California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 MATTHEW M. SNOW. � Rounding out a half century of continuous residence in the Lower Lake precinct of Lake county, Mr. Snow may well be spoken of as an old settler, but even so long a period of citizenship in one community would not of itself be sufficient to account for his honorable position and the deference universally shown him. All that has been estab- lished upon a foundation laid by himself, the outgrowth of sterling qualities � the substantial virtues of industry and honesty which never fail of respect among those whose opinions are worth while. His unassuming life has been one of eminent usefulness, and though he has passed the threescore and ten mark he has not relinquished active participation in business affairs. Mr. Snow's birthplace is Springfield, Greene county. Mo., to which state his parents had moved from the south several years before he was born. His father, Horace Snow, was a native of Massachusetts, and spent some years in the south before moving west. He married, in Tennessee, Mary L. Dillard, who was born in North Carolina, and about the year 1836 they went out to Missouri, where they made their home for the twenty years following. Mr. Snow was a farmer by occupation. In 1856 the Snow family, father, mother and eight children, six sons and two daughters, made the tedious trip over- land from Springfield, Mo., to California. They did not undertake the journey alone, there being twenty-five people in their train, with five wagons, four drawn by oxen and one by mules. Horace Snow died at Napa in 1856, only two months after his arrival in this state. In 1864, through the influence of her son Matthews the widow and family came to Lake county to settle per- manently, and here Mrs. Snow remained until her death, which occurred at Lower Lake in the year 1888, when she was seventy-five years old. A family of fourteen children was born to her and Horace Snow : Sarah, who was acci- dentally killed by a falling tree when twelve years old : John D., who farmed during his active years, and whose death occurred in San Francisco in 1913; William, also a farmer, who died in Oregon ; Samuel, also a farmer, who died in Lake county; Marshall, whose death occurred in 1912 in Springfield, Mo.: Joseph, who was killed by Indians on the Humboldt while on his return to Missouri in 1862; Marion P., a miner, living in Mono county, Cal.; Matthew M., our subject; George H., retired, who lives at Napa, this state; Rebecca, who died at the age of seventeen years ; Elizabeth, who was twice married (her second husband being George Freeman, a farmer) and who died in Missouri; Eliza, who married William Freeman, and died in Missouri in 1910; Lucinda, who married S. W. Lee, a teamster, and died in Lower Lake in 1870; and Mary, who married Gilbert Jacks, and died at Saint Helena, Napa county. The only survivors are Marion P., usually called Polk, Matthew M. who is familiarly known as "Dallas," and George H. Born October 9, 1842, Matthew M. Snow was in his fourteenth year when he made the journey overland to California with the family. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience, but his father's death so soon afterward brought responsibilities which he assumed bravely, and he entered upon the practical work of gaining his own living without delay. The year following, 1857, he made his first visit to what is now Middletown, in Lake county, and on that and subsequent trips became so well impressed with the locality that he settled here with his mother and the rest of the family in 1864, fifty years ago. Farming has been his life occupation, and what he has accom- plished might best be judged from the condition of his fine ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, which is situated on the Spruce Grove road in Little High valley, five miles south of Lower Lake. He has earned this property by his own industry, and improved it highly by progressive and systematic methods of cultivation apparent even to the casual observer. Hard work, economical management and judicious expenditures for equipment, stock, etc., have been the conspicuous elements in his prosperity, which he well deserves. He makes no pretensions, but his reliable character and the substantial position he has attained require none. His home and surround- ings are well kept up. Ordinarily his stock consists of twelve horses, twenty cattle, fifty hogs, and two hundred chickens. Mr. Snow was married at Lower Lake on September 6, 1868, to Miss An- nette Mathews, born in Polk county, Mo., daughter of Dr. William R. and Jane Malloy Mathews, natives of Kentucky and Ohio, respectively, who came across the plains with their family in ox teams and wagons. In 1856 they located in Lake county in what is now known as Copsey valley. Dr. Mathews had crossed the plains in 1854 and engaged in raising horses in Lake county, but when he brought his family out, there being no schools, he removed to Yountville, Napa county, where he practiced medicine. He was elected assemblyman and served a term in the state legislature and in 1859 returned to Copsey valley. When Lake county was organized he was elected the first county clerk, serving two terms, after which he again followed farming and practiced medicine, after his death, in 1881, his widow continued to reside in Copsey valley, her decease occurring in June, 1913, at the age of ninety- four. They had nine children, of whom four are living: Mack, county coroner, residing in Lakeport ; Annette, Mrs. Snow; Alice and William, both residing in Copsey valley. Mrs. Snow was educated in the public schools of her vicinity and Lakeport. Of her marriage three children were born, namely : Alice, who died when thirty-two years old, was twice married, her first husband being Albert Petit, deceased, her second, Charles Edwards, and had one child. Gladys, by her first marriage; Frank W., who married .Alma Nelson of San lose, is one of the leading business men of Middletown, Lake county, proprietor of a thriving meat market ; Lulu died when thirteen years old. Gladys Petit, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Snow, now a young lady of nineteen years, makes her home with them. Mr. and Mrs. Snow hold membership in the Christian Church at Lower Lake. He has always devoted his attention principally to his private affairs, but he is interested in public questions and on national issues supports the Democratic ticket.