Stanislaus
County
Biographies
THOMAS F. SNEDIGAR
Thomas F. Snedigar is a prominent
farmer of Stanislaus County, owning a large tract of land four miles west of
the town of Oakdale. In the year which
witnessed the arrival of so many of California’s prominent pioneers, 1852, this
gentleman cast in his lot with the early settlers and through the period which
has since elapsed he has been an important factor in the development and
progress of the state.
Mr. Snedigar was born in Pike
County, Illinois, December 25, 1840, and is of German lineage, his ancestors
having been early settlers of Kentucky, in which state his father, Japtha Snedigar, was born and
reared. He removed to Pike County,
Missouri, and afterward to Pike County, Illinois, where he married Miss Mary
Jane Richardson, a sister of Thomas Richardson, one of California’s prominent
pioneers, whose history appears elsewhere in this work. The father of our subject died when the son
was only two years of age, and he was reared by his uncle, Thomas Richardson,
with whom he came to California in 1852, crossing the plains. He was then but twelve years of age and
during much of the journey he walked, driving his uncle’s loose stock. He enjoyed the free life very much, although
the journey continued for six months.
Buffaloes were killed on the plains and thus the party was provided with
fresh meat. Mr. Snedigar has always
looked back to that trip with pleasure.
As a boy he had lived upon the farm, never going away from home except
for visits in the neighborhood, and it was an entirely new and pleasant
experience. Until he was twenty-two
years of age he resided with his uncle, assisting him in stock raising. He then
secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, and as his financial resources
have increased he has added to his property until he now owns sixteen hundred
acres, on which he raises wheat, hay and fruit.
He has a good residence and farm buildings and is one of the prominent
agriculturists in his section of the state.
The wide fields of grain with the billowy harvests give promise of
excellent financial return, and the extensive orchards stocked with fine
varieties of fruits are also a source of income.
On the 24th of March,
1864, Mr. Snedigar married Miss Emeline
C. Dotson, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of John Thomas Dotson, who with
his family came to California in 1853.
Mr. Snedigar has had twelve children, seven of whom are living, namely: W. S., a physician in Stockton, California;
Otis J., who is operating a farm near his father’s home; Dertha,
now the wife of Clarence Petty, of Stockton; Olie F.,
who is a student in the State University; Marietta, Catherine and Thomas, who
are at home. The mother died in
February, 1897, and in July, 1898, Mr. Snedigar was again married, his second
union being with Miss Hady C. Millark,
a daughter of Julius and Tilla (Waler)
Millark, both natives of Germany, who came to this
country in 1881 and are farmers living in Henry County, Illinois. Mrs. Snedigar came to California in
1896. Their children are Charles Hanfred and Lenard Llewellyn.
Mr. Snedigar is a Republican, but
the honors and emoluments of public office have had no attraction for him. He is an active and useful member of the
United Brethren Church, serving as one of its trustees and superintendent of
the Sunday school. He gives his support
to every measure and movement calculated to prove of public benefit along
material, intellectual and moral lines.
For forty-eight years he has been a resident of California and is widely
and favorably known throughout the northern portion of the state.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 641-642. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.