By: Mark Holtsberry
John Stout Snook
One of Paulding County’s high profile attorneys of his day was John Stout Snook. John was Born December 18, 1862 in Antwerp, Ohio. The son of William Nelson Snook, who was born March 17, 1819, in New Jersey, and Martha (Banks) Snook, who was born on March 14, 1821. This couple was married, October 1, 1840 in Paulding, Ohio.
John was one of five children born into this family. John was raised in Antwerp and was a school teacher in 1880. In that same year, his mother died on December 25. John graduated from Antwerp grade school in 1881, and attended Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, in 1882.
In his third year, there was a show in town, that was out of bounds, John went anyway, and was expelled from school. (Later in life, he was welcomed back as a hero to receive an honorary degree).
He transferred to Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated in May 1887. Snook was admitted to the bar in 1887 and began practicing law in Antwerp, moving to Paulding, Ohio in 1890. That same year, 1890, he was the senior partner in the law firm, Snook and Wilcox (Alfred N. Wilcox). John had a logical mind and was the best lawyer in preparing a case that Alfred Wilcox would try and win in Court.
John also worked with Dr. Neeley in the cultivation of new varieties of flowers. He also taught Sunday school at the Presbyterian Church. John also met a girl named, Edith May Wells, who was born in 1870, in Pennsylvania. They were married August 3, 1891 in Beaver Creek, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. On November 23, 1892, they had a son named Jean Donald Snook who was born in Paulding Township, Paulding County, Ohio. In November of 1894 the practicing partners, Snook & Wilcox, took a case that was a strain to the community of Paulding, as well as to themselves.
Charles Hart was arrested in the double murder of the Good children, Ashby and Elsie. The knowledge of why they took this case is unclear, but the gruesome details and evidence, proved that Charles Hart was not right of mind. Public fear and a desire to have swift justice carried the rest of the year 1894. In December of 1894 as Charlie Hart appeared in Court, with John Snook and Alfred Wilcox, they all stood in front of Judge Wilson Snook, (not sure of the relation), the indictment was read. Charles stood there, cold and claimed he was guilty. Charles was sentenced to be hanged until he was, “dead, dead, dead.” Charles Hart was hanged at the Ohio State Penitentiary, Friday April 12, 1895.
John had a desire to be somewhat of an elected official and ran for Congressman of 5th District as a Democrat. He won, two terms and served in the 57th-58th Congresses, March 4, 1901- March 5, 1905.
On March 14, 1905, his father, William Nelson Snook passed away. William and his wife Martha, are buried in Antwerp Riverside Cemetery, Antwerp, Ohio. Lot 58, Section 3, Grave 1-2. John was not a candidate In 1904, but resumed the practice of law in Paulding. Living in Paulding with wife Edith and son Jean Donald, practicing law, John still had that itch to scratch.
He served as a delegate in the 1912 Democratic Convention, as a Democrat, (also served as a delegate in 1932). Served as judge of the Court of Common Pleas 1913- 1915. In 1917, Snook was elected to the 65th Congress, March 4, 1917- March 3, 1919. John was not reelected in 1918 and returned to Paulding to practice law. As World War 1 loomed, his son Jean Donald, registered for the draft, May 31, 1917, in Cincinnati, Ohio. At 6-0” tall, slender build, brown eyes, brown hair, he would be accepted. He was currently a law student, and will serve in the Navy at Norfolk, Virginia, till May 9, 1918. He was released from service, January 2, 1919 as he was honorably discharged, May 5, 1920.
John and his wife, Edith still lived at 762 North Williams Street in Paulding. Edith became ill, in 1926, and passed away. She was buried in Live Oak Cemetery. John traveled overseas to Europe in 1927 his application for passport list him as 5’9”, Gray Eyes, Dark Hair, Light Complexion, Long Face, Large Mouth, Big Nose, High Forehead.
John continued practicing law, until he was elected to the Court of Common Pleas from 1930- 1938, after which he retired. He continued to travel extensively and finally became hard of hearing as he grew older. John had a housekeeper named, Florence Pearl Gray and she took care of John from the late 1930’s until the day he died, September 19, 1952 in Paulding. He is buried with Edith in Live Oak Cemetery. As for Florence, she never married and she passed away, July 11, 1978 and was buried in Sherman Cemetery, Charloe. John’s Son, Jean Donald, was married, became a father to a son, John Donald, became an attorney working for The Veterans Administration in Washington D.C., retired and moved back to Paulding area. He passed away, September 14, 1970 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He is buried in Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding.
Until Next Time!
