San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JACOB P. SNYDER
One of the leading lawyers of
Stockton is Jacob P. Snyder, a native son of California and a man who has
always had the best interests of the state at heart and who has done his best
to build up and to upbuild the section of country
where he has spent the years of his useful life. Born at Murphys, Calaveras County, on
February 28, 1869, Mr. Snyder is the fourth child in the family of Peter
Snyder, pioneer of Calaveras County of 1855.
Peter Snyder was born in Germany on
September 9, 1832, the son of Louis and Mary (Steffen) Schneider. As a lad he attended the schools of his
locality and lived there until 1853, when he decided that America had more to
offer an energetic young man than could be found in his fatherland. Arriving in New York this young emigrant
located for two years in the vicinity of Utica, where he followed farming and
sawmilling. His desire was to get to
California and having saved his money, in 1855 he left the east and came to
California via the Panama route. He went
direct to the mining section at O’Neill’s Bar and he followed mining there and
at Murphys with considerable success for ten years. He then bought land and began ranching and
set out an orchard and a vineyard and was the pioneer to demonstrate that fruit
would successfully produce here. He
developed a fine orchard and vineyard and raised high grade stock and in time
became a substantial citizen of this part of the state. In 1860 he was married to Miss Barbara Hauselt, born in Germany, and they became the parents of
the following children: Lewis, now
deceased, was a prominent citizen of Stockton where he served as a deputy
street commissioner and as a member of the city council. He left a son, Edwin, who is connected with a
prominent architectural firm in Los Angeles.
John J. is also deceased. He was
formerly district attorney of Calaveras County.
Mary married Gus Castrucci and lives at
Murphys. Jacob P. is the subject of this
review. Anna is Mrs. Alfonse Raggio of
San Andreas. Charles P. is district
attorney of Calaveras County and also a partner in the law firm of Snyder and
Snyder in Stockton. Will G. is an
attorney and was formerly district attorney of Amador County. George F. is connected with the well-known
law firm of Hoefler, Cook & Snyder in San
Francisco. He was formerly a member of
the legislature from Calaveras, Amador, Alpine and Mono counties, elected in
1906. Louisa C. Snyder is the youngest
and also a resident of San Francisco. It
will be seen that the sons in this family have been prominent in political life
in this section of California, four having served in the responsible position
of district attorney in Calaveras and Amador counties, a record unequaled thus
far in the state; and one was elected to the state law-making body and served
his term with honors.
Peter Snyder passed away at Murphys
October 6, 1911, and Mrs. Snyder on September 29,
1912. In the later years of his life the
father of Peter Snyder came to California and spent his last years, dying in
Stockton when in his eighty-fourth year.
A daughter of Louis Schneider (as the name was originally spelled until
Peter Snyder made application for his first citizenship papers in New York,
when it was shortened to its present spelling), Mrs. Anna Meyers, died in
Stockton about 1917, and a son named Jacob also died here in 1912. The two, with Peter, were the only members of
the family to settle in the Golden State and it was with these three children
that Louis Schneider spent his last years in the balmy climate of this state.
Jacob P. Snyder received his
schooling in Calaveras County and at an early age came to Stockton and studied
law in the office of Louttit, Woods and Levinsky, being admitted to practice in 1891. He followed his profession in Stockton and
Calaveras County and served as district attorney of his native county for one
term. He came to Stockton and opened an
office for the continuance of his practice and has an associate, his brother,
Charles P. Snyder. Mr. Snyder takes an
active interest in all that pertains to the advancement of the county and city
and is ever ready to lend his aid to further civic, social and commercial
interests of Stockton.
The marriage of Mr. Snyder to Miss
Elvira G. Salcido, a native of California, born at
San Andreas, daughter of a pioneer settler of Calaveras County, was solemnized
in San Andreas, and two children have added joy to their household: Ruth is a teacher in the Stockton public
schools; and Peter L. is attending the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Snyder belongs to Calaveras Lodge No. 87,
F. & A. M., of San Andreas; Calaveras Chapter R. A. M., and Stockton
Commandery No 8, K. T.; Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E.; and the San
Andreas Lodge of Odd Fellows. Mr. Snyder
has a host of friends in Stockton and San Joaquin County who recognize in him a
thorough student of the law and accord him a high place among the citizens of
central California.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
804-807. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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