HOWARD CARPENTER MARMON

Howard C. Marmon became one of Avery County's chief benefactors. He was born in Richmond, Indiana, on May 24, 1876, but lived with his parents Daniel W. and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Marmon at Linville and at Col. Wilder's Cloudland Hotel on Roan Mountain during his youth.

During his teens, young Howard developed tuberculosis and when his physician recommended a change of climate, his parents sent him to Roan Mountain, Tennessee, where he lived with the Sherman Pippins family, whom he considered his second parents. At the end of a year, he was cured and his father called him home to attend college - at Earlham College and University of California, where he was graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.

The Marmons went to North Carolina to make their permanent home at "Hemlock Hedges", it is located on Highway 221 a quarter of a mile from the Pineola post office. The grounds contained a sixty-acre lake, giant shade trees interspersed with flowering shrubs and rich green lawns. It held the only original stand of timber in this area and also one of only six Taiwan spruces in the nation. The house was spacious and comfortable, containing a well-filled library and modern conveniences. On the grounds was a small guest house, a gate house, and a garden house for outdoor picnics, as well as servants' quarters, stable, workshop, and laundry. The furnishings included beautiful pieces collected in their travels, especially some that came from South Africa where they were traveling shortly after buying the house.

Soon he, with Mr. E. R. Ricker of Spruce Pine, founded Kaolin, Inc., which they operated until 1942 when it was leased to the Harris Mining Company.

Howard, began to spend a lot of time at the factory [Nordyke & Marmon Company, Indianapolis] experimenting with a variety of mechanical devices relating to the milling business. He officially joined the company in 1899; after graduatining from the University of California in Berkeley, in mechanical engineering. 

Sons of the co-founder, Howard and Walter Marmon stepped into the family business after completing their education. The influence of the brothers' interests in growing the company led them to branch out into other machinery in the late 19th century. Howard leaned toward automotive design and built his first automobile along with his brother Walter in 1902. This interest developed into formation of the Marmon Motor Company later in 1902 where worked to perfect the V-8 engine, then devote his attention to the V-16, his favorite, and introduced the use of aluminum in building the mechanical parts greatly reducing the weight of the motor

At the age of 23 he was named the chief engineer of the family business, not because he was a member of the family but rather because he was a mechanical genius. Howard Marmon went on to develop the Marmon Motor Car Company and build a high quality and dependable car. 

Walter, his brother Howard, and Marmon company designer Ray Haroun collaborated to build the Marmon Wasp race car. Haroun drove that car to win the first Indianapolis 500 race in 1911 

He married 2nd June 15, 1911 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (at noon at her residence by Rev. M. L. Haines) MARTHA MARTINDALE FOSTER. She was born November 12, 1880 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. d. Apr 1959 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana daughter of Chaprn Clarke Foster and Harriet Newell McIntire. Howard and Martha had no children.

In 1926 the name of the company was changed to the Marmon Motor Car Company. Marmon's automobiles were exquisitely designed and catered to the wealthy. By the time it went into receivership in May, 1933, it was only producing an expensive, but well received, 16 cylinder car and produced 86 cars.. Marmon was unable to maintain sales enough to continue production, until at last, only Howard Marmon and his Vice-president Jack Rodgers, and some office help were all that was left of the car company remaining to sell off the last of their inventory

His work during the first World War took him to Dayton, Ohio, where he helped to design the famous Liberty airplane engine and later twice to Europe where he was a consultant to an Italian firm in the manufacture of airplane engines. He retired as a lieutenant colonel, and his war records are housed in the Hoover Library of Stanford University.

After the war he returned to the manufacture of the best automobile money could buy. He perfected the V-8 engine and then devoted his attention to the V-16, his favorite. It was was he who introduced the widespread use of aluminum in building the mechanical parts, thus greatly reducing the weight of the motor. 

Mr. Marmon was a Presbyterian, and he was generous in his support of the Pineola Presbyterian Church, giving much of the money used to erect the present church building. He was also interested in conservation of natural resources and established the Anthony Lake Nursery to promulgate the native trees and shrubs, and built a fish hatchery to stock the mountain streams and lakes with native fish.

Howard died on 4 April 1943 and his wife in April, 1959. They had no children thus Mrs. Marmon's nephew, Robert Morrison, inherited all the Marmon property in North Carolina. Upon the death of Mr. Morrison the Morrison Library at Newlandwas established and a trust fund for each was left Garrett Memorial Hospital in Crossnore and Cannon Memorial Hospital in Banner Elk, N. C. In honor of Robert Morrison who donated the land for the Avery county Airport it is no called Morrison Field.

Stanford University 

• Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace
• Stanford, California 94305
• (415) 723-3428

Marmon, Howard C., ? -? .

Papers, photographs; ? -? ; 7 albums, 3 envelopes. 

Member of US Committee on Selection and Production of Airplane Equipment at the Isotta- Fraschini Motor Car Company in Italy. Included are manuscripts, maps and photographs relating to Allied aviation activities in Italy during World War I. 

North Carolina Collection-Biographical Clipping Files MA

* NAME: Marmon, Howard C. (1876-1943)

• CALL NO.: CRBo N87
• REEL NO.: 25
• PAGE(S): 442-443

NAME: Marmon, Martha (1880?-1959)

* CALL NO.: CRBo N87

• REEL NO.: 25
• PAGE(S): 444

Name: Howard Carpenter Marmon 

* Birth: 24 May 1876 - Wayne, USA

• Death: 4 Apr 1943 - Fort Lauderdale, Broward, FL (Florida)
• married: < Marital Status: Divorced when married 1911>
• Marriage: 15 Jun 1911 - Indianapolis, Marion, IN (Indiana)
• Spouse: Martha Martindale Foster

U.S., Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940

* Name: Howard C Marmon

• Birth Date: 24 May 1876
• State: Indiana
• Monthly Meeting: White Water Monthly Meeting

Year: 1880; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 294; Family History Film: 1254294; Page: 52A; Enumeration District: 108 

* Name: Howard C. Marmon

• Age: 4
• Birth Year: abt 1876
• Birthplace: Indiana
• Home in 1880: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
• Race: White
• Gender: Male
• Relation to Head of House: Son
• Marital Status: Single
• Father's name: Daniel W. Marmon
• Father's Birthplace: Ohio
• Mother's name: Elizabeth C. Marmon
• Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
• Household Members: Name Age
• Daniel W. Marmon 35
• Elizabeth C. Marmon 31
• Walter C. Marmon 7
• Howard C. Marmon 4
• Carrie Marmon 1

Friends Church Membership and Transfer Record

* Name: Howard C Marmon

* Age: 16

• Birth Date: 24 May 1876
• Birth Date on Image: 24 Fifth 1876
• Birth Place: Richmond, Indiana
• Residence Date: 13 Oct 1892
• Residence Date on Image: 13 Tenth 1892
• Residence Place: Marion, Indiana
• Father: Daniel W Marmon
• Mother: Elizabeth C Marmon
• Event Type: Admittance
• Monthly Meeting: Indianapolis Monthly Meeting
• Historical Meeting Data: Search for this monthly meeting in the 'Quaker Monthly Meetings Index'
• Yearly Meeting: Western Yearly Meeting
• Meeting State: Indiana
• Meeting County: Marion

U.S., School Catalogs, 1765-1935 

* Name: Howard Carpenter Marmon

• Publication Year: 1899
• Publication Place: California
• School Name: University of California
• Residence Place: Indianapolis, Indiana

Year: 1900; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 388; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0057;  

*  Name: Howard C Marmon[Howard C Mormon] 

* Age: 24

• Birth Date: May 1876
• Birthplace: Indiana
• Home in 1900: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
• Race: White
• Gender: Male
• Relation to Head of House: Son
• Marital Status: Single
• Father's name: David W Marmon
• Father's Birthplace: Ohio
• Mother's name: Elizabeth C Marmon
• Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
• Household Members: Name Age
• David W Marmon 55
• Elizabeth C Marmon 51
• Howard C Marmon 24
• Carrie Marmon 21
• Nappy Dugan 25

Indiana, Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993

* Name: Howard Marmon

• Gender: Male
• Race: White
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Birth Date: 1876
• Birth Place: Richmond, Ind.
• Marriage Date: 15 Jun 1911
• Marriage Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
• Marriage Age: 35
• Father: Dan'L Marmon
• Mother: Eliz. Carpenter
• Spouse: Martha M. Foster
• FHL Film Number: 413544
• Reference ID: p327

Indiana, Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993

* Name: Howard Marmon

• Gender: Male
• Marriage Date: 15 Jun 1911
• Marriage Place: Marion, Indiana
• Father: Daniel Marmon
• Mother: Elizabeth Carpenter
• Spouse: Martha Martindale Foster
• FHL Film Number: 499396
• Reference ID: No.61, P526

U.S., School Catalogs, 1765-1935

* Name: Howard Carpenter Marmon

• Estimated birth year: abt 1896
• School: University of California
• School Location: Berkeley, California, USA
• Year: 1916
• Yearbook Title: Directory of Graduates

U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925

* Name: Howard C Marmon

• Birth Date: 24 May 1886
• Birth Place: Richmond, Indiana
• Age: 31
• Passport Issue Date: 12 Jun 1917
• Passport Includes a Photo: Yes
• Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Father Name: D W Marmon
• Father's Birth Location: Ohio

UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 * Name: Howard C Marmon Gender: Male Age: 41

* Birth Date: abt 1876

• Departure Date: 22 Aug 1917
• Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
• Destination Port: New York, USA
• Ship Name: Orduna
• Search Ship Database: Search for the Orduna in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
• Shipping line: Cunard Line
• Official Number: 135539
• Master: Styer

Year: 1920; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana; Roll: T625_452; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 102

* Name: Howard C Marmon

• Age: 42 [43]
• Birth Year: abt 1878 [abt 1877]
• Birthplace: Indiana
• Home in 1920: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana
• Street: Delaware Street
• House Number: 3831
• Race: White
• Gender: Male
• Relation to Head of House: Head
• Marital Status: Married
• Spouse's Name: Martha M Marmon
• Father's Birthplace: Indiana
• Mother's Birthplace: United States [United States of America]
• Able to Speak English: Yes
• Occupation: Manufacturer
• Industry: Antomobile
• Employment Field: Employer
• Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
• Neighbors: View others on page
• Household Members: Name Age
• Howard C Marmon 42 [43]
• Martha M Marmon 34 [49]
• Harriet Foster 75
• Robert F Morrison 18 [19]
• Blanche Sims 23

California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959

* Name: Howard C Marmon

• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: abt 1877
• Birth Place: Richmond, Indiana, USA
• Age: 48
• Arrival Date: 23 Jan 1925
• Port of Arrival: San Francisco, California
• Ship Name: Maunganui
• Port of Departure: Sydney, Australia

Year: 1930; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 611; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 0095 * Name: Howard C Marmon

* Birth Year: abt 1877

• Gender: Male
• Race: White
• Birthplace: Indiana
• Marital Status: Married
• Relation to Head of House: Head
• Home in 1930: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
• Map of Home: View Map
• Street address: Mounment Circle
• Ward of City: Six
• Block: 117
• House Number in Cities or Towns: 121
• Dwelling Number: 49
• Family Number: 208
• Home Owned or Rented: Rented
• Radio Set: Yes
• Lives on Farm: No
• Age at First Marriage: 26
• Attended School: No
• Able to Read and Write: Yes
• Father's Birthplace: Ohio
• Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
• Able to Speak English: Yes
• Occupation: Automotive Engineer
• Industry: Automobile Mfg
• Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
• Employment: Yes
• Veteran: Yes
• War: WW
• Neighbors: View others on page
• Household Members: Name Age
• Howard C Marmon 53
• Martha F Marmon 48

Year: 1940; Census Place: Linville, Avery, North Carolina; Roll: T627_2872; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 6-11B 

* Name: Howard C Marmon

• Age: 64
• Estimated birth year: abt 1876
• Gender: Male
• Race: White
• Birthplace: Indiana
• Marital Status: Married
• Relation to Head of House: Head
• Home in 1940: Linville, Avery, North Carolina
• Map of Home in 1940: View Map
• Farm: Yes
• Inferred Residence in 1935: Linville, Avery, North Carolina
• Residence in 1935: Same House
• Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
• Sheet Number: 1B
• Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 15
• Occupation: Mining Engineer
• House Owned or Rented: Owned
• Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 8000
• Attended School or College: No
• Highest Grade Completed: College, 4th year
• Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 48
• Class of Worker: Employer
• Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
• Income: 0
• Income Other Sources: Yes
• Neighbors: View others on page
• Household Members: Name Age
• Howard C Marmon 64
• Helen P Mull 38 Nurse

Florida Death Index, 1877-1998

* Name: Howard C. Marmon

• Gender: Male
• Race: White
• Death Date: 1943
• Death Place: Broward, Florida, United States

Name: Howard Carpenter Marmon

* Birth Date: 24 May 1876

• Birth Place: Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana,
• Death Date: 4 Apr 1943
• Death Place: Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida
• Cemetery: Crown Hill Cemetery
• Burial or Cremation Place: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
• Father: Daniel W Marmon
• Mother: Elizabeth Marmon