HARD COKE MARSHALL. Coke Marshall, of Portsmouth, Virginia, died the seventieth year of his age. dest son of Fielding Lewis Marshall and Rebecca ole Marstall, and a great-grandson of Chief Justice ond was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, 1811. His early education was gotten at Clifton Preprzetory School, Markham, Virginia. At the age of sixteen years he spa 4 the Confederate army, serving first with Company H Sth Virginia Cavalry, and afterwards with Seventh Virginia Cavalry, and while with this Compa regen. I -hot though the right lung at the battle of ***tion, June 11, 1864. He was disabled until and again entered the service. He served for . the staff of General Thomas L. Rosser, and was :y at the surrender of Gral Lee at Appomattox, did not surrender at that time but tried to join : Juston. to close of the war, 1 pt. Marshall returned to Fauquier Later he assumed charge of the Maryland, where he taught for several arried Mary Catherine Wilson, whom he He leaves surviving him five sons and e to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he continued is death. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar, tive practice of thirty-nine years, he filled many tions and identified self with public affairs. mmonwealth's attorney for the city of Portsms and afterwards became Commonwealth's Genty, which position he held for twentytime of his death. he Portsmouth Gas Company for a rwards its president, serving as such He was the nominee of the Democratic party for Congress from his district for several terms when that race meant many personal sacrifices and only the leadership of a forlorn hope. In 1901 he was a candidate for the nomination for Governor of the State. On coming to Portsmouth he identified himself with St. John's Episcopal Church, of which he was a vestryman and senior warden at his death, and for many years he was superintendent of its Sunday school. He was at one time the law partner of the late Judge Chandler W. Hill, and afterwards was associated in practice with Judge C. W. Murdaugh, under the firm name of Murdaugh and Marshall, until the death of Judge Murdaugh. As a soldier he was courageous and fearless. He believed firmly in the principles for which he fought. He was intensely loyal to the cause he espoused, and he faithfully and with conspicuous gallantry performed every duty and braved every hardship that it was the lot of those who followed the lead of Robert E. Lee to bear and endure. As a citizen he was ever ready to do all in his power to advance the interests of his adopted city. He had prominent part in many of the important matters that came up for action during his long residence in Portsmouth. He was known and loved all over the State. As a lawyer he was firm in his convictions and fearless in maintaining them. In the very fitness of things it was natural that he should have chosen the law for his profession. As Commonwealth's attorney of Norfolk county, for twenty-five years, he had to prosecute probably more criminals than any other lawyer in the State. He was eminently successful in this work. His speeches at the bar were not characterized by any attempt at rhetorical display, but they were strong with the earnestness of his convictions, and yet his zeal was never marked by lack of professional courtesy, or contempt for the opinions of his adversaries. He understood human nature thoroughly, and this, with his great earnestness, gave him powerful influence with juries. He was intensely loyal to his friends, and he had many, and was universally loved by them. Although the senior of many of his friends, he was apparently never older than his companions. Full of affairs of his own, he never seemed to forget what concerned them. Constant as was the demand upon his time and thoughts, his faculties were always at the service of those who needed help or advice from him. Devoted as he was to his own family, and they to him, they did not so absorb his affections but that he was always full of sympathy for those of his friends who suffered, and among the first to rejoice with them in prosperity. The following tribute taken from an editorial of the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch touches with loving hand upon some of his chief characteristics. "Though in his seventieth year, Capt. Marshall never grew old. The frost of time touched his hair but the evergreen of his heart knew no change. Few men possess as many estimable traits, and combine as many fine characteristics as did Capt. Marshall. Coming of a large and distinguished family, he was particularly noted for his devotion to his loved ones, and the annual reunion of his children and his children's children was a day to him filled with happiness to overflowing. Varied were his natural gifts, generous, true and loyal in his dealings and contact with men, he will be sadly missed and sincerely mourned by those who knew and loved him." |