The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-04
A GEORGIA ROMANCE.
The Death of a Banker Brings Out
An Interesting History.f.

I 3iNiiio was pfSS1uenI OIL IQe tllSI M
; tionsl bank of the little town of Coz
! dele, in the southern part OF the stat
and was A shrewd and capable bushes
man His health broke down fro,
overwork, and he was sent to the san
tarium for treatment, but succumbe
to the disease and died a few day
ago.
To begin at the beginning, it will b
necessary to go back to period jus
prior TO the war, when John Pitts,
bachelor, who had acquired quite
large amount of property, suddenly an
nounced to his friends that he believe
he would get married. No sooner ha
he formed that resolution than h
dressed himself in his best clothes, pU
on his hat and walked down Whitehall
street to a millinery establishment con
Quoted by maiden lady in moderat
circumstances.
In a few words he explained his mis-
sion, proposed marriage and was &C
cepted, and in a few hours the tw'
were made one. Pitts was a good bust
ness man, and had accumulated quite
a lot OF property IN real estate, which
! was comparatively cheap at that time
and by the time the civil war broke GU
he was considered a rich man. But HI
| formed a sudden resolution to volunteer
in the confederate service, and, joining
/ IL Stiilpoiiy. ne went 10 the iIOlll / Ia
was the last that was ever heard of hin
/ by his wife and his friends. She watch
ed and waited for some tidings of heI
husband, and finally, after the wal
closed and there were still no tidings
of the missing man, she gave him UP
for dead and assumed control of the
property, being the sole heir of the
missing man.
60 @ 8
A TA,.
]. Is. Marvin of st. Louis, with his
wife and young son, and he opened an
Office on Whitehall street as a "gyne-
cologist," and he soon secured a lucra-
tive practice in his profession, which
was then little known in this section.
While practicing his profession he
formed the acquaintance of the wealthy
widow, Mrs. Pitts, and they became
great friends. as DIR. Marvin posses
sed large amount of personal mag
netism and was very attractive among
the ladies.
Suddenly he closed his office, an
nounced his intention of removing to
Cincinnati, and, packing up his belong
ings, he took his wife and boy and left
the city. He remained away a year
or two, and as suddenly appeared again
in Atlanta, but without his wife and
son. After a time he renewed his ac-
acquaintance soon ripened into a
warmer feeling than mere friendship,
and the two were married.
@ @ @
DR.. Marvin was a fine business man.
and when he assumed control of Mrs.
Pitts property it had increased in
value, and by judicious investment, at
a time when Atlanta real estate was On
a boom, he soon became very wealthy
man.
In 1888 the Georgia Southern &
Florida railroad was built from Macon
southwark, crossing the Savannah, Am
CIRCUS G. Montgomery; also,
newly built road at the little town of
Cordele, in the southern part of the
state. Cordele was a boom town, and
DR.. Marvin was quick to take advan-
tage of the opportunity offered to make
profitable investments there. He
placed his money so judiciously and
the property with such
success that he soon became a magnate
in the little town. He established the
First National bank, Of which Joseph
r. Biyins, an active young business
man of Americas, was made cashier.
DR.. Marvin engaged in local politics.
which he controlled through his wealth |
and influence. and became mayor of !
the town. He took the side of prohi- |
treat influence in shaping the govern |
nent Of the town.
He continued to deal in real estate, |
md in two or three years was recog- |
lized as the Wealthiest man in all that |
lection. But in 1891 he was stricken |
With sudden illness and died. His |
widow was inconsolable. She procured |
he services Of a skilled embalmer and |
lad the body carefully treated. 1t was |
hen placed in a handsome and costly !
asket and placed in n conspicuous po-
ition in her parlor, where she could
-aZe on the dead face of her husband
trough the glass front of the coffin.
his eccentric action on her part ere
ted a great deal of comment, but the
fidow paid no heed to it, and the
ruesome reminder of connubial hap
mess remained there for about three
ears. the widow occupying the lonely
lansion with no other companion dur
lg all those years.
90 g o
Young Bivins in the meantime con-
ucted the affairs of the bank with
uch success and ability that he was
ected president to succeed DR.. Mar
in. He was young man about 80
ears of age, active and vigorous and
E looked after the affairs of Mrs. Mar
in with the utmost diligence.
AS she was we'll advanced in years,
nd, apparently, so devoted to the ]
emory of her late husband. nobody ]
opposed that she would consider for a | !
omelt any suggestion Of another {
atrimonial venture. Consequently, !
hen the marriage of President Bivins {
I'D Mrs. Marvin was announced, the {
was electrified by the news. {
But they were married, and, to add to {
lie sensational features of the we'd
ng. when they started north on their
'idal trip they took with them the
Isket containing the body of DIR. Mar
N, and at Macon turned it over to an |
ldertaker for burial, while they pro-
eded on their journey.
Bivins assumed control of the Atlanta
-operty of his wife, as we'll as her in
rests in Cordele, and for time all
ant merry as a marriage bell, but very {
leXpectedly there appeared another
tor on the scene, in the person of 4 {
Jung man calling himself Harry Mar
II, who claimed to be the son of DR.. J. 1
Marvin, Icy his first wife. He
aimed that his mother was dead and
at he was the sole and lawful heir
his fathers estate. The appearance 4
this young man created somewhat
q sensation, and for awhile Bivins
d his wife resisted the claims Of the
ir-at-law. He appealed to the courts, \
wever. and succeeded in establish
3 his identity. Thereupon, Bivins
d his wife decided upon a compro- y
sc to avoid costly litigation.
Young Marvin was given the titles 10
generous share OF the Atlanta prop
~, on condition that he urge no. fur A
er claim upon his fathers estate. In
year or so after this settlement, Mrs.
wins died, leaving her husband sole a
ir to her estate
And now, while still a young man
d in the prime and vigOr of life, the
SCISSOR of large and valuable prop
les, Joseph +. Bivins, the third hus- =,
nd of a remarkable woman, has :,
ssed away. leaving young Marvin as
nnlX actor in this chain of roman