Abigail H. Marshall

Abigail Garrett Hicks was born on 12^th month 17^th 1854 to John Garrett Hicks and Elizabeth Pusey Hicks^[1]. Named for her paternal grandmother, she was the fifth child in a family of nine children. Abby was a birthright member of New Garden Meeting of the Society of Friends^[2]. Her father owned a large farm in London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania^[3].

In 1870, the family moved to Christiana Hundred, New Castle County Delaware and they transferred their membership to Wilmington Monthly Meeting^[4]. According to the 1870 U.S. Census, her father was then retired leaving the management of the farm to her elder brother William P. Hicks^[5].

On September 19, 1879 Abigail married photographer Edward S. Marshall in a Friends ceremony^[6]. They set up housekeeping at 206 W. Barnard Street, West Chester^[7]. The 1880 Federal Census records them living with Marshall’s mother Philena, a servant and a boarder at the new address of 128 S. High Street^[8].

Abby Marshall was a gifted artist in her own right. Beginning when she first moved to West Chester, she partnered with Alice Darlington, a renown crayon artist in the borough to teach art classes in her own home. The Daily Local News of April 5, 1880 reported their artistic endeavors:

Tragically, the couple’s infant son died on August 20, 1880^[10]. It may be that the child was stillborn, since records do not mention any name. It was a devastating loss for the couple.

The September 25, 1880, edition of the Daily Local News announced that the Marshalls were going to move to Zanesville, Ohio. But it seems, the Local’s announcement was premature, in the March 16th issue in 1881 it was revealed that Marshall would not be leaving West Chester after all. “Will not go West – we mentioned some time ago that E. S. Marshall, photographer, of this borough, intended moving to the West. This we learn is not the case as he has since changed his mind, and will remain in West Chester. He will, however, dispose of his household goods in a short time, as Mrs. M. is compelled to devote her time and attention to art work.”^[11]

Indeed on March 29, 1881, much of the Marshall’s home furnishings and household goods were sold at auction^[12]. Clearly, Abby had made a choice. Devastated by the death of her baby, Abby was done with being a housewife and choose the life of an artist. Whether the reason was for physical or emotional causes the Marshalls did not have any children going forward. Abby found solace and purpose in pursuing her artwork.

Abby worked with her husband in the Marshall Studio, doing hand-coloring of photographs as well as creating crayon portraits. She was highly praised by the Daily Local News on October 7, 1880 for a life-sized photograph enhanced with watercolors. It was a portrait of Eva J. Pierce, a recently deceased daughter of Joshua N. Pierce of West Chester^[13].

A separate advertisement appeared publicizing her artistic skills available at her husband’s studio in the October 23^rd 1880 edition of the Daily Local News:

Abby’s separate advertisement as a featured artist is highly significant. The Marshall Studio address is used in the ad but not the Marshall Studio name, indicating that this is a separate business in her own right.

Abby Marshall displayed her artwork in her husband’s gallery window. The November 6, 1880, issue of the Daily Local News described a lady’s belt and handkerchief bag she created: “Both articles are made of black satin, while painted on one side in water colors are pansies, and on the other side the figure “1880”. The work shows rare taste and skill.”

It is interesting to note the wording of an advertisement from the Daily Local News in the April 29^th edition in 1881. It read, “Your Photograph taken any size at suitable prices in crayon, ink or otherwise, by Marshalls, Artists.” Using the plural form indicates that Abby Marshall was playing a major role in her husband’s business.

Her artwork was frequently noted in the Daily Local News. The July 3, 1882 edition praised a panel picture of azaleas and roses painted on a polished wood panel^[15].

She won multiple awards in the Chester County Agricultural Society Exhibition held in September of 1882^[16]. She won first prize for crayon drawing, second place for original oil painting and water color portrait.

Abby was also known as an adept horsewoman. She owned a horse she loved to drive. Before her marriage she purchased a full set of harness, carriage and a sleigh, as well as blankets for him. The couple rented a stable for the horse on a nearby alley^[17]. Many people who lived in the borough rented horses from the local livery stables as needed rather than having the expense of keeping a horse in town. I believe that this was one of the reasons she actively contributed to the household income, to keep her beloved steed.

She did whatever she could to bring in extra money. In October of 1885 she advertised in the Daily Local News “two desirable rooms to let with board” and immediately beneath it advertised for “Pupils in China Painting. Firing done at home. Mrs. E. S. Marshall, 34 S. High St.^[18]”

In 1886 her art students studied painting on canvas as well china painting. Abby’s flair for marketing was ahead of her time – she invited the public to a display of the student’s work. The Daily Village Record described the event in great detail in the January 23, 1886 edition and gave a ringing endorsement:

Clearly, her industry, not only making art, but also teaching as well helped her to afford the expense of a kiln needed for firing the china.

A tragic fire in her husband’s studio in March of 1885 changed everything for Abby and Edward. The couple was faced with shouldering the cost to refurbish the gallery. (See the biography of Edward Marshall for more details on the fire.) The Penn Mutual Insurance Company only gave them $800, for damages that were well over $1000, not counting the loss of twenty years of negatives on file^[20].

Subsequently, Marshall was sued by the photographic supply house Buchanan, Smedley and Bromley of Philadelphia, for an unpaid invoice of $161.20. Financially strapped, the Marshalls were facing a Sheriff’s sale of their personal property to pay the debt.

Abby petitioned the court to retain her rights to her property owned before her marriage. In her petition she named specifically her horse, carriage, sleigh, harness & blankets as well as two photographic Euryscope lenses and one camera, purchased at Thomas McCollin’s in Philadelphia.

Under the Married Women’s Property Act of 1848, women were able to control or dispose of any property they held separately. This was true for any earned income, inherited property or gifts. Furthermore, their property could not be tapped for their husband’s debts^[21].

In her counter suit Abby Marshall stated she had loaned $700 to her husband for the repair to the gallery after the fire. Buchanan, Smedley and Bromley contested the claim that the $700 loan was fraudulent on the grounds that “the said Abbie G. Marshall has declared that said judgement, was created for the purpose of compelling her husband’s creditors to compromise their claims against him, and not in good faith for the recovery of the sum appearing due to her thereby.”

The Court of Common Pleas ruled that Abby Marshall’s claim to her property was legitimate, and the case moved forward for resolution. The June 1^st edition of the 1886 Daily Local News reported that the Sherriff has seized the property of E.S. Marshall, photographer of West Chester” to be put up for sale.^[22]

On June 8, 1886, the property of Edward S. Marshall was sold by Sherriff’s sale. The distributions were made and are recorded in the August term of the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County^[23]. Buchanan, Smedley and Bromley received $161.20 they were owed, and Abby Marshall received the residual of the sale of goods less court costs which amounted to $235.73.

Furthermore, Abby Marshall petitioned under the Pennsylvania law known as “Petition for Separate Earnings” to retain her earned income separate from her husband^[24]. Edward signed the petition, giving his consent. She advertised the petition’s filing in the newspaper for three weeks^[25]. Then on September 25, 1886 her petition was granted and recorded by the Chester County Court of Common Pleas^[26]. This was a wise move since it guaranteed the couple some money to live on, as well as to support Abby’s horse.

Settling their debts, the couple decided to move to Denver, Colorado in 1887. They were still young in their mid-thirties making it a good time to start over. They packed their trunks and bought tickets for the train. Abby’s horse merited a special railroad car including Henry Smith, a dedicated groom to care for him^[27], the carriage and sleigh included.

Once in Denver, Edward Marshall opened a photography studio there for a few years and then went into selling insurance. Edward died in Kansas City in 1916. It is not known when or where Abby died.

©Pamela C. Powell, 2025.