the company says, "Sniggs, E., Mnfr of all Kinds of Wood Working Machinery, 210 Terrace. See Ad."
• From The Buffalo Directory, 1884: Edward Sniggs of Sniggs & Co. lived at 456 Fargo ave. Robert F. Sniggs of Sniggs & Co. lived at 754 Prospect ave. Those two men were the named partners in Sniggs & Co, "woodworking machinery, 56 to 60 Mechanic". A text ad in the same volume reads, simply, "SNIGGS & CO. / Manufacturers of and dealers in all kinds of / WOOD WORKING MACHINERY / Factory, 54 to 60 Mechanic st."
• A February 1881 issue of The Buffalo Morning Express carried a brief notice.

  DISSOLUTION OF COPARTNERSHIP

  Notice is hereby given that the partnership lately existing between ROBERT F. SNIGGS and EDWARD W. STICKNEY, lately doing business at Buffalo, N. Y., Summit City and Rew City, Pa., under the firm name of SNIGGS & STICKNEY, was dissolved February 21st, 1888, by mutual consent. Of the business of said firm transacted at Buffalo, all debts owed to said partnership are to be paid to the said EDWARD W. STICKNEY and all demands on said partnership are to be paid by said Sniggs through said Stickney. And of the business of said firm transacted at Summit City and Rew City all debts owing to the said partnership are to be paid to the said ROBERT F. SNIGGS, and all demands on the aid partnership are to be paid by him.

  ROBERT F. SNIGGS
  EDWARD W. STICKNEY
  Dated February 23d, 1888.

  The same business as that of SNIGGS and STICKNEY will be conducted at the same place in Buffalo by EDWARD W. STICKNEY and HIRAM CANFIELD under the firm name of STICKNEY & CANFIELD and at Summer City and Rew City by R. F. SNIGGS.

  The ?? patronage heretofore received is respectfully solicited in the future.

  R. F. SNIGGS
  E. W. STICKNEY
  STICKNEY & CANFIELD

  On the same page a brief article repeats the same basic facts but adds a few details. The firm of Sniggs & Stickney is described as "commission merchants". "Quote a large business was gradually built up by this enterprising firm... and recently another branch was opened at Aiken, Pa., under the firm name of Sniggs, Stickney & Co., Mr. Luther S. Brown, being associated with them. Mr. Stickney will continue the very flourishing business at the old stand, No. 163 Scott street, in partnership with Mr. Hiram Canfield, of Cleveland. Mr. Sniggs will run the stores at Summit City and Rew City. The Aiken business will be conducted by Mr. Brown and himself under the firm name of Sniggs & Brown." The January 22 issue of the same paper mentioned the dissolving of the partnership and described the Pennylvania business as "in the oil country".
• The June 24, 1887 issue of the Buffalo Courier has a multi-page article listing various properties in a "tax sale". Robert F. Sniggs is list for a property on Mechanic Street.
• A web search turned up a couple of 1890 and 1891 mentions of Buffalo resident Emma V. Sniggs. There were no other remotely relevant matches.
• The 1893 Buffalo City Directory, compiled by George W. Whitcomb and published by the Courier Co., lists
  • McDougall, John C. machinist, 589 Prospect ave.
  • Sniggs, Robert F., 78 Agency bldg.
  • (under "Military", "Grand Army of the Republic", Bureau of Employment Emergency Fund) 1st Vice-Chairman—Edward Sniggs
  • Sniggs, Edward (S. & Co.) h. 456 Fargo ave.
  • Sniggs, Robert F. real estate 13 Niagara, b. 408 Richmond ave.
  • Sniggs & Co. (E. S. & J. C. McDougall) wood working machinery, 39 Clinton
• The 1893 book, Seventh Annual Report of the Factory Inspectors of the State of New York lists "Sniggs, Edward, & Co., 39 Clinton street, [manufacturers of] woodworking machinery". They had 6 male employees who worked 60 hours per week including 10 on Saturday.
• From Buffalo 1893: Its Commercial and Manufacturing Interests lists "Sniggs & Co., 39 Clinton" under "Wood Working Machinery". Robert F. Sniggs resided at 15 Niagara. There was no listing for Edward, or anyone else named Sniggs.
• The Buffalo Morning Express of Friday November 10, 1893, carried an article of the Real-estate Exchange deciding to hold auctions of property lots. The president of the organization appointed a committee of seven to "consider the matter", including R. F. Sniggs.
• The 1895 book, Ninth Annual Report of the Factory Inspectors of the State of New York lists "Sniggs, Edward, & Co., Merchant street, [manufacturers of] woodworking machinery". They had 5 male employees, with 2 under the age of 18, who worked 60 hours per week.
• The 1897 Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Erie County, N. Y. records a couple of bills from Edward Sniggs & Co., for $4.50 and $6.00.
• The 1896 book, Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County New York, ed. Truman C. White, has a biography of one Louis J. Ulrich of Buffalo, born in 1844. After completing his schooling he "served seven years at the machinist's trade with Edward Sniggs."
• Chandler W. Jones' 1985 book, Planers, Matchers and Molders in America, contains just one passing mention of this firm. The firm was active in 1897 but was not part of the big merger that created American Wood Working Machine Co.
• The Buffalo Morning Express of February 26, 1909, lists mortgage assignments, including one from "William E. Hamilton to Robert F. Sniggs, Letchworth street near Hawley, $2,200".
• Neither the Cornell nor the University of Michigan "Making of America" archives had any information on this maker.
• A patent search did not turn up a single patent to anyone named Sniggs. Not anywhere in the world. None.
• The Find A Grave website lists Edward Sniggs, born 1839 and died 1896, buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.