Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-23


The closing feature of the convention
was speech by Senator Higgins. who
was given warm welcome and spoke
for an hour. His speech was mainly
bitter attack upon the new Tariff bill.
William S. Hilles also spoke briefly.
The Laurel Republican Club mem-
bers wearing badges that were adorned
with pictures of peach basket and a
barrel, distributed piacards bearing. a
very crcditable cut vi the candidate for
governor.
Theconvention adjourned with cheers.
1t had not been an especially enthusias-
tic gathering, but it was harmonious.
And that was an event that made yes.
terday red-letter day in the history OF
the Republican party of Delaware.
They had secured harmony without
being compelled to use club.
After the convention the new State
central committee met and organized by
re-electing General James II. Wilson
chairman and Hugh G. Browne secre-
tary. The committee is as follows:
First district neutrality-suspicious.
Greeley Knowles, A. G.. b. Anderson,
colored, James Kitchens.
Second district New Castle County,
General James II. Wilson, DR.. l..
Heisler Ball, Hugh q. Browne.
Third district (Kent County)-J.
Frank Alice, Paris 4. Carlisle, David s.
Clark.
Fourth district Sussex County,
George IL. Smith, DR.. O. II. Layton, DIR.
Hiram II. Burton.
SKETCH OF JOSHUA II. MARvIL.
Joshua Hopkins Marvil was born in
Little Creek hundred, Sussex county,
September Sd, 1925. The Marvil family
have been in Delaware for more than
one hundred years, being originally of
English descent on the parental, and
French descent on the maternal side.
They were engaged in agricultural and
marine pursuits Joseph Marvil, father
of Joshua Ii. Marvil, was a farmer of
limited means, but honest, industrious
and inculcated the habit of industry
upon his children, in which he was
ably assisted by his good wife, Sally
Ann, nee Hopkins, to whom he was
united in marriage in 1915.
Mr.. Marvil's father died from drown
ing in 1884 at the age of 46 years He
LETT widow with six small children,
and it required all the energy the
mother possessed to maintain her family
| Of children. On this account the educa-
tional advantages of the children were
meagre, and Joshua, the fourth child
was almost cut off from them by family
cares. AS he grew old enough to attend
school, which was three miles distant
from the farm on which his mother
lived, he found the farm work so press
ing that he only managed to get day
here, and day there, to go to school.
Surrounded by such an embarrassing
situation, he had the privilege of tuition
for only about 80 days.
He toiled diligently with his mother
until he was 20 years of age and then
hiring a man to take his place on the
farm, Joshua became mariner, for q
year, and afterwards engaged in ship
building for seven years. 1t was now
that he began to develop the mechanical
genius that had possessed him from
boyhood, and which urged him to study
with commendable and earnest persist
ence until he compelled the hidder
doors of mechanism to open at his com
mand so great was his proficiency tina
he arose from the position OF an appren
tice to that of master workman, holding
the confidence Of the firm that gave hin
employment until he became thei
trusted and honored chief workman. Ii
his 28th year Mr.. Marvil established
shop for the manufacture of agriculture
implements, which he carried on unit
, 1865. Here he was also successful
adding to it Il general perintendenc
of such mechanical work as was eli
trusted 10 him, besides merchandising
until 1870, when he practically begal
the basket and crate business which ha
until the present day occupied his at
tention at Laurel.
!, BY the operation of small hand ma
chine whicn he invented in 1870 Mi
Marvil made 20 900 baskets. After ex
perimenting the following year MI
. Marvil substituted steam power for til
f smaller hand machine, and, protected
r by letters patent, manufactured 900, 10
fruit baskets and crates to contain til
; same. The business increased rapidly S
:, that he is now manufacturing annual
100000 fruit baskets of different kind
and capacities.
, In lo49 Mr.. Marvil was married t
!, Miss Sarah Ann Srman OF SUISSE
county. Three sons were the fruit {
this marriage, two of whom are assC
ciated with their father in business an
all possess the same sterling principle
1 that mark the life of the parents.
Mr.. Marvil is u man of unswervin
I. integrity, of deep convictions and of
+ penetrating mind. He is to strange
n taciturn, rarely expressing an opinio
on any subject until the apprOpriat
n time for him to speak has come an
then the opinion invariably commanc
q respect. He is an excellent and In
i partial judge of men, being rarely d,
q ceived in his estimate. In religion NJ
r Marvil is a member of the Methods
I Episcopal church and is an earnest at
vocate of her measures. In philal
, thrJpy his hand is always open, thoug
!, he practices the instructions of his ma
ter in not letting the rtght hand kno
!. what the left hand doeth. In politi,
n he is Republican. He has never b
while he has frequently Geen urged
d his party TO run, he has refused to do S
Il SKETCH OF j. S. WILLIS.
y The Rev. Jonathan Spencer Will
Il son of William Barnaby Willis al
Mary Spencer, was born in Talb
;, county, Nd, April 9th, 1880. II
u father served as sheriff of Talb
y y county and was member of the Mar
|" land Legislature. The Rev. Jonathan
=. Willis grew up at Long Point, b
fathers farm near Oxford, Nd. He o
: tended the public schools and at the al
i Of IA was clerk in a grocery store
~ ~ Georgetown, d. c. A few years lat
- he taught in the district schools.
In 1854 Mr.. Willis became preach
in the Philadelphia Conference. II
A first charge us Methodist minister W
,r at Ceutreyille. Md. His next aDpoir