Los Angeles County

One of the early settlers of Southern California, William M. Snoddy is remembered in the citizenship of the state and held in high esteem for the qualities of character he displayed during his residence in this section. He was born in Boone County, Missouri, in 1843, a son of John W. and Sarah (Beattie) Snoddy, both of whom were natives of the same state, later, in 1849, becoming California pioneers, settling in Los Angeles County. William M. Snoddy was reared on the home farm until thirteen years old, when his mother died, and he then became dependent upon his own … Read more

John B. Snoddy is one of El Monte’s successful farmers. His ranch is located two miles northeast of El Monte where he is engaged in vegetable raising on a portion of his fifty acres, the remainder he rents out. His father, William Snoddy, represented elsewhere in this work was one of the early pioneers of California, successful in his personal affairs and prominent man among the citizens of this community. John B. Snoddy was born on his father’s ranch in El Monte, November 1, 1874, the oldest child in the family. He received his education in the public schools and … Read more

Among the California pioneers of 1849, and indeed one of the very first arrivals in El Monte, was the subject of this sketch. Mr. Smith was a native of Prussia, his birth being October 18, 1818. His parents were Lawrence and Mary (Maxminer) Smith, both natives of the place of his birth. His father was a farmer, to which occupation the son was reared. At the age of twenty years he entered the Prussian Military service, and served four years in the Ninth Regiment of the Prussian Hussars. After his discharge from the service, he was employed in agricultural pursuits … Read more

Arthur V. Slack, a native of El Monte and the Son of William Slack whose life sketch is to be found elsewhere in this work, was born in 1871. He remained at home assisting his father on the ranch near El Monte and attending public schools until he was seventeen years of age. From that time until in 1896, he was engaged in the butcher’s trade being employed in different places in this district and in Los Angeles. In 1896 he started a meat market of his own at 27th and Main Streets in Los Angeles, which he conducted until … Read more

William Slack was born in Yorkshire, England, December 27, 1823. His parents were Richard and Ann (Britt) Slack, both natives of England. At the age of fourteen years, Mr. Slack was apprenticed to the trade of a molder, and after serving an apprenticeship of seven years, he followed that occupation as a journeyman until 1848 In that year he came to the United States, Landing in New Orleans. From there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was employed as a foreman in the foundry of Baker & Morton. He held that important position until 1850. He then started overland for … Read more

A native son of the state, Albert Slack was born near El Monte, July 14, 1868, A son of William Slack, a well remembered pioneer of this district and one of its prominent citizens, whose history will be found elsewhere in this volume. He was next to the youngest in a family of ten children, five of whom are now living. Reared on the paternal farm near El Monte, he received his education in the public schools of this place, after which, at the age of nineteen years, he engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise establishment here. In … Read more

As a prominent and successful walnut grower, William Shugg held rank among the enterprising citizens of the Mountain View District, his finely improved ranch of nineteen acres being located a mile and a half southeast of El Monte. Mr. Shugg was a native Californian, his birth having occurred in San Gabriel, November 26, 1863. His father, James Shugg, was born in Kelston, England, and was there reared to young manhood. He immigrated to America, and in Michigan, worked in the copper mines in the Lake Superior region. While thus engaged the great gold discovery of California turned his attention toward … Read more

Born April 11, 1859, in the Missouri River Bottoms near St. Louis, Missouri, C. B. Shobe, and early settler of El Monte, Came first to California with his parents when he was but five years of age. His father and mother were “Wash” and Jane (Duncan) Shobe, both natives of Osage County, Missouri. The family came to California by way of Salt Lake City in a large overland wagon train in the charge of Captain Wilhite. The train was threatened at times with Indian attacks, although no major conflict occurred or loss of life was suffered. Mr. Shobe and his … Read more

Solomon Shirpser was one of El Monte’s successful businessmen of the early days and later served as postmaster for a time. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, August 26, 1850, his father being David Shirpser, teamster by trade. When he was five years of age, Solomon Shirpser, with his parents, came to California by way of Panama, stopping at Placerville. Later, the family moved to Vancouver, B.C. In 1860, the family came to San Francisco where Solomon completed his education at Woodbury College. In the meantime his father had gone to Alaska and engaged in the fur trading business. Upon … Read more

A resident of El Monte for nearly fifty years, and esteemed and respected by its citizens, Ephraim J. Shirpser, has contributed much to the City’s improvement and growth. A native of California, born February 12, 1879, he is the son of Solomon Shirpser, a native of Poland, who came to California in 1860, by way of Vancouver B.C., settling first in San Francisco, and later moving to Mendocino County, where the subject of this review was born. When but three years old, E.J. Shirpser was brought to Los Angeles, where he was educated in the common schools, the first of … Read more