Biography - Jacob A. Snider

Hon. JACOB A. SNIDER, attorney at law of Bellevue, La. One of the best known names at the Bossier Parish bar, and now one of the leading and solid men of Bellevue, is Mr. Snider who was born in Albemarle County, Va., October 18, 1826. His parents, Dr. Jacob and Celia (Hart) Snider, were born in Chambersburg, Penn, and in Albemarle County, Va., May 3, 1794 and October 8, 1797, respectively. After their marriage in 1822 they removed in 1834 to Philadelphia and in 1837 to Grenada, Miss, where the father was called to his long home September 28, 1851, his widow afterward removing to Bossier Parish, where she died on December 1, 1873. The father was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, in which his wife was also a member, and for many years was a successful physician, his medical education being secured in Baltimore, Md., and academic in Dickerson College, Carlisle, Penn. He was a surgeon on board a privateer in the war between Spain and Buenos Ayres, in service of the latter in her contest for independence. His father, Jacob Snider, was 1854. They were among the ﬁrst settlers of born in Pennsylvania of parents of German descent, and died in Chambersburg, Penn., having served in the capacity of sheriff of Franklin County for some time. Andrew Hart, the mother’s father, was born near Edinburgh. Scotland. and when a young man came to the United States and until his death followed the occupation of farming and merchandising in Albemarle-County; Va. Hon. Jacob A. Snider was the third of eight children born to his parents, and his early education was received in Grenada, Miss, and in Maryville College, Tenn., his education in the law being obtained in the Transylvania Law School of Lexington, Ky., from which institution he was graduated in February, 1847. Prior to this, however, he had been admitted to the bar in Kentucky, but his ﬁrst practice was done in Grenada, Miss., where he also edited a paper from 1851 until 1855. In the latter year he was married to Cordelia Lake, who was born in Dorchester County, Md., and died in 1859 at Grenada, Miss, having borne two children, one daughter now living. His second union took place in 1871 to Mary E. Ross, a daughter of Dr. John B. Ross, who was born and died in Maryland, a Presbyterian minister of considerable prominence. Mrs. Snider was born in Albemarle County, Va., and died on December 21, 1889, having become the mother of eight children, four of whom survive her. Since 1861 Mr. Snider has resided in Bossier Parish, but has been a resident of the town of Bellevue since 1866, where he has practiced his profession with success, being one of the leading lawyers of Northwestern Louisiana. He has always been an active and prominent politician, and in 1863 was elected to the State Legislature, serving one term, at the end of which time he was re-elected and served one more term. He also served at one time as parish treasurer, and has ﬁlled other local positions of honor and trust. He was for ten years president of the Democratic parish committee, and was well and favorably known throughout the State. He was president of the convention in 1876 that nominated Gov. Nichols. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Bellevue Lodge No. 95, and has been master of the same many years.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, pages 145-146.