Meredith P. Snyder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meredith P. Snyder
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| 23rd Mayor of Los Angeles | |
| In office December 16, 1896 – December 15, 1898 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Rader |
| Succeeded by | Fred Eaton |
| In office December 12, 1900 – December 8, 1904 |
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| Preceded by | Fred Eaton |
| Succeeded by | Owen McAleer |
| In office July 1, 1919 – July 1, 1921 |
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| Preceded by | Frederick T. Woodman |
| Succeeded by | George E. Cryer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 22, 1859 Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Died | April 7, 1937 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
Meredith Pinxton Snyder (born October 22, 1859 – died April 7, 1937) was an important person in Los Angeles, California. He was a property owner and businessman. He also served as the Mayor of Los Angeles three times between 1896 and 1921. He was also part of the California Industrial Accident Commission.
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About Meredith Snyder
Meredith Snyder was born on October 22, 1859, near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His parents were Kehlin D. Snyder and Elizabeth Hire. He went to public schools and then to Bethany and Schylo Academy and Yadkin College in North Carolina.
Family Life
Snyder moved to California in 1880 when he was 22 years old. He married May Ross from Washington, D.C. on February 14, 1888, in San Diego, California. They had one son named Ross Snyder. Sadly, Ross was killed during World War I at the Battle of Chateau-Thierry in France. In 1923, Ross Snyder's body was brought back to Los Angeles. It was displayed in Pershing Square for a day before he was buried at Hollywood Cemetery.
Interests and Nickname
Meredith Snyder was a member of several groups, including the Masons and the Elks. He also belonged to the Jonathan Club, the Los Angeles Country Club, and the Knights of Pythias. He was a Protestant and a Democrat. People often called him Pinky. This nickname came from the bright red color of his sideburns.
Later Life and Legacy
Snyder passed away at the Jonathan Club on April 7, 1937, when he was 78 years old. His body was displayed at City Hall before he was buried at Hollywood Cemetery.
In 1990, the city of Hermosa Beach, California, recognized his home at 2020 The Strand. They included his "extensively remodeled home" on a map guide of famous people's houses in the city.
Meredith Snyder's Career
Meredith Snyder was a successful businessman. In 1892, he started his own company, the M.P. Snyder Shoe Company.
In 1904, he created the California Savings Bank. He was the president of this bank for 14 years. He also held important roles in other companies. For example, he was president of the Home Telephone Company in San Diego. He also owned the Meredith office building. He helped start and was president of California Guaranty Corporation. Snyder also owned land in the San Joaquin Valley. This land was first used for farming and later divided into smaller properties.
Public Service and Mayoralty
Meredith Snyder dedicated much of his life to public service, which means working for the community.
Serving as Mayor
Snyder first ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 1896. He was elected and served from 1896 to 1898. He was re-elected in 1900 and served two more terms until 1904. He became mayor again in 1919 and served until June 1921. He tried to be elected again that year but lost.
Other Public Roles
Besides being mayor, Snyder had many other public roles. He was a police commissioner from 1901 to 1904. He also served on the City Council from 1904 to 1907. From 1913 to 1917 or 1918, he was a Los Angeles City public service commissioner. His last public job was being appointed by Governor James Rolph to the State Industrial Accident Commission, where he worked from 1931 to 1935.
Key Achievements for Los Angeles
During his time as mayor, Snyder helped Los Angeles grow a lot. He was very active in the successful effort to open the Port of Los Angeles. He also helped connect the port to Los Angeles city through a narrow strip of land.
During his time as mayor, the Third Street Tunnel was built through Bunker Hill, Los Angeles in 1901. Also, the city's water system became owned by the public. He appointed the city's first Water Commission. This commission made plans to bring water to the city from the Owens Valley.
Historians Leonard Pitt and Dale Pitt said that Snyder was a Democrat during a time when Republicans were usually in charge. They noted he was first elected because he supported the city owning the water system. They also mentioned that his time as mayor was a very exciting period in the city's history.
