OBIT: John Buell SNYDER, 1946, native of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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JOHN BUELL SNYDER

Sudden Death of Congressman Snyder An Occasion for National Mourning

Representative of 23rd Pennsylvania District Found Dead in Bed in a Pittsburgh 
Hotel Last Sunday Afternoon - Had Been Ailing for Several Years - His Death 
Attributed to the Strain of Over Work in the Public Service.

  Congressman J. Buell Snyder was found in bed at the Seventh Avenue Hotel, 
Pittsburgh, last Sunday afternoon, just two days after he announced that he 
would not seek re-election for another term, as it was his intention to retire 
from public service at the expiration of his seventh term in Congress, Jan. 3, 
1947, in order to conserve his health.
  Mr. Snyder registered at the Seventh Ave. Hotel at 10 p.m. Saturday, shortly 
after his arrival in Pittsburgh from Washington, accompanied by his wife, who 
was met there by her sister, Mrs. Howard Pressler of Hollidaysburg.  The two 
sisters went from Pittsburgh to Slippery Rock Teachers' College to attend a 
class play in which a niece of theirs had a prominent part.  Mr. Snyder excused 
himself from accompanying his wife and sister-in-law to Slippery Rock because he 
preferred to stay at the hotel to rest.
  Mrs. Snyder accompanied her sister to her home in Hollidaysburg from Slippery 
Rock to spend Sunday there while Mr. Snyder remained in Pittsburgh intending to 
rest there until Monday when he had a business appointment in Uniontown to 
attend to before returning to Washington.
  Mr. Snyder retired to his room soon after arriving at the hotel.  When the 
hotel management on Sunday had failed to notice that he had left his room at any 
time since he retired Saturday night, an investigation was made and an employee 
of the hotel found him dead in bed when he opened the door of his room after 
failing to get an answer when he rapped on the door.
  Coronor McClelland of Pittsburgh who was called and made an investigation 
reported that the congressman apparently had succumbed to a heart attack some 
time after he had gone to bed, and that an autopsy would not be held.
  
Health Had Been Failing

  Mr. Snyder's health had been failing for some time.  Several weeks ago while 
in Somerset he called on his close personal and political friend, U. S. District 
Attorney Charles F. Uhl, whom he informed that he did not intend to run for re-
election this year, owing to his failing health.  Mr. Uhl and others who saw him 
at that time were shocked by his feeble appearance which was in marked contrast 
with his erstwhile bouyant and vigorous self.  He told Mr. Uhl that he had been 
a patient in the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington several times in the last 
two years and that physicians there had told him that the burdens of public life 
were too heavy for him, and he would die if he continued in Congress.
  Mr. Uhl received news of Mr. Snyder's death at his home in Somerset soon after 
his dead body was found in his hotel room.  Pittsburgh authorities contacted Mr. 
Uhl by telephone and asked him to break the sad news to Mrs. Snyder at her 
sister's home in Hollidaysburg, which Mr. Uhl did by telephone.
  The deceased congressman's body was sent to his home at Perryopolis, where he 
had maintained his place of residence for 40 years, since he went there as 
principal of the high school in 1906, and where the funeral services were held 
at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday.
  
Native of Somerset County

  John Buell Snyder was born July 30, 1879, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah and 
Josephine (Zufall) Snyder, on his father's farm in Upper Turkeyfoot Twp., 
Somerset County.  He attended the township schools, received a normal school 
certificate and started teaching.  After a few years of teaching in the Dwire 
school district, near Markleton, he acquired sufficient funds to take a course 
at Lock Haven State Normal School, from which in due time he was graduated.  He 
also attended summer sessions at Harvard and Columbia Universities.
  From 1901 to 1906 he taught schools in Stoystown, Rockwood and Berlin, mostly 
as principal.  In 1906 he was called to Fayette County to become principal of 
the first Union Township high school in Western Pennsylvania, at Perryopolis.
  After six years as principal there he gave up his teaching career and in 1912, 
became district sales manager for the McCillian educational publishing house, in 
Western Pennsylvania.  He continued to serve in that position until he was 
elected to Congress from the 23rd Pennsylvania District in 1932.  
  Through his encouragement and sponsorship the Pennsylvania Forensic and Music 
League was organized betwen 1925 and 1929 and he became known as that 
organization's founder.

Close Friend of F. D. R.

  Sonn after being elected to Congress, he became a close personal friend of the 
late President Roosevelt and the late Harry L. Hopkins.  Unlike most congressmen 
he held membership in only one committee, but that was the vital Military 
Appropriations committee of which he was chairman for 10 years.
  In 1937 he was co-author with Sen. Joseph F. Guffey of the Guffey-Snyder 
Bituminous Coal Act, one of the foremost New Deal legislative acts.  During his 
seven terms in Congress, Mr. Snyder obtained federal funds for the construction 
of the Youghiogheny flood control dam near Confluence and the development of the 
federal park project near Trent, Somerset County; also for the erection of 
postoffice buildings in Somerset, Meyersdale and other towns in the 23rd 
congressional district, and the $8,000,000 flood control project at Johnstown.
  As chairman of the military appropriations committee, he was prominent in the 
nation's defense program and advocated a large air force.  In Congress he also 
was known as the "father" of the transcontinental super-highways system which, 
however, he did not live to see realized.
  
Surviving Relatives

  Mr. Snyder was twice married.  His first wife, Mrs. Florabel Bishop of 
Perryopolis, bore him a daughter, Mrs. Zed Francis, Jr.  Her husband is a son of 
a Uniontown merchant.  Their home is in Tucson, Arizona.  Mrs. Francis was 
paying her father and step-mother, a visit in Washington when she received the 
news of her father's death.  The first Mrs. Snyder died 32 years ago.  
  The second Mrs. Snyder was Miss Marian Belcher, of Altoona, who like her 
husband had been a school teacher.  They were married 18 years ago.
  Also surviving are three sisters: Mrs. Elmer Leapheart of Rockwood; Mrs. Elias 
Leaphart of Somerset, R.D.. and Mrs. Jennie Tressler of Meyersdale, and one 
brother, Jacob P. Snyder, Johnstown.  Two brothers and two sisters preceded him 
in death, and all, like their father and mother, died suddenly.

Congress Adjourned in Respect to Deceased Member

  In Washington the House of Representatives adjourned immediately after meeting 
at noon Monday as a mark of respect to the late congressman.  
  House Majority Leader McCormack (D-Mass.) said Snyder "was one of the finest 
characters I've ever met.  He was a great legislator and a great American."
  House Minority Leader Martin (R-Mass.) said "unquestionably Mr. Snyder's death 
was due to the tremendous work he did in helping the war effort as chairman of 
the War Department appropriations subcommittee.  He was a great man and a good 
man."
  Sen. Guffey (D-Pa.) said "Snyder's death is a great shock."
  "In his passing the Pennsylvania delegation in Congress is materially 
weakened.  He was a good student in public affairs and devoted to his task.  He 
rose to a position of power and influence in the House and served his country 
well."
  Secretary of War Patterson declared: "Snyder's service in the House as head of 
the committee on military appropriations was a great factor in our victory.  He 
was a tower of strength.  His death is a loss to the nation and a great sorrow 
to me personally."

Provided Funds for Atomic Bomb

  Advised of Mr. Snyder's death in Pittsburgh, Maj. Gen. Leslie H. Groves paid 
tribute to the late congressman for securing funds for the atomic bomb.  He 
said: "Mr. Snyder showed a great deal of courage in making available the 
appropriations for the bomb despite the limited amount of information we were 
able to give him.  He knew full well in those days, as we did, that the bomb was 
not a sure thing."
  Atomic bomb funds subsequently were included in appropriation bills under a 
variety of camouflaged items.

Praised by Governor Martin

  Governor Edward Martin said he looked upon the late Rep. J. Buell Snyder as a 
close friend.
  "I am shocked to hear of the death of Congressman Snyder," said the Governor."
  "He visited with me only a few days ago.  He had been very helpful to me in my 
dealings on military affairs with the federal government.
  I have lost a very close friend." 

Successor to Be Elected

  Governor Martin has the authority to issue a call for a special election in 
the event of the death or resignation of a congressman.  In this case he will 
probably follow the same procedure carried out when Congressman Samuel Weiss 
resigned in January, and set the special election for May 21.
  The special election will fill the vacancy for the life of the present 
Congress, with the winner serving until the new Congress convenes in January, 
1947.
  Democratic and Republican candidates for the post must be named at the primary 
election, May 21, and another election in November will select a representative 
from the district for the next two years.

Meyersdale Republican, February 28, 1946