He was the son of Richard F. Sneed and his wife Sarah Jane Findley.

He toured doing Vaudeville with his brother John.

He married 5 Jan 1908 Lone Jack, Jackson Co., MO, to Ella Boggs [b. Oct 1889, MO; daughter of John B. & Mary A. Boggs].

By 1910, they had two daughters and Joe's elderly uncle James was living with them:

1910 Jackson Co., MO, Van Buren Twp., p. 300
Joseph R. Sneed, 35, m1 of 2 yrs, MO VA MO
Ella A., 21, 2 chdn; 2 living, MO MO MO
Dorothy N., 1 & 6 mos, MO MO MO
Unnamed daughter, 3 mos, MO MO MO
James Sneed, 83, widowed uncle, VA VA VA

1920 census,

1930 census, Van Buren, Jackson, Missouri
Joseph R Sneed Head M 55 Missouri
Ella A Sneed Wife F 39 Missouri
Maybelle V Sneed Daughter F 20 Missouri
Joseph F Sneed Son M 18 Missouri

1940 census, Monegaw Springs, Osage Township, St. Clair, Missouri
Joseph R. Sneed, 65, married, MO; 1935 had been living in Kansas City, MO

1940 census, Van Buren Township, Jackson, Jackson, Missouri
Ella Sneed Head F 50 Missouri
May Bell Sneed Daughter F 30 Missouri
Joe F Sneed Son M 28 Missouri

He died 12 Jan 1943, Monegaw Springs, St. Clair Co., MO, age 67, after having suffered from tuberculosis for ten years. He had lived in Monegaw Springs for four years at time of death, a retired merchant. According to his death certificate, he was taken back to be buried in Lone Jack Cemetery, Lone Jack, Jackson Co., MO, in the family plot.

Ella survived him.

Children:

1. Dorothy Nell Sneed, b. 1918, Jackson Co., MO; m. George Sechrist.

2. Maybelle V. Sneed, b. 1920, Jackson Co., MO; m. Earl Chaffin.

3. Joseph F. Sneed, b. 7 Jan 1912, Jackson Co., MO; m. 25 Mar 1944, Olathe, Johnson Co., KS to Amy Louise Simon; he d. 10 Jun 1973; buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Cass Co., MO. No children.