| Notes |
- Robert J. Snapp played a central role in the establishment of the Shenandoah National Park System, and had a letter published in the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record on December 19, 1923 advocating a National Park in the Massanutten area. He suggested the establishment of a national park for Shenandoah Valley, months before it was organized and before the government took it up.
From an article in the "Valley Banner" August 10, 1972 (Elkton, Virginia); "His favorite diversion was fishing, and he enjoyed the mountains.
Life member in The United Association of Railroad Veterans.
Life member, Norfolk & Western R.R. Veterans Association.
Served as president. 1st. vice Pres. & 2nd vice Pres. of Norfolk & Western R.R. Veterans Association.
Member of Masons,
and past president of Elkton Chamber of Commerce.
Married to Kate W. Harnsberger of Elkton.
Has 2 daughters Mrs. Elsie Evelyn Bond & Mrs. Sarah Kathleen Jones and 2 sons, Robert J. Jr . & Sidney H. and 5 Grandchildren...
As a youngster he worked on a farm, then did cabinet & carpenter work.
Joined the railroad at 20 as telegrapher at Port Republic, Virginia, then as agent & telegrapher at Greenville, Virginia. Later to Stanley, Virginia, and Tobuchan & Buena Vista asagent.
Came to Elkton in 1894 as general agent & telegrapher and continued in that capacity until 1935 when he retired.
He started with the railroad as a telegrapher and remained with the Norfolk & Western for 51 years, serving the company in a loyal and faithful manner until his retirement.
Born in Romney, West Virginia, he attended country school for a short time but was forced to go to work at an early age.
He was mayor of Elkton, served as a member of the School board and on the council of Elkton".
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Robert J. Snapp
In the work and life accomplishments of Robert J. Snapp is given an evidence of the desirability of closely adhering to one line of endeavor, for he has risen to be agent for the Nor-folk & Western Railroad at Elkton through the various stages of railroad work, and has been connected with railroading since he completed his high-school course. He was born near Romney West Virginia, July 17, 1865 but was only a child when his parents moved to Virginia and his life has been practically spent in the "old dominion".
Reared in the different cities in which his father had charges, Robert J. Snapp attended the high school of Port Republic, as before stated, and completing his schooldays, entered upon what was to be his life work, as an employee of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company in 1884, and in this connection, while still at Port Republic, he began learning telegraphy. When he had mastered this calling he was stationed at different points along the road, and in time was operator and agent at Stanley, Buchanan, Buena Vista and Elkton, and remained here since 1894.
When Mr. Snapp came to Elkton to take charge of the company's business the station, the first one built in the city by his company, was a mere shack, with practically no accommodations for agent or passengers. Subsequently a more adequate one was erected, but in time it, too, had to give way for a third, when, in 1911, the present commodious station was built.
Mr. Snapp has not been contented to merely act as agent for his company. He has entered heartily into the life of the community, and borne his part in different civic movements. For some years he has been an active member of the school board of Elkton, and in the spring of 1922 was elected a member of the City Council, although he has never cared to take a prominent part in politics. In the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he finds expression for his religious belief, and is zealous in behalf of the Elkton congregation of that denomination. Well-known in Masonry, he has taken a decidedly active part in his fraternity, and is a member of Elkton Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; and of Milnes Chapter No, 18, Royal Arch Masons, of Shenandoah, Virginia.
On December 19 1895, Robert J. Snapp married at Elkton Miss Kate Harnsberger, a daughter of Charles E. and Kate (Wolfe) Harnsberger. Mrs. Snapp was born at Elkton, March 30, 1875 and after attending the local schools, completed her education at Doctor Hyde's School at Winchester, Virginia. She is the youngest in the following family: Alfred, Mrs. Annie Firebaugh, Mrs. Virginia Bishop (deceased), Charles Edward, J. Oscar and Clinton T.
Mr. and Mrs. Snapp have the following children; Robert J., Junior who is cashier of the Elkton station of the Norfolk & Western Railroad Company, spent a term in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and he married Mary Gibbons; Sidney H., who is a graduate of the Elkton High School, is a clerk in the offices of the Norfolk & Western Railroad Company's office at Elkton; Elsie Evelyn, who is a student of the Harrisonburg State Normal School; and Sarah Kathleen, who is a high school student, is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Snapp have sought to give their children excellent educational advantages, for they feel that with such a training they are prepared for whatever is demanded of them by the world in any station of life to which they may be called.
Having lived here for nearly thirty years, Mr. Snapp's interests are all centered at Elkton, and he knows practically all the patrons of his road, with whom he is deservedly popular because of the expert and courteous treatment he accords everyone at all times.
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Davis Uriah I | Born 1707
1865 - 1940 (75 years)