Sniffen, Nathaniel

Born: 1778-XX-XX New York

Died: 1866-03-XX Westchester County, New York

Flourished:

Nathaniel Sniffen was a farmer and landowner and father-in-law of Lemuel Harris. In 1850, Sniffen was living and farming in North Castle, New York, and owned real property valued at $7,000. In 1855, Sniffin sued Harris over a land purchase, retaining Abraham Lincoln as his lawyer. Sniffen had given Harris the money to buy 230 acres of land and obtain a title in Sniffen’s name. However, Harris used the money to purchase the land in his own name. Sniffen sued to convey the land and the case continued for several years before being dismissed by the court in 1862. In 1860, Sniffen owned real property valued at $8,000 and had a personal estate of $10,000.

U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), North Castle, Westchester County, NY, 71; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), North Castle, Westchester County, IL, 29; Sniffen v. Harris, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=137498; Gravestone, Old Quaker Burial Ground, Westchester County, NY.