Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-04-12
Governor MaTuil Dead.
lie Passed Peacefully Away at s.15
P. N. on Monday last.

Governor Marvii died at 9.Is O'Clock Mon.
day night
On Saturday the consulting physieiars
thought be could not survive the night II
he did they had hopes Of pulling him
through. He seemed to take on renewed
vigor and the doctors until late Sunday
% ight entertained strong hopes of his recov.
ery. About O'Clock Monday morning he
began sinking.
The doors of the gubernatorial mansion
were thrown open and a concourse of eiti-
Gems, irrespective Of party affiliations. fled
through the room where lay the dyine chief
executive in a comatose condition Few,
if any, came out without tear-staiued
cheeks. His remarkable power Of eudur
ance and resistance. which have so often
puzzled the physicians, and on several &C
oasious within the past ten days has seem
inely suatched him from the cruel embrace
of DEATH was again asserted
Doors were closed and no one was ad-
mitted. The doctors entertained hopes Of
prolonging the inevitable for a few days at
least. This however, was Of short dura-
ton. The distinguished invalid again be-
gan sinking. A cloud overshadowed the
entire community. Indeed, if the doleful
funeral dirge had been ringing in everv fam
lily the sound could not have been a much
sadder one
Governor Marvil has been remarkable
man. Beginning life very poor boy and
struggling for a mere existence until he
was 80 years old, he was at the time of his
death the most extensive manufacturer on
the Peninsula, south Of Wilmington. and the
wealthiest citizen in the county. He had
never refused to aid poor young man, and
MANY citizens point to his charitable heart
with a saddened pride Groups of men were
seen on the street corners and in public
places discussing his life, when some stout
hearted man would fill up aud say: "Oh,
what friend he was to me How we will
miss him"
CHARACTER OF THE GOVERNOR
The death of Governor MarYil removes
one of the most prominent characters of
this state. In early life Mr.. Marvil saved
sufficient funds to open a small store A
few years later he patented berry basket
and crate, which he began making with
small hand machine. Several times, owing
to lack of funds; he was almost driven to
give up the business BE was compelled
for time to suspend. He pleaded with
men Of wealth to join him, but in vain.
Finally two merchants offered to accept his
orders in payment Of wages for six mouths
This was the foundation of his great wealth
His estate was the largest in the county.
His basket factory is the largest of the kind
in the United States. He is also an extern
sive holder Of Western ranches.
He was a staunch Democrat until the
breaking out Of the war, when he became !
a stalwart Republican. He was always an
active worker. but refused to accept Office. /
In 1890 the Republicans labored for weeks Z
him to accept the eubernatonal /
nomination. He was in poor health at the
time and declined the honor. The party |
was defeated by a large majority. This /
worried him not a little, for it was generally /
believed that he could have been elected by (
a handsome majority. Last year after con-
sidering the feasibility of accepting for
months, he reluctantly did so, and was
elected by large majority.
The physical strain was a severe one,
and he was unable to deliver an inaugural
address This caused the cruel statement
to be sent broadcast that he could neither
read nor write, which was false. He had
BY hard study become a fair scholar After
the inaugural he began to mend and hopes
we're entertained that he would live his term
out
The death OF his only brother, who died
If paralysis three weeks ago, and other
Vorriments compelled him to take to his
BED. Since then he had been in a precari-
'us condition, though on several occasions
lie rallied to such an extent that hopes were
for his recovery.
During the past three days he has been in
semi-couscious condition. One Of his last
dicial acts was to appoint James D. Spicer,
Young man who he had taken a great in
crest in, as state librarian
Mr.. Spicer expected to take charge of the
flee on Tuesday last, but Mr. Marvil, when
secretary Of State Smithers brought the
commission for his signature, was unable Z
> sign it. More than dozen Offices are
1T vacant 10 this way.
GOVERNOR MARvII's FUNERAL.
The funeral of Governor Marvll was held r
esterday afternoon in Laurel. services were o
by Rev. s. N. Pilchard. pastor of 2
lie NJ E. Church and iuterment mas made "
the Methodist Protestant Cemetary; where h
lie body of bis wife is buried "
The Legislature attended the funeral in O
'dy- going from Dover at 12.15 p. m. on II
'ecial train to Laurel The funeral was at. ~
nded by almost all the prominent men of y
e State and the exercises were Of a most &
lumn nature II
sKEcH OF GOVERNOR MARvIL. OF
Joshua Hopkins Marvii was born in Little d,
eek hundred, Sussex county, on Septem !,
T ) 1926. His family was originally of a. d
lgIish descent on the paterual side and Il
ench descent on the maternal side. He m
IS son Of Joseph Marvil, a farmer of
nited means, who was drowned in 1894 n
; left a widow aud six children, none Of So
$50 49, 6ASWAs Jo1NAh WHO was the 90
nth child, was compelled to work on the M M
m and was only able to attend school for a me
all part Of the school year When he was an
years Of age he hired man to take his nv
&c on the farm and he became mariner till
er following the water for year he en- ssi
ed in ship building, and began to de. ha
op the mechanical genius he had pos. Off
'ed from boyhood Before long he was in to
shipyard from apprentice to master hui
king aud holding the affections Of his u
overs he was soon the general foreman. a I.ss'
hen 81 years ofage he went into business ieff
himself established shop for the thir
ufscture Of agricultural implements VOL
III he carried on until 1860 In the his
ntime he had begun the manufacture Of +
cts aud crates In 1870 he invented IN
7 hand machiue for making berry bas fb5,
and be manufactured $4,000 Of them Der
AZ rranr The ea-~r .--..- frtr.-