Among the first settlers in El Monte was Grant P. Cuddeback. He was born in New York State July 1, 1820, the son of Peter and Clarissa Cuddeback, whose nativity was not available for this sketch.
Grant P. at the age of twelve, with his parents moved to Illinois where, near Chicago, the family remained until Grant was eighteen. The then moved to Lee County, Iowa and purchased a farm and engaged in that occupation until the gold excitement of 1849 which caused Grant to join the many who came to California. He made the journey by ox-team coming vial Salt Lake City. According to the best available information, he came first to Southern California, but just where he settled is not known. In 1850, meeting with little success he packed his belongings on a small pack horse and headed for the headwaters of the San Joaquin River. Here he mined for a few months, but owing to menacing Indians in that district, he came to El Monte. Here he procured 160 acres of government land and engaged in raising barley and general farming. It is said that one year he raised 80 acres of barley and harvested the entire crop alone with the use of a scythe.
At El Monte, February 2, 1852, he was married to Miss Elmira Hale, of whose parents there is no record available. He then engaged in stock raising near Tehachapi for several years and in 1873, moved to Orange, where, until his death, which occurred in 1905, he continued to reside, engaging until the later years of his life in orange and vineyard culture.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cuddeback were born six children, namely: Moses, William, David, John, George and Celesta. William, resides in Tehachapi; David in Bishop; while all of the others are deceased.
Source: C. D. Mayon, F. Brow, L. Stoddard, and C. Mudd; El Monte from the Pioneer Days. WPA Project No. N-5740, 1936. In record 19-187072. (California Historical Landmark No. 765: El Monte). On file at the SCCIC, CSU Fullerton.