From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.; Organ Historical Society, 1991). —

Born 1844 near Manchester, England, son of Robert Lancashire; served 7-year apprenticeship to organbuilding in England, 'and afterwards worked several years in the leading factories of Liverpool and London'; with Willis firm in England; partner with Edward, George, Octavius, and Thomas Marshall in Marshall Brothers Organ Co. of Ripon, Illinois, 1864-1867; in successor firm Marshall & Odenbrett, 1867; firm relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1870; partner with William Turner in Lancashire & Turner of Moline, Illinois, 1873-1879; in successor Moline Pipe Organ Co., 1879-1891; in successor Lancashire-Marshall firm with Octavius Marshall, 1891; died c. 1898.

Sources:

• United States Census.


• Local directories of the places and period.


• Orpha Ochse, The History of the Organ in the United States (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975), 306.


• Organ Handbook: 1986 (Richmond, Va.; Organ Historical Society), 17.


• Elizabeth Towne Schmitt.


• Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Island Co., Illinois, (Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co., 1885).

From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, September 8, 2019. —

Octavius Marshall continued business as Marshall-Bennett (1902-1908) in partnership with Robert J. Bennett. After Marshall's death, the firm became Bennett Organ Co, (1908-1927). The firm was acquired by by businessmen of Rock Island, Illinois, 1927, and eventually renamed 'The Rock Island Organ Co.' which closed in bankruptcy in August, 1930.