Charles Marvin 1839-1907
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Charles Marvin and Trotting Mare Sunol
World Record for all ages 2:08 1/4 Oct. 20, 1891, Stockton, CA
above in Currier & Ives lithograph - below in a photograph
Charles Marvin probably exerted a greater influence upon the development of the American trotter than any other man that ever sat in a sulky, through his practical working of the "Palo Alto System" of training and speed-making devised by Leland Stanford. In the beginning, this system produced more more record-breakers than anything else of the kind. It has been largely instrumental in the evolution of harness racing into its present form in which the emphasis is upon extreme speed, not long-drawn out contests.
He first came into national prominence in 1874, when he brought to California from Kansas the bald-faced horse Smuggler, which he had converted from a pacer to a trotter, and defeated the best horses of the day, including the great Goldsmith Maid. He then took charge of the training stable of Gov. Leland Stanford, and for years made pages of turf history, giving the sons and daughters of the famous Electioneer many world records.
"Abe Eddington", owned by Leland Stanford, driven by Charles Marvin at a 2:24 gait, Menlo Park,June 11, 1878 Electo-Photograph by Muybridge
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Above - Mrs. Leland Stanford's first Kindergarten class Menlo Park, CA 1887- Marvin's son Howard, and daughter Jessie marked on photo Right - The Marvin Family - Charles, wife Sarah Frances (Fannie), son Charles, son Howard, and daughter Jessie. |
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Below - The Palo Alto Stock Farm circa 1890 |
Below - Leland Stanford |
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Photos taken March 7, 2003 by R.
Marvin at the Stanford Equestrian Center.
Upper Left: The Red Barn -the last remaining structure from the Palo Alto Stock Farm Upper Right: Interior of the Red Barn Lower Left: Statue of Electioneer - Sire of Champions. |
Morton Ormando Marvin (known to his friends as Charles) was born in Springwater Valley, Genesee County, NY on Nov. 24, 1839, son of Don Alonzo Marvin and Sarah (Cole) Marvin. He was a direct descendant of Matthew Marvin, who emigrated from Great Bentley, Essex, England in 1635, and was one of the first settlers of Hartford, CT. Charles spent most of his early life in Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa.
1862 - Struck out for California with a friend, but stopped at Pikes's Peak, Colorado, where he tried his hand at mining. He worked as a teamster, then joined Company F of the Second Colorado Cavalry. He was in several battles at Wesport and Newtonia, and was mustered out in the summer of 1865.
1866- Kansas City- managed a livery stable (salary $100 per month). Here he trained his fist trotter (Caesar), and entered a sweepstakes race, finishing second. Marvin tired of the livery business, and in 1867, hauled a load of goods to Maxwell's Mines, on the Cimarron River in New Mexico. He again tried mining, then traveled to San Antonio, a difficult and dangerous journey. Water was scarce, and the Comanches plentiful.
1869- Returned to Kansas City, and formed a partnership with E.L. Mitchell in a livery and training stable. Here he began training trotters, a profession which he followed for the remainder of his life.
Charles Marvin first came to national prominence in 1874, when his trotter "Smuggler" defeated the best horses of the day, including the famed "Goldsmith Maid". When Smuggler broke down in California in 1878, Marvin went to work at the Palo Alto Stock Farm, having been recommended to Leland Stanford by veteran reinsman Bud Doble. In time, he became the Superintendent of the Trotting Division, and the Chief Trainer. During his years at Palo Alto, Marvin developed more champion trotters, and drove to more world records than any other man.
In 1890, Charles Marvin published his book, "Training the Trotting Horse".
In 1891, every World's Record from a yearling to a five-year-old was held by horses bred at Palo Alto - trained and driven by Charles Marvin.
Due to friction with Ariel Lathrop (Stanford's business manager and brother-in-law), Charles Marvin left Palo Alto in 1892, and went to work for Miller & Sibley of Franklin, PA, first at their Prospect Hill Stock Farm in Meadville, PA, then later in Lexington, KY. Although he firmly believed that the bluegrass sector of Kentucky provided the most favorable conditions in the world for breeding race horses, he did not produce one champion during his remaining years. During this period he did on occasion drive Arion for owner Malcolm Forbes, who had purchased the horse in 1892 from Stanford for the record sum of $ 125,000 dollars. When Miller & Sibley retired in 1900, they presented Marvin with their entire stock of trotters. In business for himself, Marvin signed to train for US Senator Joseph Bailey of Texas.
Charles Marvin died Feb. 1, 1907 in Lexington, and was buried in Meadville, PA. He was survived by his wife Sarah Frances (Martin) (1846-1917), daughter Jessie (1881-1962), son Howard (1879-1970), and son Charles (1885-1971).
LINKS
(note- links will open in a new window - close window to return to this page)
Kitetrack.com -harness racing history, links, images>
"The Man Who Stopped Time" - Stanford Magazine May/June 2001
Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame - Goshen, NY
Charles Marvin Tips 1890 (from www.canadiansportsman.ca)
"She Hated a Trotting Mile Off"
Note - The Stanford Equestrian Center has been transferred back to the operational control of Stanford University, and is undergoing renovations. More info when available.
This site authored by Russell A. Marvin ( great grandson of Charles Marvin)
Stratford, CT
all comments welcome
E-mail: [email protected]
website updated July 10, 2005
