Biography

04/16/1867 - 12/07/1931

Charles A. “Carnation Charley” Snyder (R29) Schuylkill County 1909-1917

Early Life: 

Charles A. Snyder, born April 16, 1867, Pillow, Dauphin County,(i) Pennsylvania; son of William Herb Snyder and Leah Hoeffer Brua; public schools education; admitted, Schuylkill bar, 1889; served, Pennsylvania National Guard; lawyer; deputy district attorney, Pottsville; elected, city solicitor, Pottsville; elected, controller, Schuylkill County; solicitor, Schuylkill County; married Laura R. Arters , 1891; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1903-1908; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1909-April 20, 1917; elected, Pennsylvania Auditor General, 1917-1921; elected, chair, State Workmen’s Compensation Board, 1921; elected, Pennsylvania State Treasurer, 1921-1924; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1924; appointed, special deputy, Pennsylvania Auditor General’s office, 1925-1926; elected, District Attorney, Schuylkill County, 1927-1931; died, December 7, 1931, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; interment, Charles Baber Cemetery, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Deputy district attorney, Pottsville; elected, city solicitor, Pottsville; elected, controller, Schuylkill County; solicitor, Schuylkill County.  

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1903-1908, not a candidate, reelection, 1908.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 29th district, Schuylkull County, 1909-April 30, 1917; resigned, elected, Pennsylvania State Auditor General. Committee member assignments: Appropriations, Congressional Apportionment, Education, Executive Nominations, Federal Relations, Judiciary General, Judicial Special (Chairman) and Public Health and Sanitation.  

Names of any service after Senate:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania Auditor General, 1917-1921.

Alternate delegate, 12^th district, 1920 Republican National Convention, Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, June 8-12, nomination of: Warren G. Harding, of Ohio, President and Calvin Coolidge, of Massachusetts, Vice-President.

Elected, chair, State Workmen’s Compensation Board, 1921.

Elected, Pennsylvania State Treasurer, 1921-1924.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1924.

Appointed, special deputy, Pennsylvania Auditor General’s office, 1925-1926.

Elected, republican, District Attorney, Schuylkill County, 1927-1931. (ii)

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/bioshistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=4032&body=H  

Legacy:

Died suddenly on December 7, 1931 in his office in Pottsville, on the day before he was to be sworn-in for his second term. He was 64 years old and as noted by Governor Gifford Pinchot, a “no more vital and colorful figure has existed in my time in Pennsylvania politics”. (ii)

Given the nickname of “Carnation Charley” for his lifelong habit of wearing a fresh flower every day in his lapel. He was also a dapper dresser who often seen in a light suit, wearing gloves and spats, and a soft brown hat. (ii)

Cited:

Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Smull's Legislative Hand Book, (1917) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1150 and 1163, Biographical Sketches of Senators, Page 1130.

1. https://www.pillowpa.org/index.html
2. Harrisburg Telegraph, (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), Charles A. Snyder Found Dead in His Pottsville Office, December 8, 1931, p. 13