A. V. R. Syder
Submitted by:  Lynn Mack
 
A. V. R. SNYDER, the efficient treasurer of Polk county, is also
engaged in the fire insurance business at Dallas and is managing the
financial affairs of the county with the same care displayed in the
control of his individual interests.  He has filled other positions of
public trust and over the record of his public career there falls no
shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.  He was born in Milford,
Illinois, April 16, 1852, and is a son of James P. and Sarah E.
(BRAYTON) SNYDER, the former a native of New York and the latter of
Ohio.  In an early day the father became a resident of Illinois and in
1856 started across the plains to California, but was never heard from
afterward and it is supposed that he met death in the Mountain Meadow
massacre in Utah.  The mother continued a resident of Illinois until
her demise in 1909.
 
A.V.R. SNYDER was reared in Illinois, attending the public schools of
Oregon, that state, and later becoming a student at the Mount Morris
Seminary.  After completing his studies he learned the printer's trade
at Oregon, beginning his apprenticeship in 1867, and for several years
continued to follow the trade in various places.  On the 24th of July,
1872, he arrived at McMinnville, Oregon, where, in association with
his brother, he founded the Yamhill County Reporter, which they
conducted until 1885, and then sold the plant and went to Astoria,
where they purchased the Gateway Herald, continuing its publication
until 1889, again selling out and removing to Dallas, Polk county,
where Mr. SNYDER of this review obtained employment in the office of
the Observer, with which he was connected for a time, subsequently
establishing the Valley Transcript.  For four years he conducted his
interests at Dallas, at the end of which time he moved the plant to
McMinnville and issued the publication at that city until 1901, when
he was appointed collector of customs at Wrangle, Alaska, serving in
that position until 1902.  He resigned to accept the appointment of
the United States commissioner, occupying that office for eight years,
or until 1910, when he returned to Dallas and engaged in the fire
insurance business, in which he still continues.  He has closely
studied every detail of the business and is most successfully managing
his interests, writing a large amount of insurance annually.  In 1916
he was elected county treasurer of Polk county and his excellent
record in that office led to his reelection without an opposing
candidate at the close of his term in 1919.  He is discharging his
duties with promptness and fidelity and is proving a faithful
custodian of the public funds.
 
In November, 1874, Mr. SNYDER was united in marriage to Miss Laura B.
ROWELL and they have become the parents of seven children, namely:
George C. L., a resident of Portland; Sarah E., the wife of W. C. COOK
of McMinnville; Jennie A., who married T. J. WARREN, also a resident
of McMinnville; Frank E., who is living in Seattle, Washington; A.
Claire, residing in McMinnville, Oregon; Pauline, the wife of H. C.
LOWE of Seattle; and William C., who makes his home in Tulare,
California.
 
In his political views Mr. SNYDER is a republican and has been called
upon to fill various public offices of honor and trust.  While
residing at McMinnville he served for two years as city recorder and
for six years filled that position at Dallas.  For four consecutive
sessions he was assistant chief clerk of the state legislature, his
work being performed most systematically and accurately.  His
fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias and the Dramatic
Order of the Knights of Khorassan, his membership being in Abd Uhl
Atef Temple of Portland.  He also belongs to Friendship Lodge, N. 6,
I.O.O.F., to La Creole Encampment at Dallas, and is likewise a member
of Elmira Lodge, No. 26, of the Rebekahs, and a member of McMinnville,
Oregon, Lodge No. 1283, B. P.O.E.  The family attend the Episcopal
church and their lives are guided by its teachings.  He has displayed
rare qualities as a public official and is held in equally high regard
in the various connections in which he is found, his labors at all
time being attended by results that are far-reaching and beneficial.
 
History of Oregon, Biographical, Vol. II, The Pioneer Historical
Publishing Company, 1922,  Pages 177-178
 
 
 

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