Surnames: Snowdon, McSherry, Hogg
Charles L Snowdon is the son of John N Snowdon and Eliza J McSherry Snowdon and the grandson of Captain John Snowdon. Charles L Snowdon was born June 25, 1854, in Brownsville, Penna, and was reared and educated there. He was afterwards employed as a clerk for several years and from 1873 to 1877 acted as teller in the Dollar Savings Bank of Brownsville. In 1887 he went as first clerk of the steamer Geneva that ran between Pittsburgh and Brownsville, and belonged to the Pittsburgh, Brownsville & Geneva Packet Co. He remained in this capacity for three years.In January, 1880, he becaem interested in the Umpire Coal Works of Cunningham & Co. The firm consisted of J S Cunningham, L H Abrams, and C L Snowdon. They continued in business together till 1881 when J S Cunningham and L H Abrams drew out, and S S Graham and W B McCormick
became interested and the firm then became Graham, Snowdon & co. In 1882 S S Graham sold his interest to N B Hogg Jr, and the name was changed to C L Snowdon & Co.The mine is located just above the mouth of Redstone Creek between the railroad bridge and Brownsville. The coal is of superior quality and is shipped by river to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and New Orleans. They shipped from this mine annually from one and one half to two millions of bushels of coal and employ on the average one hundred and twenty five men. The firm of C L Snowdon & Co operate coke overs in connection wth their coal mining interests, and their coke is pronounced by the Edgar Thompson Steel Works to be equal to the Connellsville or any other coke they have ever used. The slack and dust from this mine has preference in the Pittsburgh market.
In 1882 Mr Snowdon opened the Oro Coal Works on Water street opposite the glass works in Brownsville; he operates them to supply the home trade. In 1885 Mr Snowdon formed a partnership with Frank T Hogg and opened the Albany mine, located one mile down the river from Brownsville
near the mouth of Redstone creek on the site of the old Albany Glass Works. The coal is of an excellent quality and they ship from two million to two and a half million bushes yearly.As it will be seen from the above recital of Mr Snowdon's business ventures, he is a stirring, energetic, go ahead businessman.
On June 26, 1879, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hogg, daughter of George E Hogg of Brownsville. They have four children: Eliza Snowdon; George Hogg Snowdon; Caroline McClurg Snowdon; and Felix Brunot Snowdon.
Mr Snowdon is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church at Brownsville and is a member of the vestry. He is a member of the borough council, havng been twice elected, first in 1883, re-elected in 1887, and in 1889 he was elected as a member of the school board.