Warner Buck Snider, also known as W. B. Snider or Buck Snider (September 7, 1880 – July 18, 1965), was a city recorder, county sheriff, rancher, and Oregon state legislator. He was a Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives for two terms, from 1933 through 1936. After leaving the legislature, Snider returned to cattle ranching. He served as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and actively advocated for grazing rights and highway construction in eastern Oregon.
Early life
Snider was born on September 7, 1880, in Willow Ranch, California, just a few miles south of the Oregon border. He was the son of Charles and Mary Edith Snider."Buck Snider Praised by Voter", Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 6 December 1932, p. 8."Warner Buck Snider, 7 Sep 1880", Oregon, Births and Christenings, 1868-1929; citing Willow Ranch, Modoc County, California, reference 25496, FHL microfilm 2,229,219; accessed via FamilySearch, 21 May 2015."Warner B Snider", United States Census, 1900, Cogswell Creek, North Lakeview, South Lakeview, and Crooked Creek Precincts South, North, and, Lake, Oregon, United States; household of Charles U. Snider, citing sheet 1A, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1,241,347; National Archives and Records Administration: Washington, District of Columbia; accessed via FamilySearch, 21 May 2015.Warner Buck Snider draft registration card, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration 1917-1918, citing Lake County, Oregon, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509, FHL microfilm 1,852,059; National Archives and Records Administration: Washington, District of Columbia; accessed via FamilySearch, 21 May 2015. Arriving in 1869, Snider's father was one of the first settlers in what later became Lake County, Oregon. His father managed the Willow Ranch store in California, before opening a business in nearby Lakeview, Oregon. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed his father superintendent of the United States General Land Office in Lakeview. He left the post in 1894, when President Grover Cleveland took office, and was re-appointed to the office in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt.An Illustrated History of Central Oregon Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam Wheeler, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties State Of Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, Washington, 1905, p. 900.
Snider grew up in the Goose Lake Valley, an area that straddles the Oregon-California border. He attended school in Lakeview, where he graduated from Lakeview High School in 1898.Cooper, Forrest E., Introducing Dr. Daly, Maverick Publications, Bend, Oregon, 1986, p. 54.
As a young man in his early 20s, Snider was elected Lakeview's city recorder. In this capacity, he maintained city records, and on occasion, performed civil weddings."Lake County Very Rick in Opportunities", Oregon Dailey Journal, Portland, Oregon, 27 August 1903, p. 13."Hammersley—Heryford", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 8 October 1903, p. 4. Although he was quite young, Snider was a popular city official. When he ran for re-election in 1903, he was unopposed. In that election, Snider received more votes than Lakeview's mayor, who was also unopposed on the ballot."Heryford for Mayor", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 5 November 1903, p. 1.
When Lakeview established its first volunteer fire department in 1904, Snider was elected the organization's secretary."A Fire Co. Organized", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 21 April 1904, p. 1. In 1905, he was elected treasurer of the Lake County Development League, a group that promoted economic growth in the county."League will Send Out Invitations", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 30 March 1905, p. 1. During this time, Snider married Frances Matilda Jones, whose father owned a large cattle ranch in Paisley, Oregon.Avery, Elroy McKendree and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, The Groton Avery Clan (Volume II), Nabu Press, Cleveland, Ohio, 1912, p. 975-976."Lakeview and Vicinity", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 1 November 1906, p. 8."Latest in Stock News", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 20 October 190, p. 1.
In 1906, Snider started keeping the county tax assessment account books for the Lake County Sheriff."Lakeview and Vicinity", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 15 March 1906, p. 8. Later that year, he began serving as part-time deputy sheriff."Lakeview and Vicinity", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 31 May 1906, p. 8. Snider continued as Lakeview's city recorder during this period. He also advertised his services as a land title document researcher and producer of local land title maps."Official Directory", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 9 July 1908, p. 6.
County sheriff
In November 1909, Snider ran for the Lake County sheriff position as a Republican. He was endorsed by the local newspaper. The newspaper highlighted his service as deputy sheriff as well as his experience working with county and United States Lands Office records.Lakeview notes, Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 20 October 1910, p. 4. He won the election easily, receiving 520 votes. His Democratic opponent received 355 votes while an independent candidate got only 135 votes."Official Vote in Lake County", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 17 November 1910, p. 8. He took office and began serving as sheriff in January 1910."New Officials get into the Harness", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 5 January 1911, p. 1.
As sheriff, Snider was one of the first people in Lake County to acquire an automobile. In 1911, the local newspaper noted that he had begun using it for his daily patrols around the town."Brief Mention", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 22 June 1911, p. 5. One of the major challenges sheriff Snider faced was the enforcement of local liquor prohibition laws. When the secure storage area at the county courthouse was full of contraband liquor, Snider and the local district attorney decided to start disposing of illegal liquor where it was found rather than bringing it into town."Venator Refuses to Bring Booze", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 7 September 1911, p. 1. Overall, his first term as sheriff was very successful. As a result, when Snider ran for re-election in 1912, he was unopposed."Election Results from Lake County", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 14 November 1912, p. 1.
During the summer of 1913, Snider gain wide notoriety for an arrest he made outside his Lake County jurisdiction. While he was on personal business traveling from Lakeview to The Dalles, he stopped for dinner in Bend. During the stop, Snider recognized a convict who had escaped from prison in California. After a quick investigation to confirm the individual's identity, he arrested the escapee and delivered him to the local authorities in Bend."Wanted Man is Arrested Here", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 9 July 1913, p. 1."Locator Van Sant Escaped Convict", The Times-Herald, Burns, Oregon, 19 July 1913, p. 1."Snider captures Sitz", Lake County Examiner, Lakeview, Oregon, 17 July 1913, p. 1.
During World War I, Snider was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Lake County Draft Exemption Board. In Oregon, it was standard practice for the County Sheriff, County Clerk, and a local physician to make up the board."Local Boards of Exemption Made Public", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, 24 June 1917, p. 1-2. In 1917, his wife died in San Francisco, after a prolonged illness."Frances J. Snider, 27 July 1917", California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1979; citing N. Gray and Company funeral home, San Francisco, California, record book Vol. 10, p. 301-606, 1917, San Francisco History and Archive Center, San Francisco, California; accessed via FamilySearch, 21 May 2015.
Eventually, Snider served four successful terms as Lake County's sheriff, completing his last term in 1918."The Last Frontier", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, 29 June 1918, p. 4. After stepping down as sheriff, Snider focused his attention on managing the Jones Ranch, a large cattle ranching property near Paisley. He acquired partial ownership of the property through his wife. After her death, he entered into a partnership with his sister-in-law, Anna Jones, who owned the remaining share of the ranch."Local News Items", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 9 July 1923, p. 8. While he was an active rancher, Snider stayed involved in county government, serving two terms a Lake County Commissioner.
State legislature
In 1931, Snider was elected vice president of Oregon Taxpayers Equalization and Conservation League, a group dedicated to limiting property taxes and reducing the cost of government."Leslie Scott President of State Group", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, 9 July 1931, p. 1. A week later, Governor Julius L. Meier appointed him to a state tax reform committee. The committee was chartered to review options for reducing taxes and improving government efficiency."Governor Names Tax Committee", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 17 July 1931, p. 1."Snider, Bailey Named to State Group by Meier", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 31 July 1931, p. 1.
In 1932, Oregon legislative districts were reapportioned based on the 1930 United States census. As a result, old House District 21 which included Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake counties was broken up into several districts, including a new District 29. The new District 29 included only Deschutes and Lake counties and had no incumbent legislator in the area. Snider ran for the District 29 seat as a Republican. Ultimately, no other candidates filed for the race, so Snider won the primary and then the general election unopposed."Pierce See Victor Ahead", Capitol Journal, Salem, Oregon, 25 March 1932, p. 11."Steiwer Given Big Total in Deschutes", Bend Bulletin, bend, Oregon, 26 May 1932, p. 1. "Klamath Gains by Reapportionment", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 7 October 1932, p. 7."Legislature Will Be Much Changed", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, 11 November 1932, p. 2.
Snider took his seat in the state legislature in January 1933. The legislative term began with a short special session focused on property tax relief. This special session only lasted one week, ending on 7 January."1933 Special Sessions (37th): 1st - January 3-7 and 2nd - November 20-December 9", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon; accessed 20 May 2015. He then served in the regular session that began two days after the special session closed."1933 Regular Session (37th): January 9-March 9", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon; accessed 20 May 2015. During the session, Snider was a member of the legislature's powerful Joint Ways and Means Committee, responsible for handling matters related to the state budget.
In August 1933, Snider was selected as a delegate to Oregon's convention called to vote on repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. At the convention, Snider voted for repeal. The convention approved repeal. This helped ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment, which legalized the production, transport and sale of alcohol once again."Capitol Gossip", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 8 July 1933, p. 4.Brown, Everett Somerville (editor), "Oregon Constitutional Convention, Repeal of the 18th Amendment, 1933", Ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: State Convention Records and Laws], Lawbook Exchange Ltd., Clark, New Jersey, 1938, pp. 337-344.
After his first term, Snider was very popular with his constituents. When he ran for re-election in 1934, he not only won the Republican nomination unopposed, but was also endorsed by the local Democratic Party. This allowed him to win the general election unopposed as well.