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MONONGALIA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
PTyler107@aol.com
February 13, 2000
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 127-128
William Jefferson Snee, a well known Morgantown attorney, also referee in
bankruptcy, is a native of Southwestern Pennsylvania but finished his law
course in West Virginia University and for the past twenty years has made an
enviable record in his profession.
He was born on a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania, January
28,1873, son of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah Jane (Rue) Snee, the former also a
native of Washington County, while his mother was born in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather was Thomas Jefferson Snee, who was a
native of Pennsylvania, the family having been established in that state by
his father, Thomas Snee, who came from Ireland. The father of the Morgantown
lawyer was born in 1831 and died 1884, devoting his active career to farming,
and when his son, William J., was a boy he moved over the line from
Washington into Allegheny County. The mother was born October 12,1844, and is
still living. Her father, Alexander Rue, was a native of Pennsylvania.
William J. Snee grew up on a farm near Pittsburgh, acquired his early
education in the public schools and for several terms attended the Pittsburgh
Academy and also the Grove City College in Pennsylvania. He taught several
terms in Allegheny County and thus worked his way and paid his expenses while
a student of law. He graduated in law from the University of West Virginia in
1900, the same year he was admitted to the state bar and began his
professional work at Morgantown. Soon afterward he was appointed assistant
prosecuting attorney of Monongalia County, but resigned in about a year to
look after his rapidly growing clientage. he also served two terms as city
recorder of Morgantown and was elected to fill an unexpired term as sheriff
and treasurer of that county. November 18, 1918, he was appointed referee in
bankruptcy by Judge Dayton of the Federal Court.
Mr. Snee was president of the Monongalia County Bar Association in
1919-20. His learning and industry have earned him a specially honored
position in his profession. Fraternally he is a past grand of Monongalia
Lodge No. 10, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of Morgantown
Union Lodge No. 4, A.F. and A.M., West Virginia Consistory of the Scottish
Rite and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Morgantown
Masonic Club, is a member of the kappa Alpha college fraternity, and the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
August 28, 1901, Mr. Snee married Miss Grace Martin, daughter of J. Ami
and Mary C. (Snyder) Martin. Her parents formerly lived in Preston County and
later in Morgantown.
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