SAMUEL MARSH
Vernon Banner
Vernon, Indiana
December 27, 1876
Died -- At his late residence in Geneva township, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1876, at 3 p.m., Samuel Marsh, aged 64 years, 8 months and 17 days.
He had been in failing health for some time, and from the time he was taken bad, at midnight, Sunday, Nov. 19, he never again regained his consciousness or speech, except to partially recognize his family, friends and neighbors, and even then only at intervals seeming to forget, as soon as gone from his gaze, that anyone had been there. He gradually grew worse, occasionally reviving, until relieved by death; at which time he was surrounded by all his children, seven in number; while his wife lay almost at death's door, in an adjoining room. The scene was one which calls out the deepest and most profound sympathies to those who know what it is to lose the ones who are dear to them. His disease was that of "Chronic Meningitis."
Deceased had long been identified with the grange movement, and was at the time of his death, Lecturer of Sand Creek Grange, No. 117, of Elizabethtown, Bartholomew County, Ind. He was buried by that order.
But for the fact that man was born to die, it would be difficult to reconcile ourselves to the pains and tortures which the scene of the death-bed brings to our hearts. Death is an unwelcome visitor in any and every shade of life, whether beneath the parental roof softened by the surrounding presence of sorrowing relatives and sympathizing friends or alone in the hotel of the poor where want and poverty leaves in pity and shame upon the world's cold charity - it is all the same.
Its noiseless approach has the same unwelcome terror for the prince in his gold-tinselled ball - for the [save] in his palace, the hermit in his seclusion, the philosopher in his garret, as it has for the prisoner in his lonely cell. Its mandates bring us all to a common level. But it is most painful to record the death of one who stood by the cradle of our infancy and bore us up from dependency to manhood. In reflecting upon it the recollections of a life-time flit in visions before us. The drama of childhood is re-enacted and the stage of mimic plays glide in quick succession from the cradle to the grave. At last the curtain falls and the dark river of Time rolls between us and life and all beyond is the great unknown.
Thus it is our sad duty to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory
of one most dear to us.
Samuel Marsh was born in Harrison County, Ky., March 26th, 1812, came to Indiana with his father, James Marsh in 1825, settled at Azalia, Bartholomew County, removed to Rock Creek in Geneva township, this county in 1836 just 40 years ago, where he resided until the time of his death.
Think of it! Forty years ago Rock Creek was a howling wilderness and the lairs of wild beasts and the wigwams of the red men had scarcely given sway to the onward march of civilization. Two generations of men have passed away since then. The lands that were shaded by the densest forest that shed its foliage upon the American soil have been transformed from a desert to open fields and beautiful homes. It was where he began life alone and penniless. Where once stood the wigwam of the savage stands the school and church house; and instead of Indian trails, turnpikes and railroads have risen up, pointing the onward march of civilized man.
Think of it reader! Forty years ago! And all this change taken place under the guidance and by the help of him who now rests from all his labors. Think of the change -- will the present or oncoming generation do as much for man or civilization as did Samuel Marsh, and his co-pioneers.
He helped to make life in Indiana bearable, by braving all the disadvantages of a home in the wilderness. He met and conquered the monarch of the forest; he drained the lowlands and made grow two blades of grass where before only one had grown. What will the present generation do to add to his work. Mr. Marsh first married Miss Susan Daugherty, who together with an infant child he was called to bury shortly afterwards.
He then married Miss Minerva Brown, daughter of Randal Brown of Ripley County, Ind., with whom he was permitted to live only a few short years, and she too was laid beside the first. The issue of the second marriage was William J. and Jas N. Marsh, the latter, editor of the Sun. She died when Jas. N. was but an infant, fourteen days of age, July 23, 1844.
After that he married Elizabeth Chandler, daughter of Alfred Chandler, who at that time resided two miles south of Vernon. She is the mother of five children and still survives her deceased husband, though at the time of his death, her life was dispaired of.
Mr. Marsh was the last of his father's family. He leaves seven children
mostly all grown up.
Owing to the fact that in his youth there were no schools, he received the benefits of but a meager education; but being possessed by nature with a robust brain and indomitable will he overcome many adversities, and gathered about him more than a sufficiency of this world's goods. By his generosity he at one time became the indorser for a friend and had to pay over $20,000 still he leaves one of the largest
estates in our county.
Endowed with sterling good sense and a will made of iron he never shrank from any task, however great.
It is but fair and just to say that what he has bequeathed to his children was honestly made, and no man living, can say that Samuel Marsh ever wronged him out of a farthing; but the poor of his neighborhood will ever regret his sudden demise. Their calls for aid when the cold blasts of winter howled about the scanty homes never were unheard by him. He answered their wants and lightened their burdens -- and their tears to-day follow him to his grave. Such is his reward.
After a long and eventul life covering the most interesting period of our national existence; a period that has seen Empires rise and fall and Kingdoms fade into nothingness; a period that has seen the successful terminations of three great wars in this country, and a settlement of all the questions growing out of them; a period that has seen the invention of Fulton wrought to perfection, and the genius
of Morse sending the lightning of heaven from continent to continent and under both oceans; in the noon-tide of this period filled with great promise he is gathered to his fathers and now sleeps the sleep that knows no waking in the old home grave-yard, at Reddington, Jackson County, Indiana.
The cold winds may howl above his grave, the poor and hungry may cry for bread, the young and the gay may sing their songs of youth and joy, the haughty and powerful may tread in scorn upon the earth, blasts of way may shake nations to their center, and revolting nature defy the laws of God, but his sleep will be peace and joy forever.
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT
HALL OF SAND CREEK GRANGE, NO.
117, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY,
ELIZABETHTOWN, Dec. 16, 1876.
WHEREAS, By an Allwise Providence, our worthy and beloved lecturer has been called to lay down his implements of labor here below to be garnered in the unseen world: Therefore, be it Resolved, That in the death of brother Samuel Marsh, Sandcreek Grange, No. 117, has lost a faithful and energetic member, his family a kind and affectionate husband and father, the community one of its most worthy citizens, and that we deeply sympathize with all the friends in this most sad bereavement to us all. Resolved, Further that the usual badge of mourning be worn by the members of this grange for the space of thirty days, and that this hall be dressed in mourning for the space of six months. Resolved, Further, that a copy of these resolutions be sent the family of deceased, and spread upon the record of this grange, and that a copy be sent to the press of Bartholomew and Jennings counties and to the Indiana Farmer for publication.
