Draft:David L. Snodgrass

David LaFayette Snodgrass (April 6, 1851 – October 11, 1917) was a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1886 to 1902.

Born in Sparta, White County, Tennessee, to Thomas and Eliza Snodgrass, he was educated at Sparta and the University of Tennessee, and was admitted to the bar in 1872.

"elected 1886, 1894; served as chief justice, 1894 to 1902; born in Sparta, Tennessee; White County representative in state legislature, 1879; member of Commission of Referees, 1883 to 1885; unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate, 1900."

"His first public office was that of Treaenta-March tlve in the General assembly from White county to which he was elected in 1878 and re-elected. In 1880 He took a prominent part in the political questions of that period and became known throughout the state as one of the leaders of the low-tax democrats. Upon the creation of the court of referees he was commissioned by the governor as one of its members and served during the two years of the life of that court 1883-1885. Upon retiring from the referee bench he moved to Chattanooga and resumed the practice of the law in this city. In 1886 he was nominated to the state supreme court which he held until his retirement from the supreme bench in 1902 Returning to practice in Chattanooga, he was appointed clerk of the United States circuit court for the eastern district of Tennessee in 1905 which office he held until its termination by operation of law in January 1912.

During the period of his active practice at the bar he was associated first with Charles D Clark who subsequently was commissioned by President Cleveland as United States district Judge for the eastern and middle districts of Tennessee and second with T C Latimore both of whom have passed away, the former in 1908 and the latter earlier this year. For several years before his death, he was in poor health and had not been active in his profession He is survived by Mrs. Snodgrass, who before her marriage was Miss Blanche Fouche, and two sons D L Jr and J H, and four daughters."

In 1886, Snodgrass was one of eight candidates running from East Tennessee, and was nominated on the second ballot; in 1894, he was the only candidate from East Tennessee.