El Monte from the Pioneer Days

Perhaps the outstanding character among the first settlers in the community of El Monte was that of Ira W. Thompson. Without doubt it could be truthfully stated that few men were more directly connected with the founding of the town at its beginning, for it was he who established the first stage depot on the […]

An inheritance of ability, courage and enterprise served to make Walter P. Temple one of the esteemed citizens of the vicinity of El Monte, where he engaged as a horticulturist and rancher. The pioneer of the family, Francis Pliny Fisk Temple, was one of the men who led the advance guard of the mighty hosts

John C. Stephenson, Indian fighter and early resident of El Monte, was born in Knox County, Illinois, December 28, 1851. His father was T. W. Stephenson, also a native of Illinois and his mother, Rebecca (Ireland) Stephenson, who was born in Indiana. Until reaching his majority, Mr. Stephenson remained with his parents, who were farmers,

Remembered by pioneers of El Monte and vicinity especially for his stables of fine racehorses in the early days, Christopher C. Steele was one of the district’s most successful farmers and stockmen. Born in Franklin County, Arkansas in 1844, Mr. Steele was the son of John Steele, a native of Tennessee. In 1861, at the

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,

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

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

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

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

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,