Monroe County FlArchives Biographies.....Darnall, Marcy Bradshaw 1872 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 11, 2008, 8:21 pm Author: B. F. Johnson (1909) Marcy Bradshaw Darnall Thrown upon his own resources at the early age of fifteen years, Marcy B. Darnall has been printer, soldier, musician and editor, filing each station with credit to himself and taking up a new line only where his own best interests were thereby served. His unremitting devotion to whatever work he was engaged in and inherent belief that only "by learning the business" could success be attained did much to smooth the pathway, and prepare him for grasping and handling opportunity when it became his so that it was an easy transition from bandmaster in the army to business manager of a daily newspaper. It was no unfamiliar field upon which he entered, nor was his natural ability to adapt himself to conditions as he found them his greatest help. That lay in his preparedness acquired by reason of his devotion to his work in former years. As business manager of The Key West Citizen he seems to have "found his stride" as he has met with gratifying success and has plans full of promise for the future. Mr. Darnall is a native of Illinois, having been born at Edgar, in that State, January 27, 1872. His parents were A. D. Darnall, a lawyer, and Arietta Bradshaw Darnall. His mother died when he was only five years of age and he was raised by her parents, attending the public schools at Edgar, Ill., and Union Star, Mo., and the normal school at Stanberry, Mo. He left the latter when fifteen years of age and the greater part of his education has since been obtained in the school of experience. He served as a printer's apprentice for two years, interrupted by one year's experience as clerk in a store at Union Star, Mo. During this time he became interested in music, which fact played an important part in his subsequent career, and became connected with a local band. He joined Typographical Union No. 40 at St. Joseph, Mo., in 1890, and worked on the News and the Gazette, daily newspapers, frequently playing in local bands until February 27, 1892, when he joined the Seventh U. S. Cavalry Band at Fort Riley, Kan. He studied music during his three years' term of service and a portion of the time was regimental printer. Upon his discharge he returned to Missouri and for several months was engaged in giving instruction to bands and to private music pupils, but with a view to continuing his own musical studies joined the Twentieth U. S. Infantry Band at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He went to Cuba with this regiment in General Shafter's army, which left Tampa June 14, 1898. Requesting service in the ranks he was assigned to a company, with which he participated in the fight at El Caney, July 1,and was afterwards among those sent to assist in holding San Juan Hill where they remained, frequently engaged in fighting until the surrender of Santiago de Cuba, on July 17,1898. On this date, by a coincidence his term of enlistment expired and he started for home, having for several days previously suffered from chills and fever. Returning to St. Joseph, Mo., he divided his time between teaching music and printing, also doing considerable writing for musical journals including The Dominant of New York, of which he was for several years the associate editor. He was also Vice-President of the Musicians Union of St. Joseph and represented that organization at the State Convention of the Missouri Federation of Labor at Jefferson City and again in the National Convention of the American Federation of Musicians at Denver, Col., in May, 1901. He was appointed chief musician or bandmaster in the regular army June 18, 1901, and assigned to the duty of organizing the newly authorized Ninth Artillery Band at Fort Riley, Kan. While leader of this band he also edited the Fort Riley Guidon, a weekly paper devoted to the interests of the Garrison, at the same time continuing his writing for various musical journals. His band was ordered to the Key West, Fla., barracks for duty and made the change of stations in July, 1904. In November, 1905, he secured control of The Key West Citizen, a weekly newspaper, which he conducted with his wife's assistance, for a year, and retained his army position. In November, 1906, a consolidation was effected with The Daily Inter-Ocean, and he resigned his position as bandmaster in the army to become business manager of the consolidated enterprise, which was incorporated as The Citizen Publishing Company, the paper retaining the name of The Key West Citizen. Under Mr. Darnall's management, with the assistance of his wife as circulation manager, the circulation of The Citizen has been increased nearly 100 per cent, the size of the paper has been doubled and the gross receipts have grown over 200 per cent, all in eighteen months. His entry into business life was a distinct loss to the musical profession in which he was considered an authority, especially in band organization and management. He was the composer of a number of military marches, one of which, "American Army Life," seems destined to live. His army experience, however, was very valuable in giving him an opportunity to study the art of handling men and upon receiving his final discharge from the army he was given by his commanding officer a very nattering recommendation for a commission in event of war, in which it is stated that his special qualification is "executive ability." This is a requisite and a valuable asset in the management of a daily newspaper and to its possession may be attributed much of his success. Although identified with the Democratic party, he is not a partisan nor is he irrevocably bound to any party or political organization. He has no political ambitions, preferring the more certain rewards of a business career to the uncertainties of political life. He has a natural aptitude for directing others and getting the most out of the men and material at his command. This with an innate honesty and sincerity of purpose, in connection with the guidance of the Golden Rule, has earned for him the good opinion of his fellows and is valued more highly by him than any possible material advantage or personal prominence. Mr. Darnall has always been a close student of biography, in which he has found much inspiration, and is a careful reader of trade journals, by means of which he keeps up to date in business and professional lines. His prominence is not confined to business affairs. He is an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Key West Commercial Club, the Banyan Club and the Monday Night Club, a member of St. Andrews Athletic Association and an honorary director in the Centro Asturiano. He is an honorary member of Typographical Union No. 40 of St. Joseph, .Mo., and of Musicians Union No. 51, of St. Joseph, Mo. He owns one-half of the capital stock of The Citizen Publishing Company, of which he is secretary, treasurer and business manager. Aside from his business, his principal hobby is Masonry, in which he has attained the rank of Knight Templar and the Thirty-second Degree. He is a member of Anchor Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Key West, and is at present (1908) High Priest of Island Chapter No. 21, Royal Arch Masons, Captain General of Baron Commandery No. 3 of the Knights Templar, member of the Scottish Rite bodies at Key West and Florida Consistory No. 2 of Jacksonville. By virtue of his office as High Priest of his Chapter and Captain-General of his Commandery he is a member of the Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery of Florida. Mr. Darnall was married January 23, 1899,to Lutie Milliken, a daughter of Hiram Rankin and Sarah Rebecca Milliken of Bolivar, Mo., and they have had two children, Dorothy, who died at the age of two years, and Louise Milliken Darnall, who is living. Mr. Darnall believes that the best interests of Florida can be served by so advertising the State's weath of natural resources and her wonderful climate, that men and capital will be attracted. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/monroe/photos/bios/darnall69gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/monroe/bios/darnall69gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 9.0 Kb