BIOGRAPHY:Garrett Z. Snider; Monsey, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895


GARRETT Z. SNIDER, a well known attorney-at-law and influential citizen of
Nyack, was born in Monsey, Rockland County, August 24, 1856, being the son of
Jacob and Rachel (Zabriskie) Snider. It is a noteworthy fact that Garrett Z.,
his father, and paternal grandmother, Bridget De Baun, were born in the same
house on a farm at Monsey. The latter's father, Jacob De Baun, had settled
upon that homestead in 1788, and it is still in the family, being now owned by
our subject. The De Baun family is one of the most ancient in the United
States, whither they came in 1690, being French-Huguenot refugees. They first
made settlement in Hackensack, N. J., but later Jacob's father, Abraham, moved
to Rockland County, settling on the old post-road leading from Suffern to
Stony Point. During the War of the Revolution he was driven from his home by
the Tories and went back to New Jersey, but his children returned to Rockland
County after the war. The founder of the Snider family in America was John G.
Snider, who came hither from Germany. His son George accompanied him here and
settled in Rockland County, where he married Bridget De Baun. Their son Jacob
was a civil engineer and surveyor, and laid out a number of villages.
Politically he was a Republican, which was the faith of his forefathers on the
paternal side, while the De Bauns were Democrats. Among the positions he
filled was that of Town Supervisor. His membership was in the Saddle River
Dutch Re-formed Church, just across the line in New Jersey, to which the De
Banns had belonged one hundred years before. He was a leading man in the
congregation, a member of the classis, and an Elder in the church. He died in
Spring Valley, town of Ramapo, in 1892, at the age of sixty-seven, and was
buried in the Saddle River Churchyard. His wife, who was a native of Bergen
County, N. J., passed away in 1894, aged seventy-five. Their family consisted
of Garrett Z. and three daughters, namely: Anna; Brejetta, who married Dr.
Lamb, a dentist at Palmyra, N. J.; and Katey, a teacher in the Tarrytown
public schools.

In boyhood our subject attended the common schools and Spring Valley Academy,
after which he remained for a time with Dr. Zabriskie, a relative, at Suffern.
In the fall of 1873 he entered Rutgers College, at New Brunswick, N. J., from
which the was graduated in 1877, receiving the degree of A. B. He was awarded
first honors in his class, and delivered the Latin salutatory on commencement
day. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him later. For one year after
graduating he was Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the National
Association, Y. M. C. A., general office in New York City. He then entered the
law office of Judge A. E. Suffern at Haverstraw, where he remained until his
admission to the Bar in May, 188o, at the general term of court in
Poughkeepsie. After commencing in practice he remained with Judge Suffern
until that gentleman closed his office on account of failing health.

From 1881 until 1886 Mr. Snider engaged in practice at Spring Valley, from
which place he came to Nyack, and here he has since conducted a general
practice. In 1887 he was elected District Attorney upon the Republican ticket,
and served in that capacity until 1890, when he resumed his private practice.
The most important case in which he was interested, and which, in fact, was
the most important will case ever tried in Rockland County, was the contesting
of the will of a colored man, Edward D. Hesdra. The estate was valued at
$125,000, and Mr.Snider, as attorney for the executor, stood alone, having
opposed to him some of the ablest attorneys in the state. The case was taken
to the Court of Appeals, and after a litigation of three years the validity of
the will was established. The decision resulted in the total breaking down of
some of the contestants and legal talent, and also established the reputation
of Mr. Snider as a lawyer of keen perception and acute intellect. The argument
in the Court of Appeals was made by him and McFarland, the famous New York
City attorney.

June 28, 1882, Mr. Snider married Miss Jennie, daughter of John Noble, of New
York City. Their children are Irma, Girvan, Noble and Cyril. Mr. Snider is
connected with the Dutch Reformed Church. He is a member of the Rock-land
County Historical Society and its Secretary. Socially he is Past Master of
Rockland Lodge, F. & A. M., and is also identified with Rockland Chapter at
Nyack, Morton Commandery, and Mecca Temple, New York City.