Milford chronicle., 1931-11-27
DAVID 7. MARVEL,
FOR MER JUDGE,
DIES IN SUSSEX
[Continued from First Page1


4 men of the country than can he.
Judge Marvel for many years prac-
ticed his profession in Wilmington,
after leaving the State Supreme
Court bench, and it was not until 4
few weeks ago that he returned to
GEORGETOWN, the scenes of his boy
hood days, to spend the remainder
of his life in retirmeent with his
two sisters.
Judge Marvel was born on farm
in NanticOke hundred, five miles
from Georgetown, on November 2,
1851, son of the late Josiah p. and
4. Harriet Ann (Pepper) Marvel. His
birthplace has been in the Marvel
family for more than 225 years, and
a portion of it today houses one OF
: the largest hatchery and poultry
plants, the Marvel Poultry Farms, in
the United States, which is owned
and operated by his brother, Andrew
Marvel, also lawyer and extensive
landowner
Father Leading Democrat
Judge Marvels father was for
many years one of the leading Dem
ocrats of lower Delaware, and served
the county as SueIlH, plOtiOilOt"iJ
and county treasurer.
Judge Marvel attended the district
schools and later the Georgetown
Academy and private schools where
he received his preparation for en-
trance to Princeton University, from
which he was graduated in 1873 with
the degree of bachelor of arts.
Shortly thereafter he registered as
, student-at-law in the office of the
late Thomas F. Bayard. During the
winters of 1S73-1S74, he taught
mathematics in Reynolds Academy,
i'm Wilmington. In November, 1874,
he went to Washington with Senator
( Bayard, where he remained for three
years. During his years in Wash
ington, at the time General Grant
was President of the United States,
he came into contact with men OF
celebrated personality and power.
In 1876, he took the degree of
: master of arts from Princeton, and
in 1877 entered the Harvard Law
School from which he was graduated
with the degree of bachelor of laws
in 1879.
He was admitted to practice law
>
started on his life's work.
In February, 1880, he purchased
the Sussex Journal" and edited it
for three years. At that time the
s, paper was the oldest and most in
fiuential weekly in the State, adher-
ing to the principles of the Demo
cratic party. He sold the paper and
devoted his entire time to the prac-
ticing law.
1t was during the time that he
, was owner and editor of the Sussex
= Journal that he had the opportunity
to influence legislation pertaining to
the school system of the State He
: devoted an entire page exclusively
TO school matters and this he called
the "School Page" His fluent pen
and convicting editorials resulted in
many amendments to the school
laws.
His editorials advocating the es-
. tablishment OF public schools for ne
gro children were the first to appear
in the State, and at the beginning
met with great opposition. 1t is sig
nfffcant, however, after the first leg
isIature- to convene, after the series
of editorials, made provisions for
the schools.
In 1881, he served as clerk of the
lower House of the Delaware Legis-
lature, and the following year was
chosen county attorney for Sussex
County which office he filled for six
years.
He was inspector-general on the
staff of Governor David Hall from
1878 to 1882, and on the staff OF
Governor Charles Stockley from
lSS2-1SS6 This gave to him the
rank of brigadier-general. In 1892,
he was chosen Secretary of State of
Delaware, and in 1894 was appointed
one of the judges of the State Court.
Four years later he left the bench to
resume private practice in Whining
ton, where he had been legal advisor
for some of the largest corporations
in the State.
While on the bench, he compiled
two volumes of Delaware reports,
covering the term Of his office.
Before leaving Georgetown to en-
ter the office of Secretary of State
and later the State Court bench, he
served for four years as president of
the Georgetown Board of Education
and for two years secretary of the
State Board of Education.
During the World War, he was
Delaware chairman of the Commits
sion for Relief in Belgium, and after
the Armistice received a gold medal,
with a certificate of decoration, con-
ferred upon him by the "Comite Ma
tionale" with the approval and adj
vice of the Belgian Government, for
his services.
For many years he has been a
communicate of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church and has served as YES
tryman in Georgetown, Milford and
Dover, and was president of the
Church Club of Delaware.
Probably no man in the State has
given more aid to young men desir-
ing to obtain an education than
Judge Marvel. 1t is of interest to
note that Judge Marvel made his
own way through Princeton and
Harvard, receiving no financial as
sistance from anyone.
He stood in the first quarter of his
class for scholastic excellence in
Princeton, and during the entire
time took an active part in the af-
fairs of the college body. He was
captain of the football team, man.