His uncle Walter Marsh
Walter Marsh was born 25 Nov 1794 in St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont.[i] He served in the War of 1812. "Enlisted Sept. 25, 1813 in Capt. Amos Robinson's Company, Dixon's Regt."[ii] Amos Robinson, who lived at Swanton, was the son of Amos Robinson who was the guardian of Walter's father, Lemuel, in Clarendon.[iii] Walter was not listed in the United States Census of Pensioners for 1840.[iv]
He took the oath of a freeman in St. Albans in 1816.[v]
Walter married Louise Meeker, Lovisa in some records, who was the daughter of Samuel Meeker of Weybridge, Addison, Vermont. This marriage was written down by Walter's daughter, Mary, but was not recorded in Vermont.[vi] It is interesting that the deed records of Addison County show business dealings between Samuel Meeker and Walter's uncles, Amos and Israel Marsh.[vii] Amos was a miller; he later left the Addison area for New York where he continued his milling work. Israel Marsh, owned and/or operated mills also. Perhaps Walter worked for his uncles, and in this way he met Louise. This training may have had something to do with his later hiring on as grist miller at the Whitman Mission.[viii]
In 1817 Walter's father sold his property in St. Albans,[ix] and the family may have traveled together to New York, but this is not known for sure.
Walter was in LeRoy, Genesee, New York in 1820.[x] He was married with a small son and daughter, and he was traveling or living near cousins from his mother's side: Cheever Richardson, who married Walter's cousin, Electa Winch, Elijah Richardson who was Cheever's brother, and David Winch, the son of Abijah and Rebecca Warner Winch and brother to Electa.[xi] LeRoy was near where Walter's brother, James Anson, settled in Rochester,[xii] and Walter was especially near to his father, Lemuel, who was found in the neighboring town of Bergen with his name written incorrectly in the census as Lemuel Mash.[xiii] Deeds could not be found for Lemuel or Walter, and whether that was because they did not record their deeds or because they did not own property, is not known.
The Walter Marsh family probably moved to Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio, by June of 1822.[xiv] The 1827 census shows only a few men, but among them were Cheever Richardson, Elijah Richardson, David Winch, Abijah Winch, and Joseph Winch, (the Winches were brothers), Walter Marsh, and his brother, Lemuel Lucius Marsh.[xv] Lemuel Sr., stopped only a little to the east in Randolph or Conewango (depending on the year for the same place), Cattaraugus, New York, with some of his other sons.[xvi] A land deed in Millsford shows Louise’s name.[xvii] Walter purchased some land from a Solomon Meeker, who might have been a relative of his wife’s.[xviii] Walter was also elected poor master in 1828,[xix] and he served as postmaster, at least in the year of 1830 or longer.[xx]
Walter’s 1830 census record in Millsford shows that in his home was 1 male under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 30-40, 1 female under 5, 2 females 5-10, and one female 30-40. It appears from this record that Walter and Louise lost their first son born before the 1820 census, or he was out working at an early age. [xxi]
There was a reference to "Walter Marsh, editor" on the net writing to "The Christian Connection" newspaper, the earliest being from Millsford, Ohio in 1832. Walter’s deeds indicate he left there the same year.[xxii] All of the early men who settled in Millsford listed above had left by the 1835 census.[xxiii] Elijah Richardson died there as shown by his probate.[xxiv]
The 1840 census picked Walter up in Sangamon, Illinois where not only the numbers match up from his family, but his daughter's later history of the Whitman Massacre documents her birthplace and details about Walter's family there.[xxv] The Sangamon land records also show Walter's wife to have been Louise.[xxvi] The census shows 1 male 10-15, 1 male 40-50, 1 female under 5 ( Mary Marsh Cason), 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30, and 1 female 40-50. Mary's famous history, which can be read on the net at “A Place Called Oregon”, said that Walter sold his large farm there, and the family left Sangamon in 1847 for Oregon. She told of her mother's death at Soda Springs and then her eye-witness account of the massacre at the Whitman Mission, where her father was killed by Indians, 29th November, 1847. Stephenie Flora gives additional info about Walter at Oregonpioneers.com.
Mary also wrote in her history that she went to Oregon with her parents and brothers. In the 1850 census, there was a Josiah Marsh in Clackamas, a Lucius Marsh in Washington, a Mary Marsh in Clackamas, and a Smal. Marsh in Washington.[xxvii] Josiah, Mary, and Samuel’s census info does not indicate any connection with the Walter Marsh family. Mary recorded that Lucius was her brother.[xxviii]
He would have been named for Walter's brother, Lemuel Lucius. He had deeds in Sangamon along with Walter, and the two of them sold out in the early part of 1847 getting ready to go west.[xxix] Lucius was a recorded member of the Oregon Rangers that Mary spoke of in her history as having helped in freeing her and the rest of the survivors of the Whitman Mission Massacre from their Indian captives.[xxx] Lucius found a family to take in his sister, probably because he was not married, which is indicated by his deeds and the census records.
The 1850 census says Lucius was 27, and so it seems he was born about 1822.[xxxi] This matches the census records of the family. Some records give a later date, but Lucius could not have owned property in Sangamon, or taken a land patent March 3, 1843, had those dates been correct.[xxxii]
He took the oath of a freeman in St. Albans in 1816.[v]
Walter married Louise Meeker, Lovisa in some records, who was the daughter of Samuel Meeker of Weybridge, Addison, Vermont. This marriage was written down by Walter's daughter, Mary, but was not recorded in Vermont.[vi] It is interesting that the deed records of Addison County show business dealings between Samuel Meeker and Walter's uncles, Amos and Israel Marsh.[vii] Amos was a miller; he later left the Addison area for New York where he continued his milling work. Israel Marsh, owned and/or operated mills also. Perhaps Walter worked for his uncles, and in this way he met Louise. This training may have had something to do with his later hiring on as grist miller at the Whitman Mission.[viii]
In 1817 Walter's father sold his property in St. Albans,[ix] and the family may have traveled together to New York, but this is not known for sure.
Walter was in LeRoy, Genesee, New York in 1820.[x] He was married with a small son and daughter, and he was traveling or living near cousins from his mother's side: Cheever Richardson, who married Walter's cousin, Electa Winch, Elijah Richardson who was Cheever's brother, and David Winch, the son of Abijah and Rebecca Warner Winch and brother to Electa.[xi] LeRoy was near where Walter's brother, James Anson, settled in Rochester,[xii] and Walter was especially near to his father, Lemuel, who was found in the neighboring town of Bergen with his name written incorrectly in the census as Lemuel Mash.[xiii] Deeds could not be found for Lemuel or Walter, and whether that was because they did not record their deeds or because they did not own property, is not known.
The Walter Marsh family probably moved to Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio, by June of 1822.[xiv] The 1827 census shows only a few men, but among them were Cheever Richardson, Elijah Richardson, David Winch, Abijah Winch, and Joseph Winch, (the Winches were brothers), Walter Marsh, and his brother, Lemuel Lucius Marsh.[xv] Lemuel Sr., stopped only a little to the east in Randolph or Conewango (depending on the year for the same place), Cattaraugus, New York, with some of his other sons.[xvi] A land deed in Millsford shows Louise’s name.[xvii] Walter purchased some land from a Solomon Meeker, who might have been a relative of his wife’s.[xviii] Walter was also elected poor master in 1828,[xix] and he served as postmaster, at least in the year of 1830 or longer.[xx]
Walter’s 1830 census record in Millsford shows that in his home was 1 male under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 30-40, 1 female under 5, 2 females 5-10, and one female 30-40. It appears from this record that Walter and Louise lost their first son born before the 1820 census, or he was out working at an early age. [xxi]
There was a reference to "Walter Marsh, editor" on the net writing to "The Christian Connection" newspaper, the earliest being from Millsford, Ohio in 1832. Walter’s deeds indicate he left there the same year.[xxii] All of the early men who settled in Millsford listed above had left by the 1835 census.[xxiii] Elijah Richardson died there as shown by his probate.[xxiv]
The 1840 census picked Walter up in Sangamon, Illinois where not only the numbers match up from his family, but his daughter's later history of the Whitman Massacre documents her birthplace and details about Walter's family there.[xxv] The Sangamon land records also show Walter's wife to have been Louise.[xxvi] The census shows 1 male 10-15, 1 male 40-50, 1 female under 5 ( Mary Marsh Cason), 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30, and 1 female 40-50. Mary's famous history, which can be read on the net at “A Place Called Oregon”, said that Walter sold his large farm there, and the family left Sangamon in 1847 for Oregon. She told of her mother's death at Soda Springs and then her eye-witness account of the massacre at the Whitman Mission, where her father was killed by Indians, 29th November, 1847. Stephenie Flora gives additional info about Walter at Oregonpioneers.com.
Mary also wrote in her history that she went to Oregon with her parents and brothers. In the 1850 census, there was a Josiah Marsh in Clackamas, a Lucius Marsh in Washington, a Mary Marsh in Clackamas, and a Smal. Marsh in Washington.[xxvii] Josiah, Mary, and Samuel’s census info does not indicate any connection with the Walter Marsh family. Mary recorded that Lucius was her brother.[xxviii]
He would have been named for Walter's brother, Lemuel Lucius. He had deeds in Sangamon along with Walter, and the two of them sold out in the early part of 1847 getting ready to go west.[xxix] Lucius was a recorded member of the Oregon Rangers that Mary spoke of in her history as having helped in freeing her and the rest of the survivors of the Whitman Mission Massacre from their Indian captives.[xxx] Lucius found a family to take in his sister, probably because he was not married, which is indicated by his deeds and the census records.
The 1850 census says Lucius was 27, and so it seems he was born about 1822.[xxxi] This matches the census records of the family. Some records give a later date, but Lucius could not have owned property in Sangamon, or taken a land patent March 3, 1843, had those dates been correct.[xxxii]
Mary Marsh Cason
Photo courtesy of John Cason
Photo courtesy of John Cason
Mary recorded the death of a family member, an Alba Lyman, on Aug. 24, 1866.[xxxiii] The website, "Emigrants to Oregon in 1847", lists Alba as the grandson of Walter, although some earlier records indicated it was a Hayes boy. The book, The Great Command, The Story of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Oregon Country Pioneers, by Nard Jones, recorded this from mission notes, "Among the fifty people [in the mansion (guest house) was] widower Walter Marsh, who ran the gristmill. In his charge was an eleven-year old daughter and a two-year old grandson, Alba Lyman." One person conjectured that the Hayes boy was only thought to be Walter's because he and his mother, Rebecca Hayes, lived in the same building as Walter and his daughter, Mary.[xxxiv] I believe that Alba Lyman was the grandson of Walter, and that he was the son of Walter Lyman and Jane Marsh that married in Sangamon, Illinois, 1 Apr 1841.[xxxv] That marriage, along with Alba's last name, and his being recorded in Mary's notes, are too close to be a coincidence. Those reading the different accounts think Alba came west with his grandparents, but that he was taken in by a "woman survivor of the massacre who was on the same wagon train as the Marsh family, and she had looked after him when the grandmother, Louise Marsh, died."[xxxvi] Alba was in the 1860 census in Oregon, Clackamas County, with a Ross Merrick, 35, born in Ohio, and a Jane 28, from NY.[xxxvii] This Jane was not Walter's daughter or Alba's mother; she was not old enough to have given birth to the Alba A. Lyman 16, born in Illinois, that was living with her. Where this family was from Clackamas, they would have been close enough to Mary for her to know that Alba had died. Alba Lyman was not in the 1870 census.[xxxviii]
Thanks to John Cason, who made this connection before I did, and traced Walter Lyman’s ancestry through his father, Luther Lyman, who was living right next door to Walter Marsh in the 1820 census of LeRoy, Genesee, New York.[xxxix] The two families had known each other for over twenty-one years before the marriage of their children. Alba was found to be a name used in the Lyman family. Note that Mary probably referred to her nephew, Alba, as her brother, just as the newspaper account given below indicates.
There was another marriage of a Marsh girl in Sangamon that could have been Walter's daughter, an Amanda Marsh to a Benjamin N. Gibson, 16 Nov 1846, also in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois.[xl] This family was in the 1850 census in Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinois, Logan County being just north of Sangamon.[xli] There was a B. N. Gibson 32, from Virginia, an Amanda, 34, from Ohio, a Lelia Jane, 1, Illinois, and a Mary Ellen, 2, Illinois. The Walter Marsh family was not in Ohio by 1816 for Amanda’s birth, but she named two of her daughters after girls in the Marsh family. Thanks again to John Cason for the information from Lewis Melson, a descendant of Amanda Marsh, that she was the daughter of Walter Marsh.[xlii] After Benjamin and Amanda Gibson's deaths, their last two children were sent to Oregon to live with their Aunt Mary Marsh Cason. Both of these Gibson children married in Oregon, and Lewis knows the family stories told by his ancestor, Mary Amanda Gibson, about her life in Illinois and her trip to Oregon. John Cason later found the 1860 census info for the GIPSONS in Menard, Illinois.[xliii] This shows Amanda's age in the 1850 census to have been incorrect; she was born about 1824 in Ohio.
Thanks to John Cason, who made this connection before I did, and traced Walter Lyman’s ancestry through his father, Luther Lyman, who was living right next door to Walter Marsh in the 1820 census of LeRoy, Genesee, New York.[xxxix] The two families had known each other for over twenty-one years before the marriage of their children. Alba was found to be a name used in the Lyman family. Note that Mary probably referred to her nephew, Alba, as her brother, just as the newspaper account given below indicates.
There was another marriage of a Marsh girl in Sangamon that could have been Walter's daughter, an Amanda Marsh to a Benjamin N. Gibson, 16 Nov 1846, also in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois.[xl] This family was in the 1850 census in Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinois, Logan County being just north of Sangamon.[xli] There was a B. N. Gibson 32, from Virginia, an Amanda, 34, from Ohio, a Lelia Jane, 1, Illinois, and a Mary Ellen, 2, Illinois. The Walter Marsh family was not in Ohio by 1816 for Amanda’s birth, but she named two of her daughters after girls in the Marsh family. Thanks again to John Cason for the information from Lewis Melson, a descendant of Amanda Marsh, that she was the daughter of Walter Marsh.[xlii] After Benjamin and Amanda Gibson's deaths, their last two children were sent to Oregon to live with their Aunt Mary Marsh Cason. Both of these Gibson children married in Oregon, and Lewis knows the family stories told by his ancestor, Mary Amanda Gibson, about her life in Illinois and her trip to Oregon. John Cason later found the 1860 census info for the GIPSONS in Menard, Illinois.[xliii] This shows Amanda's age in the 1850 census to have been incorrect; she was born about 1824 in Ohio.
Amanda Marsh Gibson
Photo courtesy of Lewis Melson
Photo courtesy of Lewis Melson
An interesting note is that Amanda also told of her parents’ friendship with the Lincoln family. She recalled how Abraham Lincoln used to hold her on his knee when he visited them. She had an autographed photo of Abraham Lincoln that he had given to her parents when he first left for Washington.[xliv]
Lewis Melson sent research for the Gibson family that shows they purchased land in Menard County from a Joseph Marsh. John Cason found Joseph's death in the Petersburg Cemetery with an age that shows he was likely Walter's boy. But the fact that there was also a little one-year old, Walter Marsh, who belonged to J. and L. Marsh buried near Joseph in the cemetery adds to the evidence that Joseph was Walter's.[xlv] There was also a paper among the research notes of a lawsuit in 1856 between Joseph Marsh and Benjamin Gibson. There was a second party to Joseph in the suit, a J. W. Marsh, whom was likely Walter's brother, Julius W. Marsh. A later search of the land records of Menard County showed that J. W. Marsh was Julius, and there were land deeds between Julius and Joseph.[xlvi]
A special thanks to David R. Graham for his research on Joseph Marsh, brother to Walter, and for the excerpt he sent from Joseph's newspaper about the Walter Marsh family. It was proof of most all the research listed above.
"Dr. Helm will accept our sincere thanks for the following information relative to our eldest brother and family, from whom we had not heard for many years, neither did we know their destiny. We publish the account for the information of the family connection, and which will not be uninteresting to others. Our brother and family emigrated from Ohio to Illinois - were all sick some months on the road, during which time he lost his team on the prairie, and spent what property he had. In this sickly helpless condition, they reached Springfield, where they were provided for by the Christian kindness of the good people of that city. The Lord will reward them for their deeds of benevolences. Dr. Helm has told the rest of the sad tale relative to our much beloved brother and family.
“Springfield, Ill., Dec. 30, 1854. Dear Bro. Marsh: - I am sorry that circumstances compelled me to defer so long my answer to your last letter, requesting further information respecting your brother, Walter Marsh - but it could not well be avoided. I have been very busy professionally this last summer and fall, and not practicing any in the county, it has been at no time very convenient for me to visit the neighborhood of your brother's former residence in this county. Lately I have gathered the following particulars, which being obtained from those well acquainted both with those of the family that went to Oregon, and those that remained behind may be entirely relied upon.
“Walter Marsh and family first came to this place, nearly all sick at the time, and destitute of pecuniary means. By the kindness of the citizens, they were furnished with a house, nursed and supported till they were able to take care of themselves, losing in the meantime by death, two young children. They then removed into the country and settled on a fraction of government land, yet remaining unentered, and adjoining the Sangamon River. Here by means of a ferry which he established across the river on the road hence to Petersburg, he supported his family comfortably, soon acquired enough to enter the land on which he resided, and in a short time thereafter, purchased an improved farm in the neighborhood. Here he continued to prosper and lived much respected by all the neighbors, till at last he took (as we say here,) the Oregon fever, and sold out, and emigrated to Oregon in the spring of '46, or '47, the latter most probably. There accompanied him, his wife, who died on the way out, a son, Lucius or Lucien, a young daughter, Mary, and a grandson, two years old, who was the offspring of his oldest daughter, (dead at the time of the emigration) by marriage with a Mr. Lyman, who remained behind, but lately moved to Oregon. Now for the fate of your brother. You may remember (for an account of the incidents was published in nearly all the newspapers, I think seven or eight years ago) seeing a statement of the murder in Oregon, by the Indians, of a certain Dr. White, connected perhaps with a missionary establishment there. It seems that Dr. White benevolently attempted to minister to some of the tribe who were ill of small pox, or some other fatal disease. As all to whom he gave medicine died, the surviving Indians imagined that the Doctor had poisoned them, and in revenge, they shot him dead. Now, in some way, not distinctly remembered, your brother W. Marsh, being present, was involved in the affair and shot or otherwise killed by the Indians.
“I recollect very well seeing a statement of the affair at the time, and I doubt not that by referring to a file of newspapers for that period, you will be able to find the account in more detail. Your brother's death occurred about six or eight weeks after his arrival there. At the same time his little daughter Mary was taken prisoner by the Indians, but soon liberated through the instrumentality of some traders, was then adopted by a white family in good circumstances, but without children, and by them raised and educated, and is now married and living in Oregon. The grandchild was also taken care of; and Lucius it is said has done well, and is living some forty or fifty miles from Mary.
“When your brother emigrated, he left behind him a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Amanda. Joseph at the time of the emigration, was in Mexico, having previously joined the Illinois volunteers, and departed for the seat of war. On his return he married, and now lives, or did very lately, in Petersburg, Menard County, Ill. Menard County adjoins Sangamon County, on the northwest.
“Amanda Marsh, sister to Joseph, married Benjamin Gibson, a tinner by trade, and with her husband now lives also in Petersburg. The branch of the family in this State keep up a correspondence, I am told, with the part in Oregon. So that by writing to your nephew or niece, in Petersburg, I suppose you may learn still further particulars of the family, and perhaps a more detailed account of your brother's death. A lady formerly very intimate with the family, says they emigrated to Oregon, eight years ago, the coming spring. Yours sincerely, M. Helm"[xlvii]
A newspaper entry dated September 5, 1848, had this to say, “Mr. Campbell speaks like an enthusiast of Oregon. Evidently he believes it is the best country in the world. He thinks the Valley of the Willamette destined to be equal to the fabled ‘happy valley of Rassolas.’ His letter tells us, however, of one evidence that every thing is not as he could wish it, even in Oregon. The Indians murder our missionaries – - Walter Marsh, as kind a man as ever lived, and who left this county a little more than a year ago, lost his wife on the road, and was murdered with Dr. Whitman’s family. But he says the Indians won’t fight in Oregon. We are sure they will not do much of that business when the Rifle Regiment reaches them. If they do, they will be likely to be satisfied.”[xlviii]
Additional articles about Walter Marsh:
Who are for Oregon? This subscriber, and others in this vicinity, who design to leave for Oregon in the spring, desire to learn the names, residence and numbers, of those within some hundred miles of this point, who also will leave for the same destination, with a view of concentrating at same place for starting. Letters addressed to the undersigned attended to, and measures will be taken to systemize some plan for the mutual benefit of all. It is thought that Independence, Missouri will be the benefit point to obtain such supplies as cannot be readily carried from this state. We should be glad to learn, however the views of all the emigrants on this subject. – or any information ? persons who have been ? the journey will be gladly received. I am in want of a good driver, - a faithful, steady, well disposed man, Walter Marsh for himself and others, Springfield, February 13, 1847.[xlix]
Oregon Emigrants – Agreeable to previous arrangements, the Oregon emigrants from this and the neighboring counties, left the vicinity of this city, on their long journey, on Monday last. There were some dozen families in all. They seemed to be well provided with wagons, cattle, & c. Mr. James Watson, Mr. Walter Marsh, and Mr. Jesse Yocum, were among the families from this county. We are well acquainted with these men, and they were among our best citizens. We part with them with regret; and fervently hope, that they will realize all their hopes in Oregon.[l]
From the Oregon Emigrants Fort Laramie
June 17, 1847 Mr. Francis – As I had many solicitations from numerous friends in Sangamon, to write, I think it most expedient to write to you for publication, that all who feel interested in the Oregon expedition may reap that benefit through your useful paper. We have had a very pleasant journey thus far. - The health of the emigrants is good, and they are in high spirits. Our cattle have stood it well – we drive from 12 to 23 miles per day. The road is fine, and I do not know of any road of the same distance as good; it is as plain and well beaten as the road from Springfield to Jacksonville. There is a great number of emigrants on the road – I think 1,000 wagons will cross the mountains this season for Oregon. We have passed through four tries of Indians – the Shawnees, Caws, Pawnees and Sacs or Sioux. The Shawnees are friendly and did us no harm. - The Caws are friendly and great beggars; and the Pawnees are hostile – they shot one of our men while he was hunting his horse; a ball passing through his wrist and three others through his clothes; he lost his horse and gun, and saved himself by flight. All the tribes will steal horses if they can. We keep a good guard out every night. As we passed an Indian town a horse broke loose from a wagon and fell in the rear, and six Indians caught him in the day time and took him across the river. Nine men followed them and demanded the horse; they refused to give him up – they then told them if they did not give him up they would bring over a force and scalp every d-1 of them. The horse was immediately restored. All the chiefs of the Sioux tribe, 15 in number, accompanied by hundreds of their tribe, met us in the road and hoisted the American flag and professed friendship; we saluted it by a volley from our rifles, and rejoiced to see the stars and stripes unfurled by the tawny sons of the forest. We gave them meat and bread, and smoked with them the pipe of peace. We bought of them a good buffalo robe for a hat full of meal, and a good pair of mocasins well beaded for a biscuit. When we struck the Platte river, the whole face of nature seemed to take a change. The river is a mile wide and can be forded in any place and very muddy, has a sand bottom that is constantly on the move. We crossed it by doubling our teams – some wagons required 14 yoke; if we stop for one moment our wagons would sink in the quick sand. – We all got across safe. At the time we crossed the wind blew almost a tornado, the spray flew so that our drivers were as wet as if immersed, the sun was clear and a rainbow was constantly in view. The atmosphere here is so clear that an object as big as your State house can be seen forty miles, bearing the appearance of not being more than five miles off. The prickle pear grows here, and the earth is encrusted with salt. There is no doubt in my mind but that this country has once been a volcanic region – craters 300 feet high are numerous. Our wagons have stood it well. It has been ascertained that grease and rosin are not good for wagons – the grease works into the hubs and loosens the spokes. The emigrants use tar. No loose tire yet. Yours, Walter Marsh[li]
Lewis Melson sent research for the Gibson family that shows they purchased land in Menard County from a Joseph Marsh. John Cason found Joseph's death in the Petersburg Cemetery with an age that shows he was likely Walter's boy. But the fact that there was also a little one-year old, Walter Marsh, who belonged to J. and L. Marsh buried near Joseph in the cemetery adds to the evidence that Joseph was Walter's.[xlv] There was also a paper among the research notes of a lawsuit in 1856 between Joseph Marsh and Benjamin Gibson. There was a second party to Joseph in the suit, a J. W. Marsh, whom was likely Walter's brother, Julius W. Marsh. A later search of the land records of Menard County showed that J. W. Marsh was Julius, and there were land deeds between Julius and Joseph.[xlvi]
A special thanks to David R. Graham for his research on Joseph Marsh, brother to Walter, and for the excerpt he sent from Joseph's newspaper about the Walter Marsh family. It was proof of most all the research listed above.
"Dr. Helm will accept our sincere thanks for the following information relative to our eldest brother and family, from whom we had not heard for many years, neither did we know their destiny. We publish the account for the information of the family connection, and which will not be uninteresting to others. Our brother and family emigrated from Ohio to Illinois - were all sick some months on the road, during which time he lost his team on the prairie, and spent what property he had. In this sickly helpless condition, they reached Springfield, where they were provided for by the Christian kindness of the good people of that city. The Lord will reward them for their deeds of benevolences. Dr. Helm has told the rest of the sad tale relative to our much beloved brother and family.
“Springfield, Ill., Dec. 30, 1854. Dear Bro. Marsh: - I am sorry that circumstances compelled me to defer so long my answer to your last letter, requesting further information respecting your brother, Walter Marsh - but it could not well be avoided. I have been very busy professionally this last summer and fall, and not practicing any in the county, it has been at no time very convenient for me to visit the neighborhood of your brother's former residence in this county. Lately I have gathered the following particulars, which being obtained from those well acquainted both with those of the family that went to Oregon, and those that remained behind may be entirely relied upon.
“Walter Marsh and family first came to this place, nearly all sick at the time, and destitute of pecuniary means. By the kindness of the citizens, they were furnished with a house, nursed and supported till they were able to take care of themselves, losing in the meantime by death, two young children. They then removed into the country and settled on a fraction of government land, yet remaining unentered, and adjoining the Sangamon River. Here by means of a ferry which he established across the river on the road hence to Petersburg, he supported his family comfortably, soon acquired enough to enter the land on which he resided, and in a short time thereafter, purchased an improved farm in the neighborhood. Here he continued to prosper and lived much respected by all the neighbors, till at last he took (as we say here,) the Oregon fever, and sold out, and emigrated to Oregon in the spring of '46, or '47, the latter most probably. There accompanied him, his wife, who died on the way out, a son, Lucius or Lucien, a young daughter, Mary, and a grandson, two years old, who was the offspring of his oldest daughter, (dead at the time of the emigration) by marriage with a Mr. Lyman, who remained behind, but lately moved to Oregon. Now for the fate of your brother. You may remember (for an account of the incidents was published in nearly all the newspapers, I think seven or eight years ago) seeing a statement of the murder in Oregon, by the Indians, of a certain Dr. White, connected perhaps with a missionary establishment there. It seems that Dr. White benevolently attempted to minister to some of the tribe who were ill of small pox, or some other fatal disease. As all to whom he gave medicine died, the surviving Indians imagined that the Doctor had poisoned them, and in revenge, they shot him dead. Now, in some way, not distinctly remembered, your brother W. Marsh, being present, was involved in the affair and shot or otherwise killed by the Indians.
“I recollect very well seeing a statement of the affair at the time, and I doubt not that by referring to a file of newspapers for that period, you will be able to find the account in more detail. Your brother's death occurred about six or eight weeks after his arrival there. At the same time his little daughter Mary was taken prisoner by the Indians, but soon liberated through the instrumentality of some traders, was then adopted by a white family in good circumstances, but without children, and by them raised and educated, and is now married and living in Oregon. The grandchild was also taken care of; and Lucius it is said has done well, and is living some forty or fifty miles from Mary.
“When your brother emigrated, he left behind him a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Amanda. Joseph at the time of the emigration, was in Mexico, having previously joined the Illinois volunteers, and departed for the seat of war. On his return he married, and now lives, or did very lately, in Petersburg, Menard County, Ill. Menard County adjoins Sangamon County, on the northwest.
“Amanda Marsh, sister to Joseph, married Benjamin Gibson, a tinner by trade, and with her husband now lives also in Petersburg. The branch of the family in this State keep up a correspondence, I am told, with the part in Oregon. So that by writing to your nephew or niece, in Petersburg, I suppose you may learn still further particulars of the family, and perhaps a more detailed account of your brother's death. A lady formerly very intimate with the family, says they emigrated to Oregon, eight years ago, the coming spring. Yours sincerely, M. Helm"[xlvii]
A newspaper entry dated September 5, 1848, had this to say, “Mr. Campbell speaks like an enthusiast of Oregon. Evidently he believes it is the best country in the world. He thinks the Valley of the Willamette destined to be equal to the fabled ‘happy valley of Rassolas.’ His letter tells us, however, of one evidence that every thing is not as he could wish it, even in Oregon. The Indians murder our missionaries – - Walter Marsh, as kind a man as ever lived, and who left this county a little more than a year ago, lost his wife on the road, and was murdered with Dr. Whitman’s family. But he says the Indians won’t fight in Oregon. We are sure they will not do much of that business when the Rifle Regiment reaches them. If they do, they will be likely to be satisfied.”[xlviii]
Additional articles about Walter Marsh:
Who are for Oregon? This subscriber, and others in this vicinity, who design to leave for Oregon in the spring, desire to learn the names, residence and numbers, of those within some hundred miles of this point, who also will leave for the same destination, with a view of concentrating at same place for starting. Letters addressed to the undersigned attended to, and measures will be taken to systemize some plan for the mutual benefit of all. It is thought that Independence, Missouri will be the benefit point to obtain such supplies as cannot be readily carried from this state. We should be glad to learn, however the views of all the emigrants on this subject. – or any information ? persons who have been ? the journey will be gladly received. I am in want of a good driver, - a faithful, steady, well disposed man, Walter Marsh for himself and others, Springfield, February 13, 1847.[xlix]
Oregon Emigrants – Agreeable to previous arrangements, the Oregon emigrants from this and the neighboring counties, left the vicinity of this city, on their long journey, on Monday last. There were some dozen families in all. They seemed to be well provided with wagons, cattle, & c. Mr. James Watson, Mr. Walter Marsh, and Mr. Jesse Yocum, were among the families from this county. We are well acquainted with these men, and they were among our best citizens. We part with them with regret; and fervently hope, that they will realize all their hopes in Oregon.[l]
From the Oregon Emigrants Fort Laramie
June 17, 1847 Mr. Francis – As I had many solicitations from numerous friends in Sangamon, to write, I think it most expedient to write to you for publication, that all who feel interested in the Oregon expedition may reap that benefit through your useful paper. We have had a very pleasant journey thus far. - The health of the emigrants is good, and they are in high spirits. Our cattle have stood it well – we drive from 12 to 23 miles per day. The road is fine, and I do not know of any road of the same distance as good; it is as plain and well beaten as the road from Springfield to Jacksonville. There is a great number of emigrants on the road – I think 1,000 wagons will cross the mountains this season for Oregon. We have passed through four tries of Indians – the Shawnees, Caws, Pawnees and Sacs or Sioux. The Shawnees are friendly and did us no harm. - The Caws are friendly and great beggars; and the Pawnees are hostile – they shot one of our men while he was hunting his horse; a ball passing through his wrist and three others through his clothes; he lost his horse and gun, and saved himself by flight. All the tribes will steal horses if they can. We keep a good guard out every night. As we passed an Indian town a horse broke loose from a wagon and fell in the rear, and six Indians caught him in the day time and took him across the river. Nine men followed them and demanded the horse; they refused to give him up – they then told them if they did not give him up they would bring over a force and scalp every d-1 of them. The horse was immediately restored. All the chiefs of the Sioux tribe, 15 in number, accompanied by hundreds of their tribe, met us in the road and hoisted the American flag and professed friendship; we saluted it by a volley from our rifles, and rejoiced to see the stars and stripes unfurled by the tawny sons of the forest. We gave them meat and bread, and smoked with them the pipe of peace. We bought of them a good buffalo robe for a hat full of meal, and a good pair of mocasins well beaded for a biscuit. When we struck the Platte river, the whole face of nature seemed to take a change. The river is a mile wide and can be forded in any place and very muddy, has a sand bottom that is constantly on the move. We crossed it by doubling our teams – some wagons required 14 yoke; if we stop for one moment our wagons would sink in the quick sand. – We all got across safe. At the time we crossed the wind blew almost a tornado, the spray flew so that our drivers were as wet as if immersed, the sun was clear and a rainbow was constantly in view. The atmosphere here is so clear that an object as big as your State house can be seen forty miles, bearing the appearance of not being more than five miles off. The prickle pear grows here, and the earth is encrusted with salt. There is no doubt in my mind but that this country has once been a volcanic region – craters 300 feet high are numerous. Our wagons have stood it well. It has been ascertained that grease and rosin are not good for wagons – the grease works into the hubs and loosens the spokes. The emigrants use tar. No loose tire yet. Yours, Walter Marsh[li]
Children of Walter Marsh and Louisa Meeker
I. A missing firstborn son, likely 1818 in New York.
II. Jane born in 1820 in New York. She married 1 April 1841 Walter Lyman in Sangamon. Walter and Jane may have had one or two other children besides Alba that died young and were buried in the Sangamon area.
A. Alba A. Lyman c. 1845 died 1866
A very special thanks to Stephenie Flora, Oregonpioneers.com for sending the guardianship, will, and probate papers of Alba Lyman. The will is as follows:
In the name of God, Amen, I Alba A. Lyman of Lawful age to wit twenty one years old on the/this? day of April A.D. 1866, a resident of Clackamas County State of Oregon and being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament.
And I hereby declare that my Estate consists wholly of property or money that descended to me from the Estates of my Father and Mother late residents of the State of Illinois and is of the value of Three Hundred Dollars or thereabouts.
Ist I direct that out of my said Estate that all my just debts and the charges of my last sickness and funeral expenses be first paid.
2nd I Give and bequeath to my kind Aunt Amanda Gibson wife of Benjamin Gibson of Menard County State of Illinois the sum of (1).
3rd I Give and bequeath to my dear kind aunt Mary E. Cason wife of James P. Cason of Clackamas County State of Oregon all the remainder of my estate of all kinds whatsoever.
4th I hereby nominate and appoint James P. Cason Executor of my last will and testament.
5th I hereby revoke and annul all other and former will by me made.
In witness whereof I have herewithto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of August A.D. 1866. Alba A. Liman.
III. Lucius born in 1822 in Ohio, presumably died in California 1854 or after. Note: From Mary Marsh Cason's notes, the Cason family believes Lucius left Oregon in 1849.
IV. Amanda born in 1824 in Ohio. She married 16 November 1846 Benjamin N. Gibson. He served in the Civil War. Amanda died before 1870. Thanks to Lewis Melson for the birth and marriage information on these children.
A. Mary Ellen Gibson c. 1848 in Illinois died young.
B. Lelia Jane Gibson c. 1849 in Illinois, died 1910 buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Rubicon, Greene, Illinois. She married 7 March 1867 Edward Booth. They were living next to Benjamin Gibson in 1870 with a little daughter named Minnie. In 1880 the family was in Carrollton, Greene, Illinois, with added children, Charles and Halburt. Edward died sometime before the 1900 census when Lelia was in Rockbridge, Greene, Illinois with her two living children, Minnie and Charles. The 1910 census showed the family in Greenfield, and in 1920 they were enumerated again in Rockbridge. Minnie died 15 April 1926 and Charles in 1949, both seemingly unmarried, and both were buried in the Oakwood Cemetery near their mother.
II. Jane born in 1820 in New York. She married 1 April 1841 Walter Lyman in Sangamon. Walter and Jane may have had one or two other children besides Alba that died young and were buried in the Sangamon area.
A. Alba A. Lyman c. 1845 died 1866
A very special thanks to Stephenie Flora, Oregonpioneers.com for sending the guardianship, will, and probate papers of Alba Lyman. The will is as follows:
In the name of God, Amen, I Alba A. Lyman of Lawful age to wit twenty one years old on the/this? day of April A.D. 1866, a resident of Clackamas County State of Oregon and being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament.
And I hereby declare that my Estate consists wholly of property or money that descended to me from the Estates of my Father and Mother late residents of the State of Illinois and is of the value of Three Hundred Dollars or thereabouts.
Ist I direct that out of my said Estate that all my just debts and the charges of my last sickness and funeral expenses be first paid.
2nd I Give and bequeath to my kind Aunt Amanda Gibson wife of Benjamin Gibson of Menard County State of Illinois the sum of (1).
3rd I Give and bequeath to my dear kind aunt Mary E. Cason wife of James P. Cason of Clackamas County State of Oregon all the remainder of my estate of all kinds whatsoever.
4th I hereby nominate and appoint James P. Cason Executor of my last will and testament.
5th I hereby revoke and annul all other and former will by me made.
In witness whereof I have herewithto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of August A.D. 1866. Alba A. Liman.
III. Lucius born in 1822 in Ohio, presumably died in California 1854 or after. Note: From Mary Marsh Cason's notes, the Cason family believes Lucius left Oregon in 1849.
IV. Amanda born in 1824 in Ohio. She married 16 November 1846 Benjamin N. Gibson. He served in the Civil War. Amanda died before 1870. Thanks to Lewis Melson for the birth and marriage information on these children.
A. Mary Ellen Gibson c. 1848 in Illinois died young.
B. Lelia Jane Gibson c. 1849 in Illinois, died 1910 buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Rubicon, Greene, Illinois. She married 7 March 1867 Edward Booth. They were living next to Benjamin Gibson in 1870 with a little daughter named Minnie. In 1880 the family was in Carrollton, Greene, Illinois, with added children, Charles and Halburt. Edward died sometime before the 1900 census when Lelia was in Rockbridge, Greene, Illinois with her two living children, Minnie and Charles. The 1910 census showed the family in Greenfield, and in 1920 they were enumerated again in Rockbridge. Minnie died 15 April 1926 and Charles in 1949, both seemingly unmarried, and both were buried in the Oakwood Cemetery near their mother.
C. Elizabeth S. Gibson c. in 1853 in Illinois
D. Benjamin M. Gibson c. 1859 in Illinois
E. Mary Amanda Gibson born 31 October 1860, died 20 August 1940;she married 22 July 1879 James Asbury Melson in Oregon
F. Joseph Lincoln Gibson born 25 May 1865 in Ill, died 19 May 1930. He married Minnie Summers in 1888 in Oregon.
D. Benjamin M. Gibson c. 1859 in Illinois
E. Mary Amanda Gibson born 31 October 1860, died 20 August 1940;she married 22 July 1879 James Asbury Melson in Oregon
F. Joseph Lincoln Gibson born 25 May 1865 in Ill, died 19 May 1930. He married Minnie Summers in 1888 in Oregon.
V. Joseph, born 1826 in Ohio, married Lucy H. Brooks 16 October 1848 in Menard, Illinois. He died 22 June 1856 in Petersburg, and was buried in the Petersburg Cemetery, 29 years, 10 months, 24 days. There was a short will which reflected Joseph's weakened condition. "On the 19th day of June 1856, Joseph Marsh of the County of Menard and State of Illinois, being sick, of the sickness whereof he died on the fourth day afterwards, did, at Petersburg in said County, make and declare his last will and testament, (?) in these or the like words following: 'I want all my property disposed of my debts paid, and my wife, Lucy, to have the net profit thereof during her widowhood, and if she marries, then it shall go to my two children, and I want A.C.Wood to attend to my business." Thanks to Wally Zukas for sending info about the stone at the Old City Cemetery in Petersburg.
Thanks to the observation from John Cason that Joseph Marsh, Benjamin Gibson, and John T. Brooks (Lucy's brother) were all listed in the census as tinners. Joseph had a large probate showing eight oversized pages of nothing but goods made of tin before the ninth page that showed his household goods. Benjamin Gibson purchased stoves, tin ware and tools from the estate for $2829.00.
After Joseph's death, Lucy married 13 March 1859 Richard H. Smedley or Smeadley (born 19 Feb 1827) in Menard County. Richard was previously married 19 December 1850 to Mary Elizabeth Rice (born 10 Feb 1829, died 11 May 1855) with sons Walter B. (or Waller B.) and Thomas H. Smeadley. By 1860, Richard and Lucy had a child named Mary, who was only a few months old, but by 1870, Richard and Mary were gone, and Lucy had her two living Marsh sons with her. Thanks to Pamela Wright for the information that Richard H. Smedley joined the 114 Illinois Infantry "Company F" on 09/18/1862 in Petersburg. After a promotion to Sergeant, Richard died at Memphis of disease 07/04/1864. He was buried July 1864 next to his first wife, Mary E. Smedley, in the Rogers Cemetery in Morgan County, Illinois. Pam also sent the probate for Richard showing that he and Lucy must have had another child after the 1860 census, a John S. Smedley. John must have died before 1870, as he was not listed with Lucy and her two Marsh sons in the census. In that year, Thomas Smedley, Lucy's stepson, was living with Amanda Rice, who was likely his grandmother, in Morgan County, Illinois. Walter B. Smedley was buried years later in a cemetery in Waverly, Morgan, Illinois.
Lucy H. Brooks was most likely the daughter of Charles G. Brooks (died in 1855) and his wife, Permelia Brooks (her maiden name was the same as her married name), who were married in Madison County, Kentucky in 1825 (Genweb). Their son, John Brooks, was a purchaser to some property from Joseph's estate, another son, A.I. Brooks, was Lucy's attorney, members of the families were living quite near to each other (particularly in the 1870 census), Lucy named a son Charles, they were from Kentucky as Lucy was, and the C.G. Brooks family seems to be the only possibility for having been in Menard, Illinois in time for the marriage of Joseph and Lucy. Children of Joseph and Lucy Marsh:
A. Walter Marsh c. 1852 in Menard, died in 1854. Thanks to Wally Zukas for this info as well from the Old City Cemetery.
B. Charles Marsh 10 Feb 1853 (shown on death certificate) in Menard. He married 27 June 1874 Nancy S. Davis in Menard. Their census records show her name as Susan. Charles and Susan had children Joseph James (1875), Grace (1877), and Sylvia (1879) by the 1880 census of Havana, Mason, Illinois. Thanks to Pamela Wright for the information on another child for this couple, a Wallace Shehan Marsh born 30 January 1882 in Farmington, Illinois, died 29 October 1925 buried Pottstown Cemetery in Pottstown, Peoria, Illinois. By 1900 Charles and family were in Reynolds, Randolph, Arkansas, enumerated in the census with the name of "Mash". There were additional children listed (including Wallace): Stephen Emmanuel (August 1886); Charles Jerome (August 1887); and Lou A. (female, March 1891). Susan said she had 7 children, and 7 were living at that time. Susan must have died a short time after the census was taken as C.W. Marsh, 48, married Mary C. Heater, 39, 21st of April 1901 in Clay County, Arkansas. Thanks to Mark Frazier for the draft registration of two of Charles' sons showing the family returned to Peoria County, Illinois. Charles was in Limestone, Peoria, Illinois for the 1910 census. That shows that Mary must have died before that time as Charles had a wife named Emily to whom he had been married for two years. Pam Wright sent the death certificate for Charles showing that he died 6 May 1927, 74 yrs. 2 mo., 26 days, and he was buried in the Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
The known marriages for the children of Charles Marsh are: Joseph married 28 May 1903 in Randolph County, Illinois, Mary E. Evans (died before 1920), and he married (2) Harriet E. Sill, widow of Edward James Sill; Grace married 16 November 1901 in Clay County, Arkansas, Willie M. Thompson; Sylvia married 1 July 1897 in Clay County, Arkansas, Willis Ransom McCracken, son of Joseph McCracken; Wallace married 6 September 1909 in Peoria County, Illinois, Louise Wolstenholme, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Williams Wolstenholme; Charles Jerome (d. 1965) married Jessie May Cummings (d. 1954) and both were buried in Swan Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois.
C. George Marsh born 9 Oct 1855 in Menard. George chose his own guardian, John Tice, in 1875, which indicates his mother had died. George married 1 February 1875 in Menard County Mary E. Thomas. The name must have been Mary Elizabeth as Bettie Marsh, wife of George Marsh, was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Petersburg 4 January 1879, 23 yrs. By 1880 George (printer) was living in Olathe, Johnson, Kansas with a Samuel E. McCracken (McCracker on census index) and his family. On the 1st of January 1881, George married in Olathe, Lou A. McCracken, Samuel's daughter. Earlier census records show her name to have been Lucinda Ann McCracken. In 1900 George Marsh, printer, was in Joplin Ward 1, Jasper, Missouri with his wife Lou A. and daughters Jane and Sue Ann. In 1910 George D. Marsh was found in Lincoln, Linn, Kansas with his family and living next door was Thomas Smedley (George's step-brother) with his wife, Minnie Kennedy Smedley. Thanks to Pam Wright for finding George in the 1920 census in Miami Ward 4, Ottawa, Oklahoma where records show he was the proprietor of the Grand Theater and Opera House. Pam also sent the info that the daughter, Jane, married about 4 June 1913, John Giffin, who was the son of James and Adelaide Giffin. Sue Ann married 25 August 1921, Clarence G. Heckes, son of David and Cora Heckes. Clarence and Sue Ann were buried in the El Reno Cemetery in El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma. Lou A., George's wife, died in 1918, and George died in 1928. Their stone in Miami, Ottawa, Oklahoma can be seen at GAR Cemetery.
VI. Unknown daughter about 1828 in Ohio, shown in the above article to have died young.
VII. Unknown child about 1830 in Ohio, shown in the above article to have died young.
VIII. Mary Ellen or Elizabeth Marsh born 8 October 1836 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. She married James Pulliam Cason 25 December 1853 in Oregon City, and she died 6 April 1907 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon; buried in Haystack Cemetery. James was born 5 January 1832 to Fendall Carr Cason and Rebecca Rawlings Holladay in Fayette, Howard, Missouri, and he died 6 September 1887 in Shuttler Flat, Gilliam, Oregon; buried Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Gilliam, Oregon. Mary married (2) William A. Gilliam 9 January 1891 in Morrow County, Oregon, son of Charles and Mary Gilliam.
A special thanks goes to John Cason for the historical information on the Cason family and the info on their descendants.
Lucius Marsh arranged for his sister, Mary, to stay at various times with Mrs. George L. Durham, Mrs. VanDorn, Mrs. Wilcox, and Mrs. Young until 1849. Mary then lived with Mr. and Mrs. Asa Lovejoy from 1849 until her marriage to James Cason on Christmas Day of 1853. James and Mary took a donation land claim, number 5111 consisting of 320 acres, near Oregon City in Fern Hills. This area soon became too crowded for them, and they moved to Eastern Oregon in 1868, which was also a move to help with the allergy problems Mary dealt with in the damp Willamette Valley. They lived for a short time in The Dalles and then moved to the remote foothills of the Blue Mountains. James had to haul or drag logs for many miles to build a cabin and outbuildings, and they homesteaded on 160 acres in the Rhea Creek area of what is now Morrow County, at the mouth of Cason Canyon, which was named for them, near the present site of Ruggs, Oregon. They raised cattle and horses and kept some pigs and a flock of chickens. It was a trip of 110 miles each way to The Dalles post office and trading post. After several years, a stage line was opened between Umatilla and Canyon City, and Mary acted as postmistress of the new Midway office. They moved to Lower Willow Creek in the Ione area in 1879 in search of better grazing land, and they took a Land Patent there for 160 acres. When that grazing area played out, they moved to Shuttler Flat in 1882, and they bought and operated a dry land wheat ranch there until James' death in 1887. Mary turned the wheat ranch over to her 18 year-old son, John, and then the family moved to a ranch in Kahler Basin, near Spray, Oregon, to raise livestock. Mary lived the last several years of her life with her daughter, Ada Cason Templeton in Spray, Oregon.
Thanks to the observation from John Cason that Joseph Marsh, Benjamin Gibson, and John T. Brooks (Lucy's brother) were all listed in the census as tinners. Joseph had a large probate showing eight oversized pages of nothing but goods made of tin before the ninth page that showed his household goods. Benjamin Gibson purchased stoves, tin ware and tools from the estate for $2829.00.
After Joseph's death, Lucy married 13 March 1859 Richard H. Smedley or Smeadley (born 19 Feb 1827) in Menard County. Richard was previously married 19 December 1850 to Mary Elizabeth Rice (born 10 Feb 1829, died 11 May 1855) with sons Walter B. (or Waller B.) and Thomas H. Smeadley. By 1860, Richard and Lucy had a child named Mary, who was only a few months old, but by 1870, Richard and Mary were gone, and Lucy had her two living Marsh sons with her. Thanks to Pamela Wright for the information that Richard H. Smedley joined the 114 Illinois Infantry "Company F" on 09/18/1862 in Petersburg. After a promotion to Sergeant, Richard died at Memphis of disease 07/04/1864. He was buried July 1864 next to his first wife, Mary E. Smedley, in the Rogers Cemetery in Morgan County, Illinois. Pam also sent the probate for Richard showing that he and Lucy must have had another child after the 1860 census, a John S. Smedley. John must have died before 1870, as he was not listed with Lucy and her two Marsh sons in the census. In that year, Thomas Smedley, Lucy's stepson, was living with Amanda Rice, who was likely his grandmother, in Morgan County, Illinois. Walter B. Smedley was buried years later in a cemetery in Waverly, Morgan, Illinois.
Lucy H. Brooks was most likely the daughter of Charles G. Brooks (died in 1855) and his wife, Permelia Brooks (her maiden name was the same as her married name), who were married in Madison County, Kentucky in 1825 (Genweb). Their son, John Brooks, was a purchaser to some property from Joseph's estate, another son, A.I. Brooks, was Lucy's attorney, members of the families were living quite near to each other (particularly in the 1870 census), Lucy named a son Charles, they were from Kentucky as Lucy was, and the C.G. Brooks family seems to be the only possibility for having been in Menard, Illinois in time for the marriage of Joseph and Lucy. Children of Joseph and Lucy Marsh:
A. Walter Marsh c. 1852 in Menard, died in 1854. Thanks to Wally Zukas for this info as well from the Old City Cemetery.
B. Charles Marsh 10 Feb 1853 (shown on death certificate) in Menard. He married 27 June 1874 Nancy S. Davis in Menard. Their census records show her name as Susan. Charles and Susan had children Joseph James (1875), Grace (1877), and Sylvia (1879) by the 1880 census of Havana, Mason, Illinois. Thanks to Pamela Wright for the information on another child for this couple, a Wallace Shehan Marsh born 30 January 1882 in Farmington, Illinois, died 29 October 1925 buried Pottstown Cemetery in Pottstown, Peoria, Illinois. By 1900 Charles and family were in Reynolds, Randolph, Arkansas, enumerated in the census with the name of "Mash". There were additional children listed (including Wallace): Stephen Emmanuel (August 1886); Charles Jerome (August 1887); and Lou A. (female, March 1891). Susan said she had 7 children, and 7 were living at that time. Susan must have died a short time after the census was taken as C.W. Marsh, 48, married Mary C. Heater, 39, 21st of April 1901 in Clay County, Arkansas. Thanks to Mark Frazier for the draft registration of two of Charles' sons showing the family returned to Peoria County, Illinois. Charles was in Limestone, Peoria, Illinois for the 1910 census. That shows that Mary must have died before that time as Charles had a wife named Emily to whom he had been married for two years. Pam Wright sent the death certificate for Charles showing that he died 6 May 1927, 74 yrs. 2 mo., 26 days, and he was buried in the Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
The known marriages for the children of Charles Marsh are: Joseph married 28 May 1903 in Randolph County, Illinois, Mary E. Evans (died before 1920), and he married (2) Harriet E. Sill, widow of Edward James Sill; Grace married 16 November 1901 in Clay County, Arkansas, Willie M. Thompson; Sylvia married 1 July 1897 in Clay County, Arkansas, Willis Ransom McCracken, son of Joseph McCracken; Wallace married 6 September 1909 in Peoria County, Illinois, Louise Wolstenholme, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Williams Wolstenholme; Charles Jerome (d. 1965) married Jessie May Cummings (d. 1954) and both were buried in Swan Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois.
C. George Marsh born 9 Oct 1855 in Menard. George chose his own guardian, John Tice, in 1875, which indicates his mother had died. George married 1 February 1875 in Menard County Mary E. Thomas. The name must have been Mary Elizabeth as Bettie Marsh, wife of George Marsh, was buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Petersburg 4 January 1879, 23 yrs. By 1880 George (printer) was living in Olathe, Johnson, Kansas with a Samuel E. McCracken (McCracker on census index) and his family. On the 1st of January 1881, George married in Olathe, Lou A. McCracken, Samuel's daughter. Earlier census records show her name to have been Lucinda Ann McCracken. In 1900 George Marsh, printer, was in Joplin Ward 1, Jasper, Missouri with his wife Lou A. and daughters Jane and Sue Ann. In 1910 George D. Marsh was found in Lincoln, Linn, Kansas with his family and living next door was Thomas Smedley (George's step-brother) with his wife, Minnie Kennedy Smedley. Thanks to Pam Wright for finding George in the 1920 census in Miami Ward 4, Ottawa, Oklahoma where records show he was the proprietor of the Grand Theater and Opera House. Pam also sent the info that the daughter, Jane, married about 4 June 1913, John Giffin, who was the son of James and Adelaide Giffin. Sue Ann married 25 August 1921, Clarence G. Heckes, son of David and Cora Heckes. Clarence and Sue Ann were buried in the El Reno Cemetery in El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma. Lou A., George's wife, died in 1918, and George died in 1928. Their stone in Miami, Ottawa, Oklahoma can be seen at GAR Cemetery.
VI. Unknown daughter about 1828 in Ohio, shown in the above article to have died young.
VII. Unknown child about 1830 in Ohio, shown in the above article to have died young.
VIII. Mary Ellen or Elizabeth Marsh born 8 October 1836 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. She married James Pulliam Cason 25 December 1853 in Oregon City, and she died 6 April 1907 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon; buried in Haystack Cemetery. James was born 5 January 1832 to Fendall Carr Cason and Rebecca Rawlings Holladay in Fayette, Howard, Missouri, and he died 6 September 1887 in Shuttler Flat, Gilliam, Oregon; buried Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Gilliam, Oregon. Mary married (2) William A. Gilliam 9 January 1891 in Morrow County, Oregon, son of Charles and Mary Gilliam.
A special thanks goes to John Cason for the historical information on the Cason family and the info on their descendants.
Lucius Marsh arranged for his sister, Mary, to stay at various times with Mrs. George L. Durham, Mrs. VanDorn, Mrs. Wilcox, and Mrs. Young until 1849. Mary then lived with Mr. and Mrs. Asa Lovejoy from 1849 until her marriage to James Cason on Christmas Day of 1853. James and Mary took a donation land claim, number 5111 consisting of 320 acres, near Oregon City in Fern Hills. This area soon became too crowded for them, and they moved to Eastern Oregon in 1868, which was also a move to help with the allergy problems Mary dealt with in the damp Willamette Valley. They lived for a short time in The Dalles and then moved to the remote foothills of the Blue Mountains. James had to haul or drag logs for many miles to build a cabin and outbuildings, and they homesteaded on 160 acres in the Rhea Creek area of what is now Morrow County, at the mouth of Cason Canyon, which was named for them, near the present site of Ruggs, Oregon. They raised cattle and horses and kept some pigs and a flock of chickens. It was a trip of 110 miles each way to The Dalles post office and trading post. After several years, a stage line was opened between Umatilla and Canyon City, and Mary acted as postmistress of the new Midway office. They moved to Lower Willow Creek in the Ione area in 1879 in search of better grazing land, and they took a Land Patent there for 160 acres. When that grazing area played out, they moved to Shuttler Flat in 1882, and they bought and operated a dry land wheat ranch there until James' death in 1887. Mary turned the wheat ranch over to her 18 year-old son, John, and then the family moved to a ranch in Kahler Basin, near Spray, Oregon, to raise livestock. Mary lived the last several years of her life with her daughter, Ada Cason Templeton in Spray, Oregon.
There are more grandchildren than are shown here, as the list is limited by the Right of Privacy Law.
A. Frances Anne Cason born 30 October 1854 in Fern Hills, Oregon, died 19 October 1882 Umatilla County. She married 19 November 1871 in Hepner, Morrow, Oregon, Francis Marion Stewart. He was born in 1850 in Iowa to Mahlen and Matilda Stewart.
I. Ethel Stewart
B. Reverend Charles Lucius Cason born 19 January 1857 in Fern Hills, died 2 August 1931 in Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon. He married Caroline Hale 30 April 1882 in Arlington, Gilliam, Oregon. She was born 16 Mar 1862 to Milton Hale and Mary Sperry in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, and she died 8 Jul 1958 in Goldendale, Klickitat, Washington. Both were buried in Lonerock Community Cemetery.
I. Willis Eugene Cason, b. 6 August 1883, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 6 November 1965, Condon, Gilliam, Oregon.
II. Albert Raymond Cason, b. 16 January 1885, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 13 April 1952, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
III. Ellis Everett Cason, b. 20 September 1886, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 29 Oct 1957, Heppner, Morrow, Oregon.
IV. George Layton Cason, b. 28 April 1888, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 18 August 1941, Heppner, Morrow, Oregon.
V. Lewis Charles Cason, b. 9 April 1890, Haystack, Wheeler, Oregon; d. 17 November 1968, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
VI. Della May Cason, b. 12 January 1892, Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 2 January 1974, Fortuna, Humboldt, California.
VII. Perry Glen Cason, b. 20 October 1895, Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 27 December 1898 from diphtheria, Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon.
C. Rebecca Eliza Cason born 11 February 1859 in Fern Hills, died 24 November 1863 in Oregon City from diphtheria. She was buried on the family homestead in Fern Hills.
D. Lettie Marie Cason born 13 April 1862 in Fern Hills, died 14 November 1863 in Oregon City from diphtheria. She was buried on the family homestead in Fern Hills.
E. Walter Carr Cason born 7 August 1863 in Oregon City, died 27 July 1939 in Richland, Benton, Washington. He married Sarah Hale 27 November 1890 in Condon, Gilliam, Oregon.
I. Pearl Arlene Cason, b. 18 October 1891, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. November 1974, Yakima, Yakima, Washington.
II. Muriel Mayme Cason, b. 27 December 1892, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. 31 July 1992, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
III. Walter Guy Cason, b. 1 June 1894, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. 31 July 1992, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
IV. Delia Marie Cason, b. 4 January 1897, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. 4 September 1925, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
V. Sibyl Lorena Cason, b. 13 June 1900, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. April 1987, Fresno, Fresno, California.
F. John Benton Cason born 28 December 1865 in Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon; died 26 July 1932 in Heppner, Morrow, Oregon. He married 18 August 1895 Ada Templeton, in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. She was born 3 July 1875 in Hartville,Wright, Missouri to William Templeton and Anne Quick. She died 19 August 1961 in Hepner, Morrow, Oregon. Both were buried in the Heppner Masonic Cemetery.
G. Sarah Isabelle Cason born 17 January 1871 in Heppner, Morrow, Oregon; died 23 February 1892 in Heppner, shortly after her only son was born. She married 13 February 1887 Alvin Seth Thomas in Gilliam. He was born 15 April 1861, Halsey, Linn, Oregon; d. 30 May 1923, Condon, Gilliam, Oregon.
H. Mary Oradelle Cason born 3 February 1873 in Heppner; died 17 February 1878 in Ione, Morrow, Oregon. She was buried in Highview Cemetery.
I. James Franklin Cason born 30 August 1877 in Heppner; died 20 July 1932 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon; buried in Haystack Cemetery. He married Elsie Frost 17 November 1910 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon.
J. Ada Mae Cason born 31 March 1880 in Ione, Morrow, Oregon; died 31 March 1961 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. She married Aaron V. Templeton 24 April 1898 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. He was born 8 December 1869 to William Templeton and Anne Quick in McMinnville, Warren, Tennessee, and he died 4 April 1941 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. Both were buried in Haystack Cemetery.
A. Frances Anne Cason born 30 October 1854 in Fern Hills, Oregon, died 19 October 1882 Umatilla County. She married 19 November 1871 in Hepner, Morrow, Oregon, Francis Marion Stewart. He was born in 1850 in Iowa to Mahlen and Matilda Stewart.
I. Ethel Stewart
B. Reverend Charles Lucius Cason born 19 January 1857 in Fern Hills, died 2 August 1931 in Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon. He married Caroline Hale 30 April 1882 in Arlington, Gilliam, Oregon. She was born 16 Mar 1862 to Milton Hale and Mary Sperry in Brownsville, Linn, Oregon, and she died 8 Jul 1958 in Goldendale, Klickitat, Washington. Both were buried in Lonerock Community Cemetery.
I. Willis Eugene Cason, b. 6 August 1883, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 6 November 1965, Condon, Gilliam, Oregon.
II. Albert Raymond Cason, b. 16 January 1885, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 13 April 1952, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
III. Ellis Everett Cason, b. 20 September 1886, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 29 Oct 1957, Heppner, Morrow, Oregon.
IV. George Layton Cason, b. 28 April 1888, Shuttler Flats, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 18 August 1941, Heppner, Morrow, Oregon.
V. Lewis Charles Cason, b. 9 April 1890, Haystack, Wheeler, Oregon; d. 17 November 1968, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
VI. Della May Cason, b. 12 January 1892, Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 2 January 1974, Fortuna, Humboldt, California.
VII. Perry Glen Cason, b. 20 October 1895, Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon; d. 27 December 1898 from diphtheria, Lonerock, Gilliam, Oregon.
C. Rebecca Eliza Cason born 11 February 1859 in Fern Hills, died 24 November 1863 in Oregon City from diphtheria. She was buried on the family homestead in Fern Hills.
D. Lettie Marie Cason born 13 April 1862 in Fern Hills, died 14 November 1863 in Oregon City from diphtheria. She was buried on the family homestead in Fern Hills.
E. Walter Carr Cason born 7 August 1863 in Oregon City, died 27 July 1939 in Richland, Benton, Washington. He married Sarah Hale 27 November 1890 in Condon, Gilliam, Oregon.
I. Pearl Arlene Cason, b. 18 October 1891, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. November 1974, Yakima, Yakima, Washington.
II. Muriel Mayme Cason, b. 27 December 1892, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. 31 July 1992, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
III. Walter Guy Cason, b. 1 June 1894, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. 31 July 1992, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
IV. Delia Marie Cason, b. 4 January 1897, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. 4 September 1925, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
V. Sibyl Lorena Cason, b. 13 June 1900, Ione, Morrow, Oregon; d. April 1987, Fresno, Fresno, California.
F. John Benton Cason born 28 December 1865 in Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon; died 26 July 1932 in Heppner, Morrow, Oregon. He married 18 August 1895 Ada Templeton, in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. She was born 3 July 1875 in Hartville,Wright, Missouri to William Templeton and Anne Quick. She died 19 August 1961 in Hepner, Morrow, Oregon. Both were buried in the Heppner Masonic Cemetery.
G. Sarah Isabelle Cason born 17 January 1871 in Heppner, Morrow, Oregon; died 23 February 1892 in Heppner, shortly after her only son was born. She married 13 February 1887 Alvin Seth Thomas in Gilliam. He was born 15 April 1861, Halsey, Linn, Oregon; d. 30 May 1923, Condon, Gilliam, Oregon.
H. Mary Oradelle Cason born 3 February 1873 in Heppner; died 17 February 1878 in Ione, Morrow, Oregon. She was buried in Highview Cemetery.
I. James Franklin Cason born 30 August 1877 in Heppner; died 20 July 1932 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon; buried in Haystack Cemetery. He married Elsie Frost 17 November 1910 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon.
J. Ada Mae Cason born 31 March 1880 in Ione, Morrow, Oregon; died 31 March 1961 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. She married Aaron V. Templeton 24 April 1898 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. He was born 8 December 1869 to William Templeton and Anne Quick in McMinnville, Warren, Tennessee, and he died 4 April 1941 in Spray, Wheeler, Oregon. Both were buried in Haystack Cemetery.
[i] Correspondence with St. Albans record office, P.O. Box 867, St. Albans, Vermont, 05478-0867.
[ii] Information from Dawn D. Hance, Rutland genealogist.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] A General Index to a Census of Pensioners For Revolutionary or Military Service 1840, prepared by Genealogical
Society of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, SLC Utah (Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Company
1965), FHL #973 X2pc.
[v] St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont town records 1784-1891, FHL #028,859, year – 1816.
[vi] Information courtesy of John Cason.
[vii] Addison County, Vermont deed records, includes index, v.1-3 1789-1812, FHL #029231, v.4-5 1812-1826,
FHL #029232.
[viii] “The Whitman Massacre as recalled by Mary Marsh Cason, A Place Called Oregon”, gesswhoto.com.
[ix] St. Albans Old Village Records, vol. 6 pg. 476, St. Albans record office, P.O. Box 867, St. Albans, Vermont, 05478-
0867.
[x] 1820 U.S. census, LeRoy, Genesee, New York, Walter Marsh.
[xi] See historical info for Abijah Winch in this same document.
[xii] 1820 U.S. census, Monroe, New York, James A. Marsh.
[xiii] 1820 U.S. census, Bergen, Genesee, New York, Lemuel Mash.
[xiv] “Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve,” Part 1, Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham,
Editor, [published under the auspices of the Women’s Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission,
July, 1896], pp. 104-107, http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OHASHTAB/2010-04/1271586273.
[xv] 1827 Ashtabula County, Ohio census records, 1811-1835, FHL #960607, formerly on the US Genweb.
[xvi] 1830 U.S.census, Conewango, Cattaraugus, New York, Lemuel, Josiah, Orrin, and Julius Marsh.
[xvii] Walter Marsh and wife to Anson K. Garlick, 1 Nov 1832, copy on file with the author through a volunteer in
the Ashtabula Family History Center, 571 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616; The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Millsford deeds not found in the Family History Library listings, but
note that Millsford was renamed Dorset in 1849 and may be found in that location.
[xviii] Solomon Meeker to Walter Marsh 22 Aug 1829. Ashtabula deed index from correspondence with a volunteer in
the Ashtabula Family History Center, 571 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616;
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
[xix] Deed index from correspondence with a volunteer in the Ashtabula Family History Center, 571 Seven Hills Road,
Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
[xx] United States Post Office Department, Table of the Post Offices in the United States: arranged by States and
Counties; as They Were October, 1830; with a Supplement, Stating the Offices Established Between the First of
October, 1830, and the First of April, 1831. Also, an Index to the Whole (Google E-Book), books.google.com.
[xxi] 1830 U.S. census Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio, Walter Marsh.
[xxii] See 17.
[xxiii] 1835 Ashtabula County, Ohio census records, 1811-1835, formerly on the US Genweb, FHL #960607.
[xxiv] Vol. 130 pg. 252. Copy of probate on file with the author through a volunteer in the Ashtabula Family History
Center, 571 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616; The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints.
[xxv] 1840 U.S. census, not stated, Sangamon, Illinois, Walter Marsh.
[xxvi] Sangamon, Illinois land records, Walter and Louise Marsh to Henrietta Stepman bk. Y pg. 544, FHL #1310373, 23
Jan 1847.
Sangamon land records, Walter and Louise Marsh to William and Thomas Fry, Bk. T pg. 59, 60, FHL #1310371, 6
May 1842.
[xxvii] 1850 U.S. census, Oregon Territory, for the name “Marsh”.
[xxviii] Family member, John Cason, info on file with the author.
[xxix] Sangamon, Illinois land records, Walter Marsh to Henrietta Stepman bk. Y pg. 544, FHL #1310373, 23 Jan 1847.
Sangamon, Illinois land records, Lucius Marsh to William and Thomas Fry bk. Z pg. 18, FHL #1310373, 25 March
1847.
Sangamon, Illinois land records, Lucius Marsh to Henry Teed bk. Z pg. 22, FHL #1310373, 1 March 1847.
[xxx] Oregon Pioneers.com, Lucius Marsh, Member of Oregon Riflemen [Oregon Spectator Dec 9, 1847 p 2:1] Cayuse
War Claim collected by assignee O.C. Pratt Jan 1, 1853 [OS Jan 1, 1853 p 2:7].
[xxxi] 1850 U.S. census, Washington County, Washington, Oregon Territory, Lucius Marsh.
[xxxii] Lucius’ first deed in Sangamon was dated 5 May 1842, Bk. T pg. 58, FHL #1310371. U.S. Department of the
Interior Bureau of Land Management website, Illinois for Lucius Marsh.
[xxxiii] Correspondence with John Cason on file with the author.
[xxxiv] Entries about Walter Marsh, Rootsweb.
[xxxv] Illinois transcribed marriage records, familysearch.org.
[xxxvi] Entries about Walter Marsh, Rootsweb.
[xxxvii] 1860 U.S. census, Clackamas County, Oregon, Alba Lyman.
[xxxviii] 1870 U.S.census.
[xxxix] Correspondence with John Cason on file with the author.
[xl] Illinois transcribed marriage records, FamilySearch.org.
[xli] 1850 U.S. census, Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinois, B.N. Gibson.
[xlii] Correspondence with John Cason and Lewis Melson on file with the author.
[xliii] 1860 U.S. census, Menard, Illinois for Gipsons.
[xliv] Correspondence with Lewis Melson on file with the author.
[xlv] Old City Cemetery or Petersburg Cemetery, Menard County, Illinois.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilmaga/menard/cemetery/cem_old_city.html.
[xlvi] Index to Menard County land deeds, FHL #1311592.
[xlvii] Dec 30, 1854, Prophetic Expositor and Bible Advocate, courtesy of David R. Graham.
[xlviii] Joliet, September 5, 1848. Courtesy of Pam Wright.
[xlix] Sangamon Journal/ Illinois State Journal, 25 February 1847.
[l] Sangamon Journal / Illinois State Journal, 8 April 1847; note that liberties have been taken in transcribing this article.
[li] Sangamon Journal / Illinois State Journal, 19 August 1847.
[ii] Information from Dawn D. Hance, Rutland genealogist.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] A General Index to a Census of Pensioners For Revolutionary or Military Service 1840, prepared by Genealogical
Society of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, SLC Utah (Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Company
1965), FHL #973 X2pc.
[v] St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont town records 1784-1891, FHL #028,859, year – 1816.
[vi] Information courtesy of John Cason.
[vii] Addison County, Vermont deed records, includes index, v.1-3 1789-1812, FHL #029231, v.4-5 1812-1826,
FHL #029232.
[viii] “The Whitman Massacre as recalled by Mary Marsh Cason, A Place Called Oregon”, gesswhoto.com.
[ix] St. Albans Old Village Records, vol. 6 pg. 476, St. Albans record office, P.O. Box 867, St. Albans, Vermont, 05478-
0867.
[x] 1820 U.S. census, LeRoy, Genesee, New York, Walter Marsh.
[xi] See historical info for Abijah Winch in this same document.
[xii] 1820 U.S. census, Monroe, New York, James A. Marsh.
[xiii] 1820 U.S. census, Bergen, Genesee, New York, Lemuel Mash.
[xiv] “Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve,” Part 1, Mrs. Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham,
Editor, [published under the auspices of the Women’s Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission,
July, 1896], pp. 104-107, http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OHASHTAB/2010-04/1271586273.
[xv] 1827 Ashtabula County, Ohio census records, 1811-1835, FHL #960607, formerly on the US Genweb.
[xvi] 1830 U.S.census, Conewango, Cattaraugus, New York, Lemuel, Josiah, Orrin, and Julius Marsh.
[xvii] Walter Marsh and wife to Anson K. Garlick, 1 Nov 1832, copy on file with the author through a volunteer in
the Ashtabula Family History Center, 571 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616; The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Millsford deeds not found in the Family History Library listings, but
note that Millsford was renamed Dorset in 1849 and may be found in that location.
[xviii] Solomon Meeker to Walter Marsh 22 Aug 1829. Ashtabula deed index from correspondence with a volunteer in
the Ashtabula Family History Center, 571 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616;
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
[xix] Deed index from correspondence with a volunteer in the Ashtabula Family History Center, 571 Seven Hills Road,
Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
[xx] United States Post Office Department, Table of the Post Offices in the United States: arranged by States and
Counties; as They Were October, 1830; with a Supplement, Stating the Offices Established Between the First of
October, 1830, and the First of April, 1831. Also, an Index to the Whole (Google E-Book), books.google.com.
[xxi] 1830 U.S. census Millsford, Ashtabula, Ohio, Walter Marsh.
[xxii] See 17.
[xxiii] 1835 Ashtabula County, Ohio census records, 1811-1835, formerly on the US Genweb, FHL #960607.
[xxiv] Vol. 130 pg. 252. Copy of probate on file with the author through a volunteer in the Ashtabula Family History
Center, 571 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio, 44004-9697; 1-440-993-3616; The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints.
[xxv] 1840 U.S. census, not stated, Sangamon, Illinois, Walter Marsh.
[xxvi] Sangamon, Illinois land records, Walter and Louise Marsh to Henrietta Stepman bk. Y pg. 544, FHL #1310373, 23
Jan 1847.
Sangamon land records, Walter and Louise Marsh to William and Thomas Fry, Bk. T pg. 59, 60, FHL #1310371, 6
May 1842.
[xxvii] 1850 U.S. census, Oregon Territory, for the name “Marsh”.
[xxviii] Family member, John Cason, info on file with the author.
[xxix] Sangamon, Illinois land records, Walter Marsh to Henrietta Stepman bk. Y pg. 544, FHL #1310373, 23 Jan 1847.
Sangamon, Illinois land records, Lucius Marsh to William and Thomas Fry bk. Z pg. 18, FHL #1310373, 25 March
1847.
Sangamon, Illinois land records, Lucius Marsh to Henry Teed bk. Z pg. 22, FHL #1310373, 1 March 1847.
[xxx] Oregon Pioneers.com, Lucius Marsh, Member of Oregon Riflemen [Oregon Spectator Dec 9, 1847 p 2:1] Cayuse
War Claim collected by assignee O.C. Pratt Jan 1, 1853 [OS Jan 1, 1853 p 2:7].
[xxxi] 1850 U.S. census, Washington County, Washington, Oregon Territory, Lucius Marsh.
[xxxii] Lucius’ first deed in Sangamon was dated 5 May 1842, Bk. T pg. 58, FHL #1310371. U.S. Department of the
Interior Bureau of Land Management website, Illinois for Lucius Marsh.
[xxxiii] Correspondence with John Cason on file with the author.
[xxxiv] Entries about Walter Marsh, Rootsweb.
[xxxv] Illinois transcribed marriage records, familysearch.org.
[xxxvi] Entries about Walter Marsh, Rootsweb.
[xxxvii] 1860 U.S. census, Clackamas County, Oregon, Alba Lyman.
[xxxviii] 1870 U.S.census.
[xxxix] Correspondence with John Cason on file with the author.
[xl] Illinois transcribed marriage records, FamilySearch.org.
[xli] 1850 U.S. census, Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinois, B.N. Gibson.
[xlii] Correspondence with John Cason and Lewis Melson on file with the author.
[xliii] 1860 U.S. census, Menard, Illinois for Gipsons.
[xliv] Correspondence with Lewis Melson on file with the author.
[xlv] Old City Cemetery or Petersburg Cemetery, Menard County, Illinois.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilmaga/menard/cemetery/cem_old_city.html.
[xlvi] Index to Menard County land deeds, FHL #1311592.
[xlvii] Dec 30, 1854, Prophetic Expositor and Bible Advocate, courtesy of David R. Graham.
[xlviii] Joliet, September 5, 1848. Courtesy of Pam Wright.
[xlix] Sangamon Journal/ Illinois State Journal, 25 February 1847.
[l] Sangamon Journal / Illinois State Journal, 8 April 1847; note that liberties have been taken in transcribing this article.
[li] Sangamon Journal / Illinois State Journal, 19 August 1847.