Alameda County
Biographies
ANSON S. BLAKE.
Anson S. Blake is actively identified with a number of the business concerns of Oakland and is doing much to aid in the development of the city. The most of his life has been devoted to contracting and he has done a great deal of municipal and street work, giving invariably satisfactory service. He was born in San Francisco in 1870, his parents being Charles T. and Harriet Waters (Stiles) Blake, natives of New Haven, Connecticut, and of Massachusetts respectively. In 1849 the father came to California by way of Nicaragua and was for many years engaged in mining in this state, Nevada and Idaho, part of the time in the employ of others and part of the time for himself. He had a large number of interesting stories of the rough life of the mining camps of that period and always enjoyed recalling those early days when the state was in the making. In 1872 he came to Oakland and became a partner in the Oakland Paving Company, with which concern he continued until his death, in 1897, at which time he was its president. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, but he never took an active part in politics, while fraternally he was a Mason. His widow is still living and resides in Berkeley.
Anson S. Blake was graduated from the public and high schools of San Francisco and from the University of California, receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree from the latter institution in 1891. He immediately entered into business relations with his father as secretary of the Bay Rock Company, remaining with that concern until its dissolution in 1894. At that time he became interested in the Oakland Paving Company, with which his father was also associated, and he rose rapidly, becoming president of the organization in 1909. He continued to hold that responsible position until 1914, when he disposed of his interest in the company to. F. W. Bilger, a well known resident of Oakland. Ten years previously, in 1904, Mr. Blake with his brother, Edwin T., and F. W. Bilger organized the firm of Blake & Bilger, of which the subject of this review was the president. In 1914. Mr. Bilger retired from that firm, which is now known as Blake Brothers Company. They are general contractors and have done much important work in their line, including a great deal of street paving. The brothers have an expert knowledge of the various materials that can be used and of the conditions under which each will give the most satisfactory service. This knowledge, combined with their practical methods of construction and their reliability, has won for them a high reputation as contractors and they have a very extensive and lucrative patronage. Mr. Blake's connections with the various companies mentioned above do not exhaust his business activities, however, as he is president of the San Francisco Quarries Company, which operates large quarries in Richmond and in Marin county, and he is also a director in the Central National Bank and the Central Savings Bank of Oakland.
Mr. Blake was married in San Francisco, May 17, 1894, to Miss Anita D. Symmes, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Symmes. Her father is one of the well known business men of San Francisco and is receiver for the California Safe Deposit Company.
Mr. Blake is a republican but has never taken an active interest in politics. He is a member of several clubs of the Bay cities, belonging to the Claremont Country Club, the University Club of San Francisco, Athenian Club and the Commercial Club and the Chamber of Commerce of Oakland. He has resided on the shores of San Francisco bay during his entire life and is enthusiastic concerning the delightful conditions of life and the splendid opportunities to be found in this section of the state.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 487
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
CHARLES E. SNOOK.
Charles E. Snook, successfully engaged in the practice of law in Oakland as a member of the firm of Snook & Church, is a native of California, born in San Francisco, February 19, 1863. He is a son of William S. and Susan Helen (Louchran) Snook and is a member of an old American family, his paternal ancestors having arrived in this country from England in 1812, becoming residents of New York State. The maternal branch, which was of Irish origin, settled in Vermont in early times.
Charles E. Snook acquired his early education in the public schools of Oakland and afterward attended the Oakland high school, from which he was graduated in 1879. After he had laid aside his books he entered the employ of Goldberg, Bowen & Company and when he resigned this connection began the study of law under Judge S. P. Hall, of the appellate bench. Mr. Snook was admitted to the bar of California on the 1st of February, 1886, and opened an office on Sansome street, in San Francisco, with the firm of Lowenthal & Sutter. After one year he formed a partnership with Mr. Sutter under the name of Sutter & Snook. He was elected justice of the peace of Oakland in 1888 and after serving four years was made district attorney of Alameda county, assuming office in January, 1893, and serving with credit and ability for six years thereafter. In 1899 he formed a partnership with L. S. Church under the firm name of Snook & Church and this is his present professional connection. Mr. Snook handles all of the civil cases and is an able practitioner of civil law, his success being indicated by a large and representative clientage. He is a director of the Security Bank & Trust Company of Oakland and a man of recognized honesty and ability.
In 1889 Mr. Snook was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Wade and they have become the parents of three children, Charles W., Preston E. and Helen J. Mr. Snook gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in addition to the offices before mentioned served for ten months as a member of the board of regents of the University of California and also as secretary of the state central committee under Governor Pardee. He is a member of the Athenian and Nile Clubs and well known in social circles of Oakland. His attention is, however, largely given to his profession, in which he has made rapid advancement, standing today among its most successful representatives in this part of the state.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 489
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler