My Genealogy Hound

Sylvester Stephen Marvin, cracker manufacturer and president of the Pittsburgh Exposition Society, was born in Ogden, Monroe county, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1841. In the colonial days three brothers of this name emigrated from England to Connecticut, and from one of them the subject of this sketch is descended. His grandfather, Stephen Marvin, was a farmer in Ogden and a man of sterling religious character. His influence was strongly impressed upon his children, and is still observed in his descendants. His son, Aaron Marvin, married Lucy Stephens, and moved to Lockport, N. Y., where he engaged in farming in 1848. He now resides in Beaver county, Pa.

Sylvester S. Marvin is the only son of Aaron, and remained on the Lockport farm, attending the country school, till thirteen years old. He then went to live with an uncle, Walter K. Marvin, who dealt in agricultural implements at Lockport, and with him began his commercial training. Here he attended an excellent private school. The family soon after moved to New York city, and Sylvester here found employment when out of school in the office of the Marvin Safe company. His business experience was further extended by a residence in St. Joseph, Mo., where he was employed in a store and as clerk on a ferryboat. Returning to Lockport in 1860, he enlisted in the following spring as a private in the 28th N. Y. V., Co. K, for two years. Mr. Marvin was in the battles of Winchester, Ball’s Bluff, Manassas and Cedar Mountain. In the latter Sergt. Marvin was wounded. Only six men of Co. K responded to roll-call next morning, and all the field officers had been killed or maimed.

At the close of his term of enlistment, Mr. Marvin came to Pittsburgh to take charge of a cracker bakery. He at once set to work to master the practical workings of the establishment, and in a few months became the manager and owner. From a very insignificant institution, it has grown under his management to be the most extensive in the United States. Mr. Marvin has served as president of the grain and flour exchange, is a stockholder in several banks, a director in the Commercial National, director in the Union Bridge company and National Iron and Steel Publishing company, and member board of managers and charter member of Shadyside Academy. In 1885 he began to urge the importance to Pittsburgh of a permanent exposition. A society was formed, with J. J. Gillespie as president, and S. S. Marvin as vice-president. On the death of Mr. Gillespie in 1886, Mr. Marvin became president. He has been untiring and unselfish in his efforts to promote the enterprise, and to his labors is largely due its success.

In 1870, Mr. Marvin married Matilda Rumsey, of New Rochelle, N. Y., and they have two sons, Walter Rumsey and Earle Rumsey. The grandparents of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin lived on adjoining farms, but this couple never knew each other till they were grown up. The family is associated with Shadyside Presbyterian Church; Mr. Marvin is a member of Duquesne Post, G. A. R. and is a republican.