John Marsh, son of Timothy and Mary (Clawson) Marsh, was born August 22, 1811,
in Preble County, Ohio.
His father Timothy Marsh, came from New Jersey, and
settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the year 1793. It was but a village then, and
he was offered a lot on the corner of Market and Vine streets in exchange for
a team of horses. Could he have foreseen the future greatness of that village
in the woods, he would doubtless have accepted the proffered bargain.
He moved from Cincinnati to Germantown, Ohio, and finally to a farm in Preble
County, where he died. Mary Clawson, the mother of our subject, was born
August 22, 1787, near the mouth of the Little Miami River, in what was then
known as Turkey Bottom, and which afterward became a part of Hamilton County,
Ohio. It is stated on good authority that she was the first white child born
in the Territory of Ohio. She died in September 1877, in Fulton County, Ind.
The subject of this biography passed the days of his boyhood and youth on his
father�s farm, and, in the eighteenth year of his age, was apprenticed to a
hatter at Eaton, Ohio, with whom he learned the trade. He worked at his trade
at Eaton and Camden, Ohio, from 1827 to 1847. In the latter year, he
embarked in mercantile pursuits at Camden, Ohio and was soon afterward elected
Treasurer of Preble County. He was the Treasurer of that county, the first
incumbent having held the office for thirty years. Mr. Marsh served six years,
and, during that time purchased stock in the branch of the State Bank of Ohio,
of which he became a Director. He was associated with Messrs. J.
W.Burson, Williams Petty, John Hunt and others, two of these gentlemen
having been also identified with the early banks of Muncie. In 1853, they sold
the irrespective interests in the Preble County Branch Bank, and Messrs.
Burson and Hunt moved to Cambridge City, Ind, and established the Cambridge
City Bank of which Mr. Hunt became President and Mr. Burson, Cashier.
Mr. Hunt resigned in 1854, and Mr. Marsh was elected President to succeed him.
In October 1856, he came to Muncie, in company with Mr. Burson, and was
elected President of the Branch Bank of Indiana, which office he held, by
successive-elections, until July 1, 1874.� In consequence of failing health,
he then resigned, expecting to retire from active life. He spent some time in
traveling, which proved beneficial to his health, and in the meantime
(November 1, 1874), the Citizen�s National Bank of Muncie was established, and
Mr. Marsh was elected Cashier, which position he still occupies.
He has been a member of the Masonic order for more than forty years, and took
the Commandery degrees at Dayton, Ohio, in 1848. He was elected Treasurer of
Delaware Lodge, No. 46, in 1859, and still serves in that capacity. He has
been Treasurer of Muncie Chapter, 30, since its organization in July 1859; of
Muncie Council, No. 16, since its organization in 1863; and of Muncie
Commandery, No. 18, since its organization in 1868. Of his character as a man
and a citizen, a friend said, "Nothing too good could be said of him,
and those who know him would heartily indorse any words of eulogy that might
be written of him." He is a plain unassuming man, free from affectation of
any sort, and lacking boldness that has often assigned to prominence men of
less ability then he. He possesses a smooth, even temper, and, in the
transaction of his business, is always the same affable gentleman, treating
all alike, and never permitting the vexatious of the day to govern his
demeanor at home or at his place of business. His acts of benevolence and
charity are numerous, both in the church and in private life, and in public
improvements he is a leading spirit. He has been a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church since 1854, and unites the virtues of a Christian gentleman
with the qualities of a thorough businessman.
On the 25th of May 1835, he married Miss Margaret Mitchell, who died, of
cholera at Eaton, Ohio, in 1849, leaving four children�Henry C., Mary J., Lucy
and Phoebe. Lucy died at Eaton, Ohio, and Phoebe at Muncie, Ind. April 13,
1850, Mr. Marsh was married, at Eaton, Ohio, to Miss Mary A. Simpson, who died
in April 1854. On the 29th of August 1854, he was united in marriage to Mrs.
Mary Muchner, his present companion. She is an active, public spirited lady; a
member of the Woman�s Club of Muncie; an active worker in the
Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many
years Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school. Four children
blessed�this union�William M., who occupies the position of
book-keeper in the bank of which his father is Cashier; Charles a graduate of
the United States Naval Academy�at Annapolis, Md., now on a cruise to South
America; Hattie C., living at home and J. Rollin, who occupies a position in
the County Clerk�s office. (Page 225)
Levi Minshall as born in Berkeley County, Va, about the year 1801; graduated at a
college in Ohio (probably Oxford University), and received a thorough medical
training, both as a physician and surgeon. He came to Muncie about the year
1829 and married Ellen Watton, daughter of Samuel Watton, then a merchant of
Muncie. They had two children, only one, of whom now survives, viz., Juliet,
wife of Theodore F. Riley, banker of Muncie.
Dr. Minshall enjoyed a fine practice and a rising reputation as an educated
gentleman and a skillful and reliable physician; but he tarried only a short
time on the earth, and was called away in the 29th year of his age, in 1836.
Had his life been spared, he would doubtless have ranked among the foremost
men of his time in his chosen profession; his widow married William Coombs, a
merchant, now of Vernon, Jennings Co., Ind.��������
It is related of Dr. Minshall that, when he made his entry into
what was then the village of Muncietown (consisting, in fact, of only a few
log cabins), he was mounted upon a large iron-gray horse, of fine form and
noble carriage, and, being himself genteel in dress and unusually comely in
appearance, he attracted a great deal of attention as he passed, and people
wondered, as they saw him, "Who can that new-comer be!"� It was soon learned
who he was, and he became a favorite with all. He was the second physician who
settled at Muncie. It is cause for deep regret that he did not live to fill up
the measure of his days and attain to the maturity of his power and the
ripeness of his fame.�(Page 226)������
Parker Moore was born February 28, 1826, in Scioto County, Ohio. His father Lewis
Moore, was born in Pennsylvania January 4, 1797, and, on the 4th day of
January, 1816, married Patience Truitt, a native of Armstrong County, Penn.,
then residing in Scioto County, Ohio. They were the parents of ten children,
namely: Nancy, Aaron, Amanda, Rhoda, Parker, John, Lewis, Sarah, Mary and
Patience, of whom Nancy, Aaron and John are deceased.
The father was a farmer, and followed that occupation during life.
He sometimes built flat-boats while living in Ohio, and, loading them with
farm produce, sold it to towns along the river. He came with his family to
Delaware County, Ind, in 1829, and entered land in Center Township, where he
cleared and improved a farm. He died November 20, 1841. His wife died
September 22, 1874.
Parker, the subject of this sketch, was but three years of
age when he came to this county, and grew up with very limited educational
advantages. At the age of twenty-three years, he married Miss Martha, daughter
of John and Harriet Smith, who died December 10,1871, leaving four
children�Caroline, William R., George W. and Parker T. August 8,1872, he was
wedded to his present companion, Mrs. Christina Ribble, daughter of Gilpin E.
Cook, and widow of the late Andrew N. Ribble, of this county. Her parents came
to Delaware County in 1846, where the mother died in 1854. The father then
moved to Blackford County, Ind, where he was engaged in milling operations
until his death, which occurred in 1861. Mr. Moore owns and occupies the old
homestead, having purchased the interest of the other heirs. He is a
successful farmer and an active friend to public improvements, especially�the
cause of education. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an
upright, honorable man, and enjoys the good will of all who know him. (Page 225)