Snyder Community
Hale County, Texas

Mennonite Colony

The Life of Grace Swartzendruber
by Maribeth Troyer

Chapter Two: School Days

[In 1989, for an advanced college writing course at Hesston College, Hesston, KS, Maribeth Troyer wrote a 57-page biography of her grandmother Grace Snyder Swartzendruber (1907-1999). In addition to being interviewed for the paper, eighty-one-year-old Grace wrote comments on some of the pages, making corrections or clarifications. I have edited the paper slightly for publication here. Bonnie Snyder Smith, February 2007]

As soon as Grace heard the boys getting up to do chores, she was wide awake. Grace was always eager to get up in the morning, not wanting to miss a moment of the day’s activities. Today, however, was a special day. She had been waiting for this day for a long time. Finally, she had turned seven years old and was allowed to go to school. No more pretending and dreaming, today she would go to school.

The Snyder school was a small one-roomed building with a wood-burning stove in the center. The school house served a dual purpose in the Snyder Mennonite Community. During the week it provide a place for children grades one through eight to be educated and also an environment for social interaction for the community. On Sundays it became the site for the community’s worship services.

Grace’s father served as the minister for the small Mennonite congregation that met together weekly. Occasionally visiting preachers came for a series of special meetings. It was during such a visit that Grace, when she was ten years old, realized that she was a sinner and accepted Jesus’ payment for her sins. From that point on she grew in her love and trust in her Savior. Her godly mother set an example of the power and importance of prayer. Grace and Paul Hartzler, a schoolmate of hers, were baptized before that preacher left their community.

Numerous family and community activities were also held in the school building. The growing community held debates, singings, and drama presentations and special holiday celebrations there.

The highlights of the eight-month school year were undoubtedly the activities which involved all the school children. For weeks before Christmas the children would practice recitations and songs. The whole school was involved in decorating the building with popcorn strings and cut-out paper images and preparing for the Christmas play. One evening in December, the whole community would gather for the Christmas program. Presents for the children were brought and placed beneath the community Christmas tree. At the end of the school year there was a large picnic and ball game, attended by all the children and their families.

The Snyder school was not a stationary building in that it was physically moved three times while the Snyders lived in Texas. The building was moved when the land on which it sat was sold or was needed for some other purpose. The first two locations were on either side and within a mile of the Snyder farm. Because the school house was so close to home, Grace could easily walk to school even in the first grade.

School was an exciting place for Grace. She had heard lots of stories from her older brothers and sisters about the things that go on in school and now she was able to experience all those herself. Although Grace had had Vera and Ruth to play with as she grew up, it was nice to join with children her own age every day. Grace made friends with Esther Brenneman, a fair-headed girl whose parents had moved from Ohio to Hale County. She was the only other girl in Grace’s class. [A note from Grace says, “No, Paul Hartzler and I were only in the class.]

By the time Grace entered school in the fall of 1914, Vernon was the only other Snyder still attending school. Maude had been the very first teacher at the new school but she had quit when she got married and therefore was never Grace’s teacher.

[Photo at right of the 1914 Snyder school children with their teacher David Stutzman. Notice Grace's arrows to herself and to her brother Vernon. Photo from the Grace Snyder Swartzendruber Collection]

Grace always looked forward to Fridays not because it was the last day of school, but because of the fun things which occurred every Friday afternoon. Fridays brought with them all-school spelling bees and arithmetic matches. These were a welcomed change from instruction and homework for both teacher and students.

Recess always afforded a pleasant break from the reading, writing and arithmetic as well as giving the children a chance to stretch their legs and “air” their minds.

“Come on, Grace,” called Esther. “Let’s go sit over by the fence and I’ll show you what Mama gave me.”

Hurriedly Grace followed her friend to their favorite spot. The school yard was enclosed by a barbed wire fence. The strong winds which invariably blew in Texas would cause tumbleweed to become entangled in the fence. As a result, it provided a wide windbreak which allowed the little girls a place to sit in the sun to share secrets and news.

Breathlessly Grace and Esther sat down in the corner of the school yard. “Let’s see what you got,” encouraged Grace enthusiastically.

Slowly Esther reached into her pocket and pulled out a fancy lace handkerchief. “I got it for my birthday. Mama said that I am old enough to appreciate pretty things now.”

“It sure is pretty! May I hold it?”

During recess time the children would also play many games. Their child-like imaginations were vivid and always provided lots of fun and sometimes got them into trouble. One day several of the boys climbed under the school house and began to kick the floor with their feet directly beneath the teacher’s desk. Needless to say she was waiting for them as they slithered out from their place of mischief!

Several of the Snyder school teachers were graciously boarded at the Peter B. home. Grace’s favorite teacher, with whom she shared her name, Grace Smith, lived with them during the 1917-18 school year. The Snyder home seemed to be expandable as they opened their home and hearts alike to the many people.

[Photo at left was glued into Grace's album and labeled in her handwriting; Mark was one of Grace's older brothers; from the Grace Snyder Swartzendruber Collection.]

Grace’s mischievous brothers got carried away in their fun one day and paid for it later.

“Vernon, you want to do something fun?” asked Paul with a sly smile spreading over his face.

“Sure...I’m bored,” replied the ever-eager Vernon. “What are you planning?”

“Follow me and I will show you,” said Paul, already climbing out his second-story bedroom window. He inched his way around the house on the narrow porch roof till he came to the teacher’s window.

“What are you going to do?” asked Vernon excited about the possibilities, yet apprehensive about the possible consequences, should they be caught.

“We’re gonna carry the teacher’s mattress to the spare room down the hall. Now be quiet, pick up the other end and follow me,” said Paul as he climbed stealthily through the window.

All of Vernon’s fears were realized that evening when the teacher retired for the night and found only the bed frame there. It was a while before the boys could sit comfortably after the spanking they received for their ingenious work and Grace didn’t let them forget the fact that they had been caught.

Life for young Grace was always fun and full. She learned household and domestic skills from her mother and older sisters. From her brothers she learned other useful skills. It was Joe who taught her to drive a car more for his own convenience than the fact that he thought that she should be adept at this activity. On their way to town via the cross country route, they would have to stop to open the gates between the various farmers’ property. As her brother opened the gates, Grace would drive through the opening. Then he would close the gate and rejoin her on the other side.

One day a visiting preacher was to arrive in Plainview six miles away. As all the men were busy with harvesting, Peter sent his youngest daughter, Grace, into town with the Model T Ford to meet the preacher. Imagine the preacher’s surprise when he was greeted by a 12-year-old girl driving the family car!

Grace grew in knowledge, both formal and informal, in stature, and in her faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord, during these remaining years spent in the Snyder Mennonite Community in the panhandle of Texas.

Chapter Three: New Beginnings

“As soon as the farm is sold and we can pack up a few of our belongings we’ll be moving to Kansas,” announced Peter to his family one night around the supper table.

Grace was not surprised at the announcement. As a matter of fact, she had been wondering how long they would remain here in Texas. Perhaps women lonely for their families and debts incurred in the land purchases coupled with droughts and prairie fires were enough to tarnish their bright dreams and aspirations. Whatever the reasons, many of the Mennonite homesteaders were packing up their belongings and moving north once more.

By the spring of 1921, the Snyder family was ready to journey northward to the Mennonite Community of Hesston, Kansas. Several of the older children had already attended the academy there, so the destination was familiar.

The trip to Hesston was eventful. While Grace’s mother and grandmother traveled by train her father accompanied the livestock and their belongings in a rented train boxcar, Grace traveled in the family car with Maude, Ruth and Paul.

The first night of the trip was a memory in the making. After bumping along the dirt roads of northern Texas the foursome arrived in Amarillo, Texas. As night approached, they decided to spend the night in a hotel. What a luxury! Even though it was sparsely furnished, the room was clean and it was a thrill for Grace to spend a night in a hotel like rich people. Had the Snyder children realized what the next night would hold for them, they would have been even more appreciative of their sleeping conditions!

As they entered Kansas the next day, they were met by extremely muddy roads. Paul had planned to arrive in Hesston well before nightfall.

“Can’t you go any faster?” questioned Grace, anxious to be done with the long, tiring trip.

“I’m going as fast as I can! You might as well get used to it ‘cause we may spend the night right here in all this mud if it doesn’t get any better,” retorted Paul. The long trip had been wearing on his nerves and patience.

As if his statement had been prophetic, the car suddenly halted. “See, what did I tell you, Grace? Looks like we may spend the night here after all.”

The mire of the road had become clogged on the wheels. The added strain on the wheels had caused the differential to break. To make matters worse in the middle of the night it began to rain again. It was impossible for Grace to get into a comfortable position in the front seat of the car, with Paul, [Grace's note: Maude & Ruth in back] and it seemed that morning would never come.

They finally arrived in Hesston the next day and were welcomed by anxious parents. The family had not yet bought a house so they were graciously boarded out with different families in the area. Grace stayed with the J. D. Charles family. Their daughter, Anna, saw to it that Grace felt at home and found her way around Hesston Academy.

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 copyright © 2007 Bonnie Snyder Smith