Snow, Charles H. (Charles Horace), 1877-1967

Charles Horace Snow was born in Lake County, California in 1877, the son of George and Annie Snow, who had come to the frontier from Missouri. He spent his childhood pursuing backcountry activities such as hunting, fishing, and swimming, while getting a basic primary education. While in his teens, he began to support himself as a miner. After a few successful years in the Pacific Northwest, with his older half -brother John Allen Veath, he went to Panama to work a mine there. However, Snow soon contracted malaria and was sent home to California.

Charles Snow spent the next several years wondering the western United States and Mexico, supporting himself through mining and prospecting. By 1914, John Veath, had become very successful, and offered his brother a university education in the profession of his choosing. Snow declined, preferring his rugged existence. Not long after, however, Charles Snow was blinded when an engine he was repairing exploded in his face. For three years, Snow struggled to come to terms with the loss of his sight, and to find a way to continue to support his family. It was Veath who suggested that he draw upon his early experiences and write stories of life in the West.

At the same time he launched his career as a writer, Charles Snow was also elected as a justice of the peace for Napa, California, where his family had settled. He also served as local correspondent for two metropolitan newspapers, the San Francisco Chronicle and The sacramento Bee. His stories and novels became extremely popular in Great Britain, and when hsi term of office was up four yearsn later, he was successful enough to devote himself full time to writing.

From the description of Charles H. Snow Collection, [ca. 1930 - 1967] (University of California, Santa Barbara). WorldCat record id: 62035692

Biography

Charles Horace Snow was born in Lake County, California in 1877, the son of George and Annie Snow, who had come to the frontier from Missouri. He spent his childhood pursuing backcountry activities such as hunting, fishing, and swimming, while getting a basic primary education. While in his teens, he began to support himself as a miner. He had an older half-brother, John Allen Veath, who obtained a position as assistant superintendent of a mine in British Columbia, Canada. Seeing an opportunity, Veath sent for his 17-year-old brother to join him, and Snow traveled north by train. After a few successful years in the Pacific Northwest, the brothers went to Panama to work a mine there. However, Snow soon contracted malaria and was sent home to California.

Charles Snow spent the next several years wandering the western United States and Mexico, supporting himself through mining and prospecting. During this time he married Halla Nunley, who soon gave birth to their daughter Thelma. By 1914, John Veath had become very successful, and offered his brother a university education in the profession of his choosing. Snow declined, preferring his rugged existence.

Not long after, however, Charles Snow was blinded when an engine he was repairing exploded in his face. For three years, Snow struggled to come to terms with the loss of his sight, and to find a way to continue to support his family. It was Veath who suggested that he draw upon his early experiences and write stories of life in the West. With the aid of his wife and daughter, Snow spent the following three years studying the rudiments of fiction, finally selling his first story in 1922.

At the same time he launched his career as a writer, Charles Snow was also elected as a justice of the peace for Napa, California, where his family had settled. He also served as local correspondent for two metropolitan newspapers, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sacramento Bee. His stories and novels became extremely popular in Great Britain, and when his term of office was up four years later, he was successful enough to devote himself full time to writing.

Charles H. Snow would go on to be one of the most prolific writers of all time, publishing 465 novels under both his own name and up to a dozen pseudonyms, such as Charles Ballew, Gary Marshall, Ranger Lee, and H.C. Averill. Throughout his career, he would dictate the stories to his daughter, who would transcribe them on a typewriter and send them to the publisher, usually Wright & Brown of London. In 1955, he was elected honorary president of the Western Writers Association. He was working on a new book when he died in 1967 at the age of 90.

From the guide to the Charles H. Snow Collection, ca. 1930-1967, (University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Department of Special Collections)

Charles H. Snow (1877-1967) was born in Lake County, California in 1877, the son of George and Annie Snow, who had come to the frontier from Missouri. Snow moved to Napa with his family in 1910. His early years were spent in mining camps throughout the west, British Columbia and South America. He married Halla Nunley, and had a daughter, Thelma.

Snow became a prolific writer of western stories, most of them published in England; only 35 of his 465 novels have been published in the United States. Blinded in 1914, at the age of 37 in a mining accident, he was not hampered by his handicap and often produced a complete novel in ten days. "Judge" Snow, who was a justice of the Peace for four years during the 1920s in Napa, California, started seriously writing in 1922 when he published his first story, "Stub - the Thoroughbred Throwback." He drew much of his material for western tales from his experiences living in mining camps that were often located in cattle country. In addition, he also wrote many short stories and magazine articles and served as Napa correspondent for two metropolitan newspapers.

Snow recorded his stories and his daughter would transcribe and type up the manuscripts, and make editorial changes if necessary. Virtually all of his novels have been published without changes by editors or publishers. Snow also wrote under the following pseudonyms: Ranger Lee, Wade Smith, Allen Forrest, Russ Hardy, Gary Marshall, Robert Cole, Charles Ballew, Chester Wills, H.C. Averill, James Dillard, and John Harlow. Many of his books have been translated to other languages and many were chosen for Armed Services Editions during the war period. The Library of Congress has recorded eight of his novels to be available to the blind.

In 1955, Snow was elected honorary president of the Western Writers Association. He was working on a new book when he died in 1967 at the age of 90.

From the guide to the Charles H. Snow papers, 1934-1960, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)