Snow and Neally

The business of Snow and Nealley grew, changed, and evolved, over the past 160 years, but can be traced back to the efforts of 3 men: Charles L. Snow, Edward B. Nealley, and William P. Nealley. Charles L. Snow was born on September 24th of 1855 at Brewer, Penobscot County, Maine, to Captain George Weston Snow and Elizabeth Dutton (Savage) Snow. Edward B. Nealley was born on July 20th of 1837 at Thomaston, Knox County, Maine to Edward Saint John Nealley and Lucy Colfax (Prince) Nealley. William P. Nealley was born on July 30th of 1863 at Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine, to Edward Saint John Nealley and Sarah (Pope) Nealley. William was Edward’ s half-brother, born after the death of Lucy Nealley, when Edward Saint John Nealley had remarried to Sarah Nealley. Later notes from the company signify 1864 as the start of the businesses that led to the formation of the “Snow and Nealley Company”, a date during which E.B. Nealley was a young man of the age of 27, but one that would have found Charles Snow a 9 year old and William P. Neally as an infant of around 1 year.

Edward B. Nealley’s initial business venture in Bangor in noted in that town’s business directory as “Smith, Nealley, and Co.”. The Smith noted in that business name was Frederick H. Smith, son of William H. Smith, a local lumber dealer. The younger Smith had earlier been involved in the business of “Holmes and Smith” dealers of Chandlery (ship’s stores and goods), and “Smith, Nealley, and Co.” was noted as the successor to that business. In 1868, that business had grown substantially, and was able to purchase the stock and assets of the competitive business of “Thurston, Crosby, and Company”, of which Elbridge C. Hincks was minor partner in. During the purchase of the other company, “Smith, Nealley, and Co.” was reorganized under the name “Hincks, Smith, and Nealley”. Shortly after that re-organization occurred, a young Charles L. Snow began to work for that business, likely as a clerk. By 1871, the Bangor Directory indicates that Fredrick H. Smith had left the business, leaving the firm name simply “Hincks and Nealley”.

Around the same time, the firm of “Snow and Nealley”, or “Snow and Nealey” was noted in the Bangor Directory. However, this was a totally unrelated grocery business, formed and run by James H. Snow and Porter Nealy. This firm would sell under the name of “Snow and Nealley” until 1876, at which time the partners parted ways, leaving that business as “Nealley’s” groceries.

The business of “Hincks and Nealley” grew and was extremely profitable, allowing both partners to flourish in the early Bangor economy. Each man took up investments in different directions, though some of their business endeavors overlapped. Hincks seemed to focus on fuel sources, mainly coal and wood, whereas Nealley tended to lean toward transportation and banking. In 1887, and Edward B. Nealley’s interest lean far towards those ends, he sold the majority of his stake in “Hincks and Nealley” in order to fund other endeavors. At that time, “Hincks and Nealley” became “Hincks and Company”, and the business of “Nealley and Company” was formed. “Hincks and Company” focused on coal and wood products, while “Nealley and Co.” was noted as a ship-chandlery store under the management of Edward B. Nealley and former employee Charles L. Snow.

Over the next 3 years, the wealth of all 3 men increased as business prospered at both “Hincks and Co.” and “Nealley and Co.”. In 1890, the Bangor directory noted E. B. Nealley as a member of “Hincks and Co” and “Nealley and Co” as well as the president of Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad Company, and the president of Merchants Insurance Company. Charles L. Snow was noted as an owning member of both “Hincks and Co” and “Nealley and Co”. Along with the 2 affluent men, one of Edward B. Nealley’s half brothers, William P. Neally, had come to Bangor from Bath and was noted as a clerk in Bangor Directory. Over the next 3 years, he too would become a partner in both “Hincks and Co.” and “Nealley and Co.”

In 1894, a dynamic change occurred with the 3 men who were sharing the load of numerous similar investments. Edward B. Nealley, growing old and saturated with business and political responsibilities, sold out his portion of “Nealley & Co.”. Reports in local newspapers announced the creation of a new business and a new business partnership that was formed out of E.B. Nealley’s exit of the business. That new firm was called “Snow and Neally”. For the chandlery and dry goods business that was formed , Charles L. Snow was noted as President, as having held treasurer duties. For the duration of the century, “Snow and Nealley” would be managed in this way, with Snow at the lead and Nealley supporting.

In April of 1900, the Snow and Nealley Company announced that they would be progressing from wholesale and retail into the manufacturing business. Due to heavy sales in industrial belting for marine and land based manufacturing, as well as access to an abundance of seals, the company made plans to use seal leather to manufacture belting. The factory that was erected was located just south of Bangor at Hampden. Soon after the choice to begin manufacturing, the company also started to advertise the manufacturing of numerous other items, including cant dogs and axes in 1902. By 1910, advertisements noted the company manufacturing cant dogs, axes, pick poles, oars and paddles, and separately noted that the company continued to be wholesale and retail dealers of their traditional products, paints, oils, mill materials, cordage, and marine supplies.

Edward B Nealley died on September 20th, 1905, at Cumberland, Maine, after a long life filled with business ventures and political representation. He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine. Charles L. Snow passed away on October 21st of 1910, and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine. Snow’s passing left William P. Nealley as the last of the original influences on the “Snow & Nealley Company”, though the Bangor directory notes that he did not take over as president. In 1912 he was noted as the Treasurer, and in 1914 the Secretary of the company. Though he continued to be involved in the company, it seems to have been a secondary investment to W. P. Nealley. William P. Nealley died on September 6th of 1950 and is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine.

The Snow & Nealley Company continued to be owned and manage by descendants of the Nealley family into the 1990s. In 1984, William B. Nealley passed away and his wife Lois N. Nealley became President of the company. Her son, David Nealley, whose primary work was brokerage, eventually came to manage the company after his mother retired. In 1998, for the first time in over 100 years, the company came under the ownership of a family other than the Nealley’s. The company was sold to “South Street Inc.”, the company of Christopher Hutchins and his sons. Since that major change, the company has changed hands and manufacturing location, but continues to be a functioning business at the time of the writing of this piece.