Last week, we began looking at some of the tragic drownings that have occurred in the T. J. George Mill Pond in downtown Stuart. In the summer of 1925, Larkin and Alexander Austin lost their lives there; this week, we will look at the life of another victim of the mill pond, Hugh Chaplin Marshall.
Hugh was born in Laurel Fork, Virginia on the 27th of December 1899 to Dr. John William Marshall and Hattie Octavia Marshall. In the 1910 census, Dr. Marshall, his wife, three daughters, and one son, Hugh were living in Laurel Fork where Dr. Marshall was the local dentist; by the 1920 census, Dr. Marshall had moved his family to Patrick County, and he was practicing dentistry in Stuart.
According to an article in the January 21, 1921, edition of the Roanoke Times, Hugh had recently been hired as the assistant cashier of the Bank of Stuart and the Patrick County Bank. Hugh married Miss Lillie Margaret Hooker in Patrick County on the 22nd of June 1921. Lillie was the daughter of Samuel Hairston Hooker and Nancy Lucinda Agee of the Elamsville community of Patrick County. Hugh and Lillie welcomed their little daughter, Nancy Hooker Marshall, on the 2nd of September 1922.
On Friday, July 6th, 1923, a horrible tragedy occurred. According to an article in the July 17th edition of the Danville Bee, “Hugh went with a group of friends, in the sultry heat of the day, for a plunge in the mill pond. He apparently did not know that the water close to the running board (diving board?) built on the bank for bathers was deceptive and while looking deep, was not really more than two or three feet deep. He was preparing to dive in when some of his friends saw what he was about to do and shouted to him, but it was too late. Striking the sandy bottom, his backbone was broken just below the neck, and he remained under the water for two minutes. Others, realizing what had happened, quickly swam to him and brought him out unconscious. He later was revived, only to find out that he had no use of his body from the shoulders down.”
Hugh was taken to Dr. Martin’s hospital, which was located near the old Stuart lumber plant, where he was given the best care possible. Specialists from Roanoke and Richmond were called in for consultations. At Hugh’s own request, his former pastor, Dr. John J. Parsons of Richmond, was called to Hugh’s bedside, where he remained constantly with the young man until the end of his life.
Hugh Marshall died on the 17th of July 1923, he had lain and suffered for nearly two weeks; he was 26 years old. In addition to his parents and siblings, he was survived by his wife, and his one-year-old daughter. According to his obituary, “the Martinsville people who attended his funeral were Mr. J.C. Shockley, Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Hart, Mr. W.P. Hodnett, Messrs. H.B. Kester, Julian Kester, A.J. Lester, F. R. Brown, Roy Prillaman, Claude Turner, John T. Penn, Kelsey Puckett, C.T. Womack, J.A. Brown, and Rev. C.M. Wales. Hugh was buried with Masonic honors and most of those present from Martinsville were masons who took part in the ceremony. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Dr. Parsons, of Richmond, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Douglas and Thompson, of Stuart. Mr. Marshall was a young businessman of fine standing in his community, very highly esteemed by all for his recognized high character and had a great many friends who felt for him a sincere attachment. Hugh was buried in the Stuart Cemetery.”
