Although he is a very young man to have had much of a public career, George W. Snyder, the present sheriff of Schoharie county, has played a prominent part on the political stage of this section for several years past. Not only has he held important elective and appointive offices, but he has participated in the councils of the democratic party in this county as well and is considered a force to be reckoned with in any political contest. He is a native of this county, his birth having occurred in Gallupville, May 22, 1888, and is the son of Dr. Olin A. Snyder, who has been practicing his profession as a physician in Schoharie for the past thirty years. His father is well known in political circles here, also, having served for several terms as county treasurer and as deputy revenue collector. Dr. Snyder is health officer in Schoharie and has held that office for a good many years in addition to caring for his private practice and acting in other official capacities. George W. Snyder's mother was Miss Della Wheeler before her marriage. Both she and her husband are natives of Middleburg, Schoharie county.
George W. Snyder was reared in Schoharie, where he obtained his education in the local schools and later he took a commercial course in the Albany Business College. At the age of nineteen he started out for himself in life by entering the milling business in Schoharie. Subsequently he sold out his interests in this business to go with he Buick Motor Car Company of Flint, Michigan, as a racer. The young man remained in this line of work for only a year or so, however, and later returned to his home town. In 1916 he was appointed postmaster of Schoharie by the late Woodrow Wilson who was then president, and held this office for six years. In November, 1923, he ran for the office of sheriff of Schoharie county, as the democratic candidate and was notably successful in winning the election. In fact, he ran a thousand votes ahead of his ticket in the contest. Prior to this time he had been school director here for five years, the youngest man ever chosen to fill this office in the history of Schoharie county. Mr. Snyder holds a similar record in respect to the postmastership here, for he was the youngest postmaster to serve in the county. In addition to discharging the duties pertaining to the sheriff's office Mr. Snyder finds time to serve admirably on the village board of trustees, of which he is a member.
On the 30th of June, 1909, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Jennie Mix, daughter of Frank and Charlotte (Schaeffer) Mix, and they have become the parents of two children: Charlotte Landon, born August 4, 1910; and Marion Wheeler, born July 10, 1913. Mrs. Snyder's parents were natives of this county and lived here for many years. Her father operated a large stone quarry in Schoharie and a large farm. He died May 1, 1923. His wife passed away on November 1, 1918.
Mr. Snyder is an Elk, belonging to Schenectady Lodge, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, but here he gives his support to the Community church, which has become such an active factor in the moral and social life of the village. In politics he has always upheld the principles of democracy and is now county committeeman in his party. Mr. Snyder is a young man of pleasing personality and the capacity to attract the friendship of those with whom he is associated. In positions of public trust he has served the interests of the people loyally and well, thus earning the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens who have generously supported him at the polls.