For seventeen years, the Miller family owned and lived inside the Dobbin’s House. Two of their children were born within the house, but times were tough, and General Thomas Craig Miller sold the house. The next head of household for the Dobbin’s was that of Conrad Snyder. He and his wife, Sarah Benner, would own the house for the next eighteen years. They owned another property down the road called the Wagon Hotel, which is located at the intersection just south of the Jennie Wade House. The Snyder family lived with their children within the Wagon Hotel, and rented out the Dobbin’s House.
John L. Zeigler
At this time, the borough of Gettysburg had a few blacksmiths. One of them was a gentleman named John Zeigler. He and his wife Elvira and their five children would rent out the Dobbin’s House. Hardship came to the Snyder family though. Conrad died in 1860, and his second wife, Catharine continued to own the house. However, that would change right before the start of the Civil War to the next owner. John would continue to work as a blacksmith until he enlisted for the Union as part of the 87th Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1861. His family would continue to rent out the Dobbin’s House throughout the war.