Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-11
JOSIAH MARVEL
EXPIRES SUDDENLY
Was Democratic National
Committeeman and Ameri-
can Bar Group Head.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
WILMINGTON, Del, october IL
Josiah Marvel, Democratic national
committeeman from Delaware and
president of the American Bar Asso-
citation, died suddenly of heart attack
at his home, near here, early today.
Mr.. Marvel, who was "a, died short
time after the arrival Of physician at
his home, Nantocoko, Greenville. His
death came as distinct shock to his
family and friends.
Active in the Democratic party's
State and national affairs for years,
Mr. Marvel was defeated for the NOM
ination as United States Senator by
Thomas F. Bayard at the Democratic
State convention on September Is last.
Mr. Marvel was backed by the "drys,"
while Mr.. Bayard ran as a pronounced
"wet"
Had Distinguished Law Career.
A long and distinguished career in
the legal profession was climaxed on
August % of this year, when Mr.. Marvel
was unanimously elected president Of
the American Bar Association at its
convention in Chicago He succeeded
Henry Epson Sims of Birmingham,
Ala.
Mr.. Marvel was prominent in Della
ware law and political circles and in the
councils of the Democratic party He
also was noted as an orator and as an
authority on the Constitution and de-
livered many addresses in various parts
of the country.
The firm of Marvel g. Marvel, of
which he was member, has a large
corporation and general law practice
During his political career he had many
opportunities of becoming a candidate
for public Office, but refused, preferring
to remain in the background until this
year, when he became a candidate for
Senator. In 1908 he was chairman of
the George Gray Presidential Commit
tee at the Democratic National Con-
vention.
George III Granted Homestead.
He was born on farm near George
town, Del His family is of English
origin, but has been American in both
branches for generations. The original
Marvel homestead was on tract OF
land at Georgetown granted by King
George III and the family lived there
for six generations.
Mr.. Marvel's mother was a descend
ant of Thomas Jefferson and of the
Rodneys of Delaware.
He made his power in the Democratic
party felt at the National Convention in
Denver in 1903, where he worked for
the interests of Judge Gray. A sup
porter of Bryan at the convention said
that II six men like Mr.. Marvel had
worked against Mr.. Bryan the latter
would never have received the nomi-
nation.
Mr.. Marvel served as member OF
the Finance Committee of the Demo-
cratic National Convention in the 1908
campaign and was urged as the partys
for Congress in Delaware In
1910. but refused. He was selected as
the temporary chairman Of the Demo-
cratic State Convention and delivered
the keynote speech.
He established loan fund for the
aid of students at Delaware College ana
was a member of the State Highway
Commission. He was a former presi-
dent of the Delaware State Bar Asso-
citation, the Wilmington Rotary Club,
the Wilmington Club, the Wilmington
County Club, the Delaware Grange, the
Farm Bureau of Newcastle County and
the Wilmington Lodge, No. 3O7, BeneVo-
lent Protective Order OF Elks.
Mr. Marvel was married April ~,
1898 to Miss Mary Jackson, daughter
of Representative w. H. Jackson OF
Maryland. They had six children,
Jackson, Josiah, 4th; Jane, Mary, Ann
and William.