James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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paper from 1900 till 1903. In the last-named year the Register and the Harrisonburg Daily News were taken under the management of the newly organized News-Register Company, of which Mr. Snyder was president. He was also editor-in-chief of the Daily News, as well as of the Register, until his death. A keen and discriminating student of public affairs, sane in judgment, progressive in spirit, and moved by lofty ideals, he gave the service of his vigorous and facile pen to every worthy cause that came from time to time before the community and the Commonwealth. To mention only one instance, when the question of establishing a normal school was before the Virginia legislature two years ago, he not only gave the pro- ject telling support through the columns of his papers, but he also made a trip to Richmond in behalf of the measure, contributing to the support of the bill the weight of his personal influence. The establishment of the Normal at Harrisonburg was due in no small measure to his exertions. Being appointed one of the original trustees, he gave valuable, assistance in the planning and organization of the school, and served as secretary of the Board till his death. In June, 1896, Mr. Snyder was elected Recorder for the town of Harrisonburg, in which capacity he served the public with his accustomed faithfulness and efficiency. He held no other office in city or State until his election in November, 1909, as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Rockingham County. That he was prevented by failing health from going to Richmond to assume the duties of his position there, was a keen disappointment to him as well as to his many friends; for he was generally recognized as one of the ablest men elected to that body in recent years. His public spirit and usefulness as a citizen appear in all the foregoing record, together with the fact that, in addition to what has already been noted, he was at the time of his death president of the Harri- sonburg School Board and a trustee and deacon, as well as the organist and choir director, of the Muhlenberg Lutheran Church. On November 26, 1890, Mr. Snyder married Miss Anne Wierman of Shenandoah County, Virginia, who survives him, together with two sons, Fred and Paul, and two daughters, Katherine and Anne. Requiescat in pace! When all is said, and the honor due is done to the editor, the business man, the educator, and the citizen, we shall still remember him as the man he was and the friend he proved himself to be. We shall remember him and love him. — John W. Wayland.

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linriraplitral krtrli • . V ADOLPH HELLER .SNYDER was born in the historic town of Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia, on the 22d of October, 1863. His father, Rev. J. A. Snyder, D. D., still living at a venerable age, was a prominent minister of the Lutheran Church; his mother, Theresa Heller Snyder, a young woman of lovable character, died on the day of his birth — her own twentieth birthday- Until the age of eight he lived in Woodstock with his grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hel- ler ; the next four years were spent in New Market, another historic town of Shenandoah County, where his father was pastor of St. Matthews Church. At the age of twelve he was sent to school in Staunton, where he remained two years, receiving instruction at the hands of Rev. J. I. Miller and a Professor Ide — the latter an expert teacher of music. From 1878 to 1882 he was a student under the famous teacher, Joseph Salyards, in the New Market Polytechnic Institute, graduating from that school in May, 1882. One year later he graduated from Roanoke College, where, during the succeeding year, he was an instructor. In the fall of 1884 he entered the Mt. Airy Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, with a view to entering the gospel ministry; but, suffering from a weakness of the throat, he followed the advice of his physicians, and abandoned this purpose. After a winter spent in teaching at Wichita, Kansas, and a brief sojourn in other parts of the West, he returned to Virginia, and entered upon his distinguished career as an editor and journalist. First at Strasburg, then at his native town of Woodstock, and finally at Harrisonburg, he gave his versatile talents to the work of civic, social, and educational uplift and progress, through the medium of the public press. Mr. Snyder located at Strasburg in the spring of 1886, and there became the editor and owner of the Strasburg (weekly) News. At the end of a year he effected the consolidation of the News and the Virginian, the latter being a weekly published at Woodstock. He then became the editor of the Virginian and News, published at Woodstock, and continued work in this capacity until September, 1889, when he came to Harrison- burg, where he became an associate of the late Giles Devier in the publi- cation of the Rockingham Register. From 1889 until his death, January 18, 1910, he was editor of the Register, and was individual owner of the

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