Grace Snyder facts for kids

Grace Bell McCance Snyder (born April 23, 1882 – died December 8, 1982) was an amazing American quilter. She was also a pioneer who lived to be 100 years old! Her life story is shared in the books No Time on My Hands and Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie.

Grace Snyder's Life Story

Grace's Early Life

Grace McCance moved to Nebraska with her family in 1885. They were pioneers and built a home called a sod house in Custer County. A sod house was made from blocks of earth and grass, like bricks! Grace had nine brothers and sisters. Even as a young child, she started making quilt blocks while she watched the family's cows.

Growing Up and Quilting

In 1903, Grace McCance married Bert Snyder. They lived on a ranch about 40 miles (70 km) northwest of North Platte. There, they raised their four children: Nellie Snyder Yost, Miles, Billie, and Bertie.

Life on the ranch was often quiet and far from towns. This gave Grace plenty of time to work on her quilting. She became very well known across the country for how skilled and detailed her quilts were.

A Recognized Quilter

Grace Snyder's amazing talent was recognized by many. In 1980, she was added to the Congress of Quilters Hall of Fame in Arlington, Virginia. Later, in 1986, she was also inducted into the Nebraska Quilters Hall of Fame.

Grace lived a very long life, reaching 100 years old! She passed away in 1982 and is buried in the North Platte Cemetery in North Platte, Nebraska.

Books About Grace Snyder

Grace McCance Snyder's own memories are shared in her book, No Time On My Hands. She told her story to her daughter, Nellie Snyder Yost, who helped write it down.

Her life is also told in a children's book called Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie. This book was written by Andrea Warren and published in 1998. It helps young readers learn about what it was like to grow up as a pioneer.