Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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WILLIAM M. SNODDY.
 
        Among the representative farm properties in the beautiful San Gabriel 
Valley is that of the subject of this sketch. This highly cultivated and 
productive farm comprises 155 acres of bottom land located in the Savanna school 
district, about one and a half miles north and west of the old town of El Monte. 
Among the
noticeable improvements is a fine vineyard of thirty acres, devoted to wine 
grapes of the Blauelba variety, from which a high grade of white wine is 
manufactured. The rich sandy loam upon which his grapes are grown seems 
especially adapted to producing the finest of wine grapes. Little or no 
irrigation has ever been used on his vineyard, but a thorough and careful 
cultivation has been adopted, which has given the best of results. His family 
orchard, of both citrus and deciduous fruits, shows that great profit could be 
secured should he turn his attention to that branch of horticulture. Eight acres 
of alfalfa, even without irrigation, yield six or seven crops each year, 
aggregating from ten to twelve tons per acre. The most of Mr. Snoddy's lands are 
devoted to general farming and stock-raising, yielding bountiful crops of hay 
and cereals and supporting his stock. Among the latter are Jersey cattle, and 
draft and road horses of the Norman and Echo breeds. Mr. Snoddy is a native of 
Boone County, Missouri, born in 1843. His parents, John W. and Sarah (Beattie) 
Snoddy, were both natives of that State. His youth was spent on his father's 
farm, and when only thirteen years of age�at which time the death of his mother 
occurred, in 1856�he commenced life upon his own account by engaging as a clerk 
in a store at St. Joseph, Missouri. He followed that occupation until 1864, and 
then came overland to California. The first year in the State was spent in 
Sacramento, and in 1865 he located in San Jose and there engaged in peddling and 
trading at Almaden, and on the road from San Jose to that place. He also engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, renting the farm of A. Weller, at Milpitas. Mr. Snoddy 
was successful in his enterprises in that county, and in 1869 he closed his 
business and came to Los Angeles County, and in 1870 purchased from the owners 
of the San Francis Quito Ranch his present lands and residence, since which be 
has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. This land was then in a 
comparatively wild and uncultivated state, with no improvements except a small 
house. His years of labor, directed by sound practical sense and business 
principles, secured him a well-deserved success, placing him among the leading 
agriculturists of his section and gaining him the respect and esteem of his 
associates. He is a member of El Monte Lodge, No. 188, A. O. U. W. In politics 
he is a liberal and conservative Democrat, allied with the best elements of that 
party. In 1873 Mr. Snoddy was united in marriage with Miss Samantha J. Tibbet, 
the daughter of Jonathan and Phebe Tibbet, formerly of Ohio, but pioneers and 
residents of Los Angeles County. They have three children: John B., Mary E. and 
Nina I. Mr. Snoddy's father is a pioneer of California, coming to the State in 
1849. He is now a resident of Los Angeles County.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 642
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler