ca. 1905. Interior view of a room in the Marshall K. Snell home circa 1905. Col. Snell was a prominent attorney in Tacoma for over fifty years. He and wife Bertha lived at 107 South G St. This room is possibly the parlor/reading room with delicate wallpaper, fine rugs and flowered pillows juxtaposed with sturdy leather rocking chairs and a fierce bear rug. Several paintings adorn the walls.

Snell, Marshall K.--Homes & haunts;

107 South G Street was the home of Col. Marshall K. Snell, prominent Tacoma attorney for over 50 years. The woman on the porch may be his wife, Bertha, who became the first practicing woman lawyer in the State of Washington. Orphaned at an early age in Iowa, Col. Snell (born Marshall King) was adopted by William J. Snell whose last name he took. He worked his way through the University of Wisconsin, obtaining his law degree there, and moved to Tacoma in 1888. For a number of years Marshall Snell served as defense attorney in many famous murder and other criminal trials. He later moved into civil practice specializing in corporate law and also became known for his expertise as a railroad lawyer. Col. Snell was a man of many interests including farming, animal husbandry, and played a leading role in the good roads movement which made an adequate farm-to-market road system a reality in this state. He donated sites for county and village schools and churches and community centers. Unlike most of his compatriots, Col. Snell did not join fraternal organizations or clubs. He was, however, a life member of the Washington Historical Society and reportedly owned the finest private library of Northwest history in these parts. Marshall Snell passed away in Tacoma on April 19, 1939, age 79. (Downs, Encyclopedia of Northwest Biography, p. 109-110 -article)

Snell, Marshall K.--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1903. This large Victorian style home with veranda at 107 South G Street was the residence of Col. Marshall K. Snell, prominent Tacoma attorney, who practiced in the State of Washington for more than fifty years. Another view of the house can be seen at TPL 1021 with a few landscaping differences. Col. Snell, an Iowa native who was educated at the University of Wisconsin, came to Tacoma in 1888. He was involved in criminal defense and later corporate law. His second wife Bertha was the first woman to be admitted to practice in Washington and became her husband's law partner throughout the rest of his life. Col. Snell made time for a variety of interests besides law including breeding and showing horses, farming problems and solutions and developing good roads to make marketing farmers products easier and more beneficial to the growers. School, church and community center sites were donated by Col. Snell for the betterment of others. Col. Snell would pass away in Tacoma on April 19, 1939, at the age of 79. (Downs, Winfield, Encyclopedia of Northwest Biography, p. 109-110-article)

Snell, Marshall K.--Homes & haunts;