Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
DEFENDER OF THE SOUTH
State Auditor Continuously for More
Than Twenty-Six Years.
PROMINENT MEN AT FUNERAL
Flags in Richmond Placed at Half
Mast by Order of the
Governor

its last tribute Of respect Friday to the
oldest of all its public servants in the
funeral obsequies at Richmond for
Col. Morton Marye, the first state
| auditor Of the Old Dominion, who
died at his home in that city Thursday
afternoon at the age of eighty years.
The services were held at the Church
Of the Holy Trinity in that city. and
the interment was in old Hollywood
cemetery.
Col Marye was the son Of John Law
renee Marye and Anna Maria Burton
Marye, and probably was one of the
best known men in the Old Dominion
He was born September Z, 1881. at the
old family homestead. Brompton, at
Fredericksburg, Va, and spent his en-
tire life in Virginia. for whose rights
he gave loyal support during the civil
war.
His Early Life.
Col. Marye began life as a clerk in
the Office Of the late William H. Fowle
in Alexandria, and in his early man
hood was associated with Drayton G.
Meade in the agricultural implement
business. It was the clarion call that rams
for the troops in the dawn of the civil
war that brought into action the young
and vigorous manhood of Morton
Marye. He was captain of the old
Alexandria Rifles when that organiza-
ton was drafted into service on the
first call to arms by the state OF Vlr-
ginia. He saw his first military serv-
ice in connection with the John Brown
raid at Harpers Ferry. Later on he
went forth to battle as one of the Con-
federacy's most gallant officers.
Col. Marye proved a fighter of courage
Nf
the 18th Virginia Regiment is known to
hundreds of his fellow-citizens as well as
to many who are familiar with the cam
paigns in Virginia. He fought in all the
big battles of the war and at the second
Manassas engagement he lost a leg.
He was captured at the Frazers Run
battle, carried to Boston, and later ex-
changed and returned to Virginia.
In 1869 Col. Marye became clerk Of the
corporation court of Alexandria, and as
such was also ex-officio clerk Of the Alex
andria circuit court. Judge James
Keith, now president Of the court Of ap-
peals then presided on the bench Of that
circuit, and he also describes Col. Marye
as a clerk who had few equals.
Elected State Auditor.
Col Marye was later elected by the
state legislature of 1883 to be the first
state auditor. an office created by that
body. He held that Office continuously
up to the time of his death. and the pos
sibility Of his defeat never once entered
the minds Of those familiar with the
public affairs of the commonwealth. He
came into Office in 1883. at a time when
his political party and the state needed
the services Of man of integrity and
hrmness of purpose. His administration
Of his office proved that he was the right
man for a position of trust and public
confidence, and his reelection to the Of
fee, notwithstanding the high character
Of his opponents, confirmed the judgment
Of the electors.
Col Marye's mastery of the intricacies
of state finance was complete, and many
Of the laws on the statute books of Vir-
ginia were either the product of his
mind or the result Of his importantly.
1t is related that during the years of his
Dominion hundreds of thousands Of dol
lars by financial shrewdness.
Col. Marye will be remembered best by
Virginians and many of the old-time
former residents of the state now resid-
ing in the District of Columbia as the
big. rugged, honest. old soldier who was
rarely too busy to lend an ear to the
call of charity or share the sorrows and
cares of others in giving aid or good
cheer and counsel to those in distress.
Defends Marye's Hill.
Inc DIG hill just DdCk OF the Town Oh
Fredericksburg, known as Maryes hill,
is named for his relatives, who lived
there for many years. This hill overlooks
the town of Fredericksburg. 1t will be
remembered by many, doubtless, that one
Of the most fiercely contested battles of
the entire war was fought there. 1t was
on the night of December II that Gen.
Burnside crossed the Rappahannock at
r-l
crate forces back to the Marye Heights
that overlook the town. During the
three days of fighting that followed in
attempts to dislodge the Confederate
forces intrenched along the summit of
the heights, the Union forces suffered, a
slaughter that was appalling. Col. Marye
was among those who held the hilltop, and
when Burnside withdrew he left 1.2S4
dead on the bloody hillside, had $500
wounded and, besides, there were ], 1853
missing. 1t was one of the greatest bat
ties Of the war and Col. Marye was
among the defenders of the hill.
Col. Marye's wife, who was formerly
Miss Caroline Homassel Voss of Haw-
thorne, Rappahannock county. and five
children survive him. The children are:
Mrs. Mary Thornton Thompson, wife OF
John s. Barbour Thompson Of Atlanta,
Ca: Burton Marye, Robert Voss Marye,
Morton Marye, jr., and Philip Thornton
Marye.
The honorary pallbearers included many
Of the most prominent men in the state
and the flags Of the statehouse at Rich
mond were lowered to half mast by order
Of the governor in honor to Col. Marye's