His uncle Lemuel Lucius Marsh
Lemuel Lucius Marsh was born December 23, 1803 in St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont.[i]
He was with his brother, Walter, in Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio in 1827.[ii] Walter was still there in the 1830 U.S. census, but Lemuel was gone. [iii]
Joseph Marsh, Lemuel’s brother, recorded a tender reflection in his newspaper of traveling to Randolph where he visited the cemetery with his father and looked on the graves of his brothers, Josiah, Lemuel L. and Hollis. Lemuel Lucius died sometime before October of 1837 and was buried in the Randolph Rural Cemetery next to his brothers.
16th of October, 1837. "In Randolph Cattaraugus Co., lived my aged father. I had not been at home for about eight years. Found my father, my step-mother, and the small remnant of the family that yet lives with them, blessed in health. But O! what changes have taken place in the family since I left home! My dear mother's place was now filled by one, who to me was almost an entire stranger. My much beloved brothers Josiah, Lemuel L. and Hollis, had fallen by death, and were quietly reposing side by side, in the lone graveyard not far distant. In would be in vain to attempt a description of my feelings on entering my long (?), absent (?) house where these things were all fresh before me, especially on visiting the grave yard where my brothers lay. "There", said my trembling father, while tears trickled down his furrowed (?) cheeks, pointing to three little hillocks of earth, "lies three of your brothers". He had depended first upon one, then upon the other, to sustain him in his old age; but death, in this respect, had blasted all his prospects. He was now being under the infirmities of near seventy years, but his trust was in his God, and in the midst of all his grief, as his last, his only consolation, could look forward with a hope of immortality to the resurrection morn (?). Ah! Said he, they were good children, and thank God, they finished their course in the triumphs of faith. Yes, thank God, responded my throbbing heart, if faithful a few days more, I shall meet them, eternally blessed, beyond the confines of the tomb. In Randolph, there is no church of the Christian name, but an effectual door is opened for the reception of a free gospel."[iv]
He was with his brother, Walter, in Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio in 1827.[ii] Walter was still there in the 1830 U.S. census, but Lemuel was gone. [iii]
Joseph Marsh, Lemuel’s brother, recorded a tender reflection in his newspaper of traveling to Randolph where he visited the cemetery with his father and looked on the graves of his brothers, Josiah, Lemuel L. and Hollis. Lemuel Lucius died sometime before October of 1837 and was buried in the Randolph Rural Cemetery next to his brothers.
16th of October, 1837. "In Randolph Cattaraugus Co., lived my aged father. I had not been at home for about eight years. Found my father, my step-mother, and the small remnant of the family that yet lives with them, blessed in health. But O! what changes have taken place in the family since I left home! My dear mother's place was now filled by one, who to me was almost an entire stranger. My much beloved brothers Josiah, Lemuel L. and Hollis, had fallen by death, and were quietly reposing side by side, in the lone graveyard not far distant. In would be in vain to attempt a description of my feelings on entering my long (?), absent (?) house where these things were all fresh before me, especially on visiting the grave yard where my brothers lay. "There", said my trembling father, while tears trickled down his furrowed (?) cheeks, pointing to three little hillocks of earth, "lies three of your brothers". He had depended first upon one, then upon the other, to sustain him in his old age; but death, in this respect, had blasted all his prospects. He was now being under the infirmities of near seventy years, but his trust was in his God, and in the midst of all his grief, as his last, his only consolation, could look forward with a hope of immortality to the resurrection morn (?). Ah! Said he, they were good children, and thank God, they finished their course in the triumphs of faith. Yes, thank God, responded my throbbing heart, if faithful a few days more, I shall meet them, eternally blessed, beyond the confines of the tomb. In Randolph, there is no church of the Christian name, but an effectual door is opened for the reception of a free gospel."[iv]
Lemuel Lucius was buried between the two taller stones on the front row. Photo courtesy of Alex Shipherd.
With love and gratitude to Scott C. and Mary B. Marsh
for the stones to honor and mark the graves of the three Marsh brothers
buried in Randolph.
Photos courtesy of Gretchen VanRensselaer
[i] Correspondence with St. Albans record office, P.O. Box 867, St. Albans, Vermont, 05478- 0867.
[ii] 1827 Ashtabula County, Ohio census records, 1811-1835, FHL #960607, formerly on the US Genweb.
[iii] 1830 U.S. census, Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio, for Walter Marsh; Lemuel Lucius not found.
[iv] Marsh, Joseph, 16th of October, 1837, on file with the author, courtesy of David R. Graham.
[ii] 1827 Ashtabula County, Ohio census records, 1811-1835, FHL #960607, formerly on the US Genweb.
[iii] 1830 U.S. census, Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio, for Walter Marsh; Lemuel Lucius not found.
[iv] Marsh, Joseph, 16th of October, 1837, on file with the author, courtesy of David R. Graham.