OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 254, 24 September 1940, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR J. W. MARSHALL.

( The deatli pf Mr John Willoughby. Marshall, at his residence, T.utu Totara, Marton, on Saturday last, in his ninetieth year, severed another link with the early Rangitikei settlers. He had filled many prominent positions in the Rangitikei and Wellington districts, and was held in the highest respect.

Mr Marshall was born at Kaiwarra, Wellington, in March, 1851, being the eldest son of Major Marshall, then of the 65th Regiment, and his first wife Mary, eldest daughter of Mr William Swainson. Major Marshall retired from the army in 1861 and settled at Tutu Totara the following year. John Willoughby Marshall attended the school started by Bishop Abrahain at Crofton, now Ngaio, but left at the age of 16 to take part in the management and development of Tutu Totara and later at Te Hekenga, to which he took the second lot of cattle to be driven up the river-bed. From 1868 he spent the greater part of three years there, beginning necessary improvements, till his younger brother, Will, was able to take charge. On the outbreak of fighting with the Maoris on the West Coast, all single men between the ages of 16 and 40 were enrolled in the first class. Major Marshall was placed in military charge of the . district, and his eldest son was given a commission as an ensign. lii 1868 two volunteer corps were in existence, and when, in 1872, a third was raised, the Marton Rifles, Mr Marshall was elected captain. There was also a cavalry corps, commanded by Captain Arthur Willis, a, brother of Major Willis, who had succeeded Major Marshall in the district command. Later, when the cavalry and the Marton corps were amalgamated, Mr Marshall volunteered to serve as lieutenant under Captain Galpin in the Royals, but he resigned in 1875, as the need for service had passed. In 1881 he went to England with Dr. Taylor, returning the following year, when he married Anne, eldest daughter of Octavius Hadficld, then Bishop of Wellington, and Mrs Hadfield. They made their home at The Ridges, and remained there till Major Marshall’s death in 1891, when they moved to Tutu Totara. In 1884, Mr Marshall was elected to the Rangitikei County Council, for the Paraekaretu riding, comprising all the county north *c of Leedstown. This country was theiuunroaded, and could only l>e traversed ou horseback. He succeeded Mr A. Milne as chairman in 1887, and continued .in office till 1805, retiring after 21 years of continuous work on The council, and 18 years as chairman. He was an original member of the Wellington Meat Export Company, and a director of it for 30 years; a founder, and the first chairman of the Rata Dairy Company; an original member and the first chairman of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, also of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, of which he was a vice-chairman • for some years a member of the board of trustees of the Wanganui Collegiate School, and local chairman of the board of trustees of the Wellington Diocesan School for Girls, Nga Tawa, Marton. - Mr Marshall is survived bv his wife, one son, Mr A. H. Marshall, and two daughters. Miss M. K. Marshall and Mrs Charles Parmiter. His eldest son, Lieutenant John AVilloughby Hadfield Marshall. York and Lancaster Regiment, was killed on active service in France on March 21, 1918.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon and a large and representative gathering of mourners attended a service at the Tutu Totara Church, conducted by Rev. W. Raine, assisted by Rev. P. ,H. Leonard, who also conducted the burial service at the graveside. The pall-bearers were Messrs R. W. Marshall. H. K. C. Marshall, Arthur Fitzherbert, H. F. Arkwright, E. 0. Pryce and John Aldworth.