HOSEA SNELL, who has been engaged in the mercantile business longer than any other man in Staunton township, was born in Tyrrell county, North Carolina, October 8th, 1813. His father was Roger Snell, and his mother's maiden name was Mary West. In 1817 the family moved to Madison county, Tennessee, and in 1821 to Macoupin county, Illinois, and settled a mile west of the town of Staunton. His father (who died in 1858) was one of the early school teachers in the county, as was also Archibald Hoxsey. Mr. Snell attended the first school ever taught in Staunton township, which was held in a little log schoolhouse, three quarters of a mile northwest of Staunton. After marrying Angelica Sawyer in 1835, he went to farming on government land, five miles north of Staunton; afterward moved a mile west of Staunton, and then to Bunker Hill prairie, where in 1840 he entered the first land he ever owned. In 1850 he became a clerk in the store of Michael Walsh, at Staunton and in 1851 built a saw mill. For two years he was clerk in the store of Hoxsey and Shirley, and in 1855 in partnership with Isaac Sturges, established a store of his own, which he carried on for two years. Afterward he was in partnership with Richard Olive. From 1858 to 1863, he carried on the mercantile business by himself. In 1863 his present partnership with Edmond Fritz was formed. His first wife died in the fall of 1836. He was married in 1838 to Melinda Parisher, who died in 1847. His present wife was formerly Rebecca J. Knight, a native of Tennessee. Mr. Snell has nine children, two of whom live in Oregon. He is a democrat in politics, a careful business man and a good citizen.