[2][3] He was raised on his family's farm, graduated from Homer Academy at age 15 and began teaching school.

[2] In 1835, Marvin was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Territory, and he served until 1839.

[2] He remained loyal to the Union during the American Civil War and his judicial service was terminated when he resigned on July 1, 1863.

[2] At the end of the American Civil War, Marvin was appointed as provisional Governor of Florida by President Andrew Johnson, and he served from July 13, 1865, to December 20, 1865, and oversaw Florida's effort to repeal its secession ordinance and prepare to rejoin the Union.

[3] They were the parents of daughter Harriet, who was the wife of United States Army General Marshall I.

[3] Harriet Foote died in 1848, and in 1867, Marvin married Elizabeth Riddle Jewett of Skaneateles.