Smyrna times., 1894-08-29
MY AvIARY.
ARBCTUs.
A LOVER.
The Republican Candidates.
SKETCH OF JOSHUA H. MARvIL

Joshua Hopkins Marvil was born in
Little Greek 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 MaIvil, father
of Joshua Ii Marvil, was a farmer of
limited means, but honest, industrious
and inculcated the habits of industry
upon his children, in which he was
ably assisted by his good wife, Sally
Ann, nee Hopkins, to whom he was
was united in marriage in 1916.
Mr.. Marvil's father died from drown
ing in 1884 at the age of 46 years. He
left a widow with six small children,
aud 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 of 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 10 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 man to take his place on the
farm, Joshua became a mariner, for a
year, and afterwards engaged in ship
building for seven years. 1t was now
that he began to develop the mechani-
cal genius that had possessed him from
bOyhood, and which urged him to study
with commendable and earnest persist
ence until he compelled the hidden
doors of mechaniCism to open at his
command so great was his proficiency
that he arose from the position OF an
apprentice to that of master workman,
holding the confidence of the firm that
gave him employment until he became
their trusted and honOred chief work
man. In his 2Sth year Mr.. Marvil
established a shop for the manufacture
of agricultural implements, which he
carried on until 1865. Here he was
also successful, adding to it a general
uperintendence OF such mechanical
work as was entrusted to him, besides
merchandising until 1870, when he
practically began the basket and crate
business which has until the present
day occupied his attention at Laurel.
By the operation of a small hand ma,
chine which he invented in 1870 Mr.
Marvil made $4,000 baskets. After ex
perimenting the following year Mr.
Marvil substituted steam power for the
smaller hand machine, and, protected
by letter patent. manufactured 600,00C
fruit baskets and crates to contain thu
same. The business increased rapidly 81
that he is now manufacturing annually
1000, 900 fruit baskets of different kind
and capacities.
In 1S49 Mr.. MarVil was married Il
Miss Sarah Ann Sirman, OF SUSSEX
: county. Three sons were the fruit o
this marriage, two of whom are asso
ciated with their father in business ant
all possess the same sterling principle
that mark the life of the parents.
Mr. MarVil is a man of unswerVinj
integrity, Of deep convictions and of
penetrating mind. He is to strange
taciturn, rarely expressing an opinion
on any subject until the appropriat
. time for him to speak has come an,
then the opinion invariably command
respect. He is an excellent and i'm
partial judge of men, being rarely de
ceived in his estimate. In religion MI
Marvil is a member of the Methods
- Episcopal Church and is an earnest aC
vocate of her measures, In philar
; thropy bis hand is always open. thoug
- he practices the instructions of his mai
j ter in not letting the right hand kno'
III what the left hand doeth. In polite
" he is a Republican. He has never b,
fore been a candidate for office, an
while he has frequently been urge
by his party to run, he has refused I
IN do so.