St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-17
BY t. NJ. NEwsoN.
Article XXX.
RICHARD MARVIN.

be remembered as the pioneer china and
glassware dealer on Third street in this city.
He was born in England in 1917, and is now
the only surviving member OF large family.
Descended on the mothers side from Scottish
covenanters, and on the fathers side from
line of English non-conformists, the prin-
ciples OF civil and religious liberty became
an ingrained sentiment with him in his early
boyhood, and he shared in, and to this day
remembers the exciting times OF Catholic
emancipation and the first Reform bill. His
father lived and died with intense repub-
ican convictions.
EARLY EDUCATION.
Mr.Marvn's education was chiefly received
in classical boarding school in his native
town, taught by gentleman who was con-
sidered one of the best classical scholars in
the county, Rev. Jas. Buckham, who subse-
quently emigrated with his family to the
United States, and a son of his, Hon. T. s..
Buckham, now resides in Faribault Mr.. NJ.
was taken away from school In his fourteenth
year, against the protest of his tutor, and
just when he had become intensely inter
ested The rudiments of Latin and Greek
which he had commenced to study became
almost entirely obliterated by his own personal
disappointment. He had been somewhat
prominent in school among the younger
scholars, with reputation for aptitude in his
studies, and especially in English compost
ton, verse, &c, but all was changed, and
he became utterly discouraged and morbid.
His old tutor is still living and in good pos
session of his faculties, in his ninety-first
year, in Burlington, Vermont, and scholar
and teacher still correspond with each other
MARRIED-CAME TO ST. PAUL.
In 1887, at twenty years of age, Mr. NJ.
was married to Hannah, daughter of Mr..
Charles Reading, deceased, Of Warwick,
England, and niece OF Mr.. George Parker, @
prominent townsman of the same borough,
whose memory was held in high esteem.
Residing after their marriage, for some time
in Henley, in Arden, Warwickshire, where
their oldest son was born, they removed to
bennington, in the same county where
they lived, for some seven years. They
came to Cincinnati in the spring of 1915,
and he remembers we'll visit he made to
Professor Stone, at Lane Seminary, and
where he had the pleasure of dining with
him, and his since celebrated wife. The
Professor had just returned from England.
He spoke OF points of interest SO numerous
in the locality from which Mr.. NJ. came,
Warwick Castle especially. 1t was stated
that the Earl of Warwicl's rent role was
some $40, 900 per year. and yet he was poor.
Mrs. Stone, turning to her husband said,
''you see you are not the only poor man in
the world" Mr.. NJ. after remaining in
Cincinnati some six years, and having
gone through two very severe cholera
seasons, decided to come to st. Paul.
He arrived here in April, 1851, on the steam
boat Nominee. His advent in st. Paul was
very fortunate; his health had been broken;
he had never known well day in Cincin-
natl, and his pecuniary prospects had not
been encouraging. He found, in MINI esota
an entire change, and the commencement of
career of health such as he had not known
for years.
ATTEMPT AT FARMING.
In the first season he made an attempt at
farming, on place OF 1913 acres, which he had
purchased for a small sum, on the west side
of Bhalen's Lake. Being novice at the
business, he discontinued 1t, and rented a
few acres of it for some years to a tenant.
He continued to be the owner of tne same
place for "a years.
IN BUSINESS.
In the fall of 1851, Mr.. NJ. leased sot
on Third street, on which ths First
National Bank building was erected
some years later. He put up a
building npon 1t, and opened retail china
and glassware store. AS immigration to the
state was almost wholly by way of st. Paul,
the business of fitting out the new settlers was
lively. ii grew and prospered, and at that
time the Red River trade became important,
and many bill of ware was disposed of to
the half breed traders to be coveved by their
musical vehicles to their destina alton. In
1855 he erected brick building on Third
been occupied till short time ago by Nc
Gees restauranD, and in this he carried on
his business for several years. He subse-
auently moved into the building now occu-
pied by VIM. Lees wholesale dry goods
house, previously to which his son had
entered into partnership with him.
FIRST IMPORTATION FROM ENGLAND.
Years before the spring of 1857, Mr.. NJ.
had taken trip to England for the double
purpose of visiting old scenes and associa-
lions and establishing a direct trade
with the Staffordshire potterieS. He pur-
chased what was then accounted large
stock, some sixty crates Of ware; shipped
via New Orleans to St. Paul under bond,
and on their arrival here he paid the duties.
A FINANCIAL CRASH.
After Mr.. Ms return from England came
on the terrible financial revulsion of 1857,
which cost him nearly all he was worth, yet
straiteued as he was, he continued to import
and his credit remained unimpaired with his
English correspondents, and ia the mean
time his trade had become mainly jobbing
business. The war which subsequently,
came on put y bar on importation, and
was the cause, consequently, Of great loss to
him.
REAL ESTATE.
The real estate which he had purchased at
an early day, had appreciated very largely
in value, aud enabled him to sustain many
severe blows TO his business, but ultimately,
after the crisis of 1878, broken in energy
he gave up and lost all except
his self respect. Property which be
purchased for comparatively small amounts,
is now worth some sixty or seventy thousand
dollars But in thi$ peculiar phase of life he
was not alone; he has learned with others
by sad experience, that ''nothing is so sue
cessful (or 50 pop,sldr) as success" He is
now in his 6Sth year and has gone through
mental experiences which have baukrupted
his courage.