Snodgrass was born in Liverpool, England, the son of Robert Snodgrass. His early education was at Liverpool Methodist School. When he was 10 his family migrated to Nelson, New Zealand. On 27 January 1896 Snodgrass married Annie Frankham, the daughter of Walter Frankham, and they had five children — two sons and three daughters — including Wallace Frankham Snodgrass who played three matches for the All Blacks.
Business
Snodgrass was a member of his father's merchant firm of R. Snodgrass and Sons in Nelson.
Political career
Snodgrass was a City Councillor for three years and elected Mayor from 1917 to 1921. William Lock and he contested the Mayoralty for a number of elections with Lock winning in 1921. Snodgrass was appointed to the Legislative Council on 2 September 1921. At the end of his terms, he was reappointed in September 1928 and in September 1935. He remained a member until his disappearance in 1939.
Community service
Snodgrass was President of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce from 1913-1914. He was also a member of the Nelson Harbour Board, Patriotic Society, and War Funds Council. In 1918 he was awarded the MBE for his patriotic work during World War I. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.
Disappearance
Snodgrass was a passenger on the Arahura sailing from Wellington to Nelson on 20 March 1939 and disappeared during the voyage. The account of the voyage stated that Snodgrass had supper with the master, Captain Hay, and retired to his cabin fairly early. When the other occupant of the cabin, Walter S. Dillon, went to bed Snodgrass was in his bunk reading, and they later said goodnight. In the morning Snodgrass was missing. His clothes and effects were in the cabin. Three years later his daughter, Florence, also died at sea. She was married to Colonel C. S. J. Duff, Commander of the New Zealand Artillery and had been serving in the WAAF in England. She lost her life when SS Port Hunter was torpedoed and sunk by U-582 in the Atlantic north-west of the Canary Islands on 11 July 1942.
