Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-30
Death OF Judge SNYDER

On Friday, the Gath instant, at hi,
nome In Lewisburg, Hon. Adam C
SNYDER died after an illness of abou,
SIX weeks, in the 63rd year Of his age.
Ihe death of this eminent man ha,
cast deep gloom over this communit,
where he had spent nearly the whole OF
, his business life, and to whose peopl,
. ne was endeared by both ties of kin.
dred and friendship. When frs,
stricken he was not thought seriousl,
Ill, but as time passed it became eyi.
dent that his disease was one of great
danger, but while much anxiety and
fear were felt by his physicians and
friends not until about one week before
dissolution did they realize that his
end was so near. From that time he
gradually grew worse until the end
came.
Judge Snyder was born in Highland
county, Va, on the 26th day of March,
1884, and was the son of John and
Elizabeth Snyder, who were among the
earliest settlers of that county when it
was part of Pendleton. His early
life was spent in the home of his par
ents in Crab Bottom, and his education
begun there. Later he became n stu
dent OF Messy Greek Academy, in Au-
gusta county, when that school was in
charge OF its founder, Mai. Jed. Hotch.
kiss, of Staunton. In 1854 he entered
Iuscarora Academy, Penn, and later
attended Dickinson College, Pa, and
completed his academic education at
washington College, Lexington, Va,
IN 1856. Shortly thereafter he began
the study of law with that eminent
Jurlst and teacher, Hon. j. w. Broken
borough, then Judge Of the U. S. Dis
trict Court, and under his instruction
laid the foundation of the legal educa-
ton which afterward made him famous
as advocate, counselor and Judge.
In 1859 he located in Lewisburg, and
since then practiced his profession
there save during the interval of the
war, lnterspersing the early years of
his lawyers life with some journalistic
work, which had a marked effect on
his writing in after years, impartlng to
his dlction roundness, a conciseness
and clearness which are noticeable In
every paper he prepared.
When war broke upon the country in
1861 Judge Snyder followed the for
tunes of the South, enlisting in Co. Z
OF the 9th Va. Regt., afterward part
of the Stonewall brigade" and after
several promotions was made adjutant
of his regiment, which position he held
until his capture. He was actively ell
gagged in the Valley campaign under
Gen. Joseph K. Johnston, and with the
Stonewall brigade" in the first battle
of Manassas, July 2lst, 1861, in which
battle he received a severe wound in
the side which always thereafter gave
him trouble. He was in the Romney
expedition, in the battles of Kerns-
town, Winchester, Cross-Keys, Port
Republic, and the seven days. fight
around Richmond, and later in the bat
ties of second Manassas, Antetam,
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and
Gettysburg. In 1868 he was captured
and imprisoned in the Atheneum at
Wheeling, but in 1864 was exchanged.
Broken in health by disease and the
hardships of prison life he was not
thereafter in active service.
When the war closed he again re-
sumed the practice of law at Lewis
burg and soon entered upon a lucrative
business and successful career. He
rose rapidly in the profession, not only
as painstaking, careful, energetic
lawyer, but made himself felt by the
soundness of his logic, and the breadth
Of his legal knowledge and acumen.
In 1882 so well had he become known
as profound scholar and lawyer that
upon the death of the Hon. j. +. Pat
ton, who had been appointed to the Su-
preme Court of the State by Gov. Jacob
B. Jackson to fill the unexpired term
of Judge Chas. p. T. Moore resigned,
Gov. Jackson appointed him in the
room and stead of Judge Patton
When Judge Snyder was appointed
nearly three years of Judge Patton's
term were unexpired, and in the next
succeeding election he was nominated
by the Democrats to fill that part of
the term, and elected by majority Of
more than 5000 votes over his competi-
tor. In the fail of 1884 Judge Snyder
was re-nominated and reelected for a
full term of twelve years beginning
with Jan. LIST, 1855. He did not serve
out this term, but in 1890, In order to
attend to his large private business i'll
terests which required his time and at
tention, resigned his position. During
the latter portion of his career as Judge
he was president of the Court, and dur
ing his career upon the bench won the
unbounded admiration and respect of
His opinions are regarded among the
ablest, perhaps the very ablest, ever de-
livered by the Court. Their clear,
forceful language, logical reasoning,
breadth and accurate grasp of subject,
pointed citation of authority and pre-
cedent, and the application of princi-
pies, make them an ornament to the
Reports of the State and lasting
monument to their author. He was a
laborious worker, and his splendid
common sense enabled him to meet any
question with an intrepid clearness and
grasp that were absolutely startling
His mode of dealing with all questions