OBIT: William T. MARRIOTT, 1893, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ The Death Record WILLIAM T. MARRIOTT One of the pioneer residents of this city and a man who has been closely identified with its growth and progress, died at his residence, on Ninth street near Ninth avenue, at 7 o'clock this morning aged 67 years, 8 months, and 2 days. Death was caused by a complication of diseases resulting from diabetes. His death was sudden but not unexpected, as he was confined to his bed for 2 days past. Deceased was born in Royston, Cambridgeshire, Eng., October 13, 1825. He married Miss Harriet Lawrence in 1846, while yet in England. There were no children to the union and his wife died September 11, 1884. His only living relatives are a nephew, R. [Roderick] Parsons, of this city, a sister-in- law, Miss Flora Webb, who has been his housekeeper since his wife's death, and a brother named Alexander, residing in Cambridge, England. Mr. Marriott came to America in 1851, landing at Philadelphia where he worked as a painter. Later he became foreman of painters for the P.R.R. While acting in this capacity he put the first paint on the original Susquehanna bridge and painted every division of the P.R.R. from Altoona to Harrisburg. In 1853 he tried braking for a short time, his run being between Harrisburg and Intersection. While thus employed he put the first bell cord on a passenger train, using a clothesline and snap hooks, under the direction of General Rumford, of Harrisburg. In 1854 he went west, but not liking the country, returned to Altoona and purchased a small property on fourteenth avenue from Clement Jaggard and made it his residence. He became an employe of the P.R.R. and remained such for more than sixteen years following. Anticipating the future growth of the city, Mr. Marriott took advantage of the real estate boom and has owned some of the most valuable property in the city. Among these were three lots of ground on Thirteenth avenue and Twelfth street, which he purchased in 1855 and which are now in possession of D. K. Ramey. In 1856 he bought what is now known as the Marriott corner, on Ninth avenue and Ninth street, and made it his residence until 1864. The handsome residence at that place in which he died was erected by him about four years ago. In 1874 he purchased the old market house property, on Eleventh avenue and Eleventh street, and retained possession of it until 1888, when he sold it to W. W. Rouse, who transformed it into the present Eleventh Avenue opera house. He also owned at various times the corner now occupied by the Central hotel, the Streit corner, on Tenth avenue adjoining it, the corner opposite the Marriott House and many others whose value is at present in the hundreds of thousands. Mr. Marriott was well known among the older portion of our citizens, being made especially prominent by his connection, as proprietor and manager, with the old opera house, which relation he sustained for over thirteen years. He is in every sense a self-made man, his father and mother having died when he was but a youth. His accumulations were not the result of chance but of hard work and shrewd business methods. Though a member of no special religious denomination, he was looked upon as an honest, moral man, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of those who knew him. The funeral services will take place at 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, Rev. Allen Sheldon Woodle officiating. Interment in Fairview cemetery. Altoona Mirror, June 15, 1893. OLD RESIDENT William T. Marriott Expires at His Residence Yesterday Morning. LIVED IN ALTOONA FORTY YEARS He Was a Native of England and Came to the United States as a Young Man. He Had Extensive Dealings in Altoona Real-Estate - A Self-Made Man and Well Known to the Older Residents of the City. Sketch of His Life. One of the city's oldest residents, Mr. William T. Marriott, died yesterday morning at a few minutes before the hour of 7 o'clock, at his residence, Ninth Street and Ninth Avenue. His death was due to a complication of diseases, diabetes being one of the chief ailments and heart failure was probably the immediate cause of his demise. As he had been in failing health for some time, his death was not unexpected, although he had been confined to his bed for only two days. Mr. Marriott was an Englishman, having been born in Royston, Cambridgeshire, on the 13th day of October, 1825 and was aged 67 years, 8 months and 2 days. In 1846 he was married to Miss Harriet Lawrence, and in 1851, together with his wife, he came to the United States. Mr. Marriott was a painter by trade and worked at that craft in Philadelphia, after his arrival in this country. He, in a short time, entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad company as a foreman of painters. He put the first coat of paint on the first bridge crossing the Susquehanna river at Harrisburg, and did considerable work in his line on the road between Harrisburg and this city. His next occupation was as a brakeman between Harrisburg and Intersection in 1853. Mr. Marriott enjoyed the novel distinction of having put up the first bell cord on a passenger train. He used for this purpose a clothes line and snap hooks. After locating in Altoona for a short time, Mr. Marriott went west, but returned to this city in 1854, which has since been his home. He purchased a property on Fourteenth Avenue from the late Clement Jaggard, where he took up his residence. He again entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad company and remained in its employ for sixteen years. Mr. Marriott was not insensible to the value of Altoona real estate. In 1855 he secured possession of three lots on Thirteenth Avenue and Twelfth Street, now owned by D. K. Ramey; in 1856 he bought the property now known as the Marriott corner, at Ninth Avenue and Ninth Street; in 1874 he purchased the old market house property, at Eleventh Avenue and Eleventh Street, now the Eleventh Avenue opera house. These were not all of the valuable sites which he purchased. The Central Hotel property, the ground on which Streit's wholesale building now stands, the corner opposite the Marriott House, were all owned by him at different times. These are the most valuable of the properties which he has purchased and sold again, always conducting his real estate business with wisdom and foresight. His success was due to his abilities and his confidence in the future of the city. He was for thirteen years the proprietor and manager of the old Altoona City opera house, now, in its remodeled form, the Eleventh Avenue opera house. He disposed of this property in 1888 to Mr. W. W. Rouss, the present proprietor. In 1889 he erected the beautiful residence at Ninth Avenue and Ninth Street, in which he breathed his last. Mr. Marriott saw the city rise from a village to its present proportions, and during all these years he had a prominent share in the progress which was made. With advancing years he was not very well known to the younger element but to the hundreds with whom he was acquainted, his death will be deeply felt. He was a hardworking man, and from his youth was dependent on his own effort. His reputation for honesty and morality was always good, and he was a man who made many friends. Mr. Marriott's wife died September 11, 1884 and he had no children. His relations are a brother, Alexander, living in Cambridge, England; a nephew R. Parsons, of this city, and his sister-in-law, Miss Flora Webb, who has, since his wife's death, been his housekeeper. The funeral will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Services will be conducted by Rev. Allen Sheldon Woodle of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which the deceased attended although not a member. Interment will be made in the Marriott Lot in Fairview Cemetery. Altoona Tribune?, June 16, 1893 [Courtesy of R. S. McMahon]