The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-03-11

0AmS4N ON OGH.
governor under the Constitution OF ITO, Dec.
emoer 20 1908, to December 10. 1917.
tie was born at Lancaster, ON the
9th OF November. 1859. His father
Anthony Sny der, was respectable
mechanic, who came to America
from the Palatinate, in 1853 His
mother, whose maiden name was
Enippenberg, was born near On.
penheim, Germany. OF five children,
the offspring of this marriage, Simon
was the fourth. The father died in
l7A. and two years after, the son,
then at the age OF seventeen, remov.
ed from Lancaster to the town of
York, in the adjoining county, where
he remained for eight years. Here
he learned the business of a tanner
and currier, serving faithfully an ap.
premiership Of four years, without
being bound BY any indenture or
written agreement, evincing thus
early steadfsstness of char.
actsr, and a faith that WAS suspic-
ious. Alta night school, kept by
John Jones, Q worthy member of
the Socirty Of Friends, he was taught
reading, writing, and arithmetic,
and made some progress in higher
mathematics. His industry at this
period was very great, and often at
the midnight hour. after q hard
days work, he was still at his books.
and his Sundays wsFs usually devot-
ed to study.
IN July, 1874, he removed 10 Se-
iinsgrovs; I thsn Northuniosfss1d
County, since Union. now Snyder,
the two latter having been success.
sively erected out of territory of the
former. and the last having been
named in honor of that then name
less young man. Here he opened a
store, and became the owner of a
mill. BY his good sense and excel
lent business habits, he soon acquir.
ed influence with his fellow msn,
and was often consulted in ques-
tions of difficulty. He had acquired
a knowledge of the simple legal
forms, and was frequently employ
ed as a scrivener. Quiet and unas-
suming in department, he was still
ever ready to interest himself in be-
half OF the poor and those in dis
tress. Recognizing his admirable
fitness for the position, he was final
ly elected unanimously by the free
holders of a large district, Justice
of the Peace, and for twelve years
continued to of1iciate with great ac-
ceptablity. SO universally were his
decisions respected that no appeal
was ever made from any Judgment
of his to the Court of Common
Pleas, and but single writ of GER
tiorari was sued out in all that time,
though the inhabitants were of that
restless class which are always in the
lead in the tide of civilization. In
the numerous actions brought be-
fore him for petty criminal offences,
his efforts to reconcile the contend
ing parties so generally prevailed,
that he made return to the court of
but two recognizances.
In 1897. he was elected a member
of the House of Representatives, of
which body, in 1902, he was chosen
Speaker. The duties of this office,
he was enabled, by his ready men,
ory and strong native sense. to dis
charge with great acceptability.
He continued to be elected to the
House and to be annually selected
at it's Speaker until 1903, when he
was again nominated for Governor,
the opposite party being led by
James Ross, Of Pittsburg, man of
the greatest respectability and emil
nence. The result was the election
of Snyder by majority of over
twenty-four thousand votes. He
was reelected in 1911, and again in
1914, by overwhelming maiorities,
serving the full constitutional period
OF nine years.
Upon retiring from the Office OF