Sonoma-San Francisco-Monterey County CA Archives Biographies.....Snyder, Jacob R. 1812 - 1878
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Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Snyder, Jacob R. (deceased.) The subject of this sketch was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the year 1812. During the memorable struggle of
that year his father, John Snyder, carried on the business of a flour merchant,
but the British squadron in the Chesapeake having captured three cargoes of his
flour while bound from Philadelphia to Baltimore, he was unable to meet his
liabilities, and consequently became bankrupt Shortly after the close of the war
he turned his attention, with renewed energy, to brickmaking, a business he
successfully followed up till the day of his death. John Snyder was no ordinary
man. Taking for his motto that of the philosophical Franklin, that a trade was a
fortune to its possessor, and having experienced in his more youthful days the
wisdom of the sage's maxim, he brought up each of his sons to some useful branch
of mechanical labor, earnestly exhorting them to have a laudable ambition, each
to excel in his particular business. At an early age, Jacob R. Snyder was
apprenticed to a house carpenter, but his foresight soon induced him to cast a
longing eye to the beautiful West, and during his probation he matured a plan
for emigrating to the land of his ardent desire. In the year 1834 we find him
settling on the banks of the Ohio river, where the present town of Albany,
Indiana, now stands, but which was then an almost unbroken forest. Here he
remained for some time, but being thoroughly imbued with that restless spirit of
enterprise so essentially American, in 1845 he determined to remove to
California. In pursuance of this project, in company with nine others he
proceeded to Independence, from whence, after having made the necessary
preparation for so arduous a journey, he finally started for California. Having
suffered incredible hardships, the little band separated on reaching Johnson's
Ranch, on Bear river, on September 23, 1845, Mr. Snyder continuing his travels
till he reached San Francisco, where he remained some time. At this juncture,
the Californians manifested a strong desire to resist the tide of immigration
that now commenced to flow in from the United States, and to drive out those who
already occupied the country. Mr. Snyder, therefore, in 1846, organized an
expedition to meet the opposition of the natives, and applied to the Governor
for a grant of land, with the view of building a fort for the protection of
immigrants. The Governor, however, being somewhat suspicious of the designs of
the Americans, and fearing their restless energy, refused to make the grant. Mr.
Snyder subsequently joined Colonel Fremont's expedition at Monterey, and from
his knowledge of the country and his acquaintance with the manners of the
people, he was of essential service in bringing that expedition to a successful
issue. He was connected with military affairs for some time, being commissioned
as Quartermaster of Fremont's California Battalion, an office he held until the
conclusion of the Mexican war, when he was appointed by Governor Mason
Surveyor-General of the Middle Department of California.In the exercise of the
arduous duties attached to this office he acquired the esteem and confidence of
the people, and resigned it, amid universal regret, to enter into business in
Sacramento. In 1849 he was chosen a Delegate to the Convention called by
Governor Riley for the formation of a Constitution, His firm and decided course,
his clear and pertinent suggestions, and above all his manifest desire to
honestly serve the interests of the people, and faithfully perform his duty,
independent of party trammels, again acquired for him universal applause. In
1851 Mr. Snyder received the Senatorial nomination from the city of San
Francisco, and was elected by a large majority. While their Senator he did much
excellent work. In the previous year he had become a member of the well known
banking firm of James King & Co., and in 1853 he was appointed, by President
Pierce, United States Assistant Treasurer at San Francisco, a responsible
position which he held with much credit during the Presidential terms of
Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. In 1862, he retired from the cares of office
to live in his beautiful residence in Sonoma valley, where he passed the
remainder of his days, and died on April 29, 1878, much revered and respected by
all who knew him. In his long life of usefulness no one perhaps had died leaving
behind so long a record of California experiences; few lives were so varied as
his was, a» he passed through the varied phases from a lumber merchant when
first coming to the country to the Presidentship of the Wine Growers Association
of the State, which post he filled shortly before his demise. As soldier or
civilian he ever did his duty, and his memory to-day is fresh and green as his
favorite valley of Sonoma. Mr. Snyder married, in 1850, Miss Susan H. Brayton,
of Massachusetts, who died June 20, 1871; and secondly, Rachel J., daughter of
Franklin Sears, of Sonoma, on April 20, 1874.

Additional Comments:
Sonoma Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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