The subject of this sketch is Edward Marshall, now of Barnard, Lincoln county, Kansas, but for years one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Cloud county, both socially and politically. Mr. Marshall is a native of "Merrie England," the land that has sent many of her stalwart sons and daughters across the blue waters of the Atlantic to assist in making this great commonwealth one of the foremost among the nations of the world.

Mr. Marshall was born 1843, and when a youth of twelve summers emigrated with his father's family to Nova Scotia, and two years later to Wisconsin, where he received a common school education, and when but eighteen years of age responded to the call of his adopted country for men and enlisted in Company H, First Wisconsin Infantry, serving three years under the distinguished General Thomas, in Sherman's army. After he was discharged he returned to Nashville, Tennessee, just as Hood made an attack on that city, and Mr. Marshall was commissioned captain of a company in the quartermaster's forces. He remained one year at Nashville, but finding himself at a disadvantage and unpopular because of his northern proclivities, he returned to his former Wisconsin home and bought an interest in a stage line. Four years subsequently he removed to Dodge Center, Dodge county, Minnesota, where he, with other interested parties, established a grain, livery and implement business. During most of this time he served as city marshal. In 1872 he emigrated to Kansas and located in the unsettled territory now included in Oakland township, which Mr. Marshall helped to organize in the summer of 1874. It included thirty-six sections of land, or six square miles. Here Mr. Marshall took adavntage[sic] of his homestead right and filed on one hundred and sixty acres of "Uncle Sam's" broad domain. He did not need to sing with the poet any more, "No foot of land do I possess, a pilgrim in the wilderness." Everything had a thrifty appearance and Mr. Marshall wanted quality rather than quantity, and so did not use his soldier's right and pre-empt a quarter section. This year was followed by drouth and grasshoppers and he witnessed the Arcadia transformed into a fruitless desert and underwent the hardships and discouragements of the average settler. Entering upon a political career, he left the farm in 1885, but retained his land until 1898.In 1895 Mr. Marshall was elected to the office of sheriff of Cloud county on the Republican ticket. The temperance question was before the people at this election and Mr. Marshall promised if elected he would close every saloon in Cloud county. This promise was carried out within four months after he took his office, the saloon interest being completely routed. He was re-elected two years later and the joints and saloons under his jurisdiction suffered severely. In 1898, when he sold his farm, Mr. Marshall engaged in mercantile pursuits in Concordia. One year later he removed his stock of goods to Barnard, where, associated with his son J.C., they are doing a prosperous business. His stock consists of a full line of merchandise and in connection they handle the Deering goods and do a large trade in the implement line. They do business under the firm name of Marshall & Son.

Mr. Marshall was married in Ravenna, Ohio, in 1868, to Mrs. Elizabeth Hart. To this union three sons and two daughters were born. The eldest son, J.E., is traveling salesman for a Topeka paper company; J.A. is editor and publisher of the Jamestown Optimist; J.C. is associated in business with his father; Ada is employed as saleslady in the general merchandise store of Scott & Lintz, of Concordia, and Lida is housekeeper for her father, the mother having died in 1888. Mrs. Marshall was a member of the late President Garfield's church at Ravenna. She was a cultured woman and to her counsels her children doubtless owe much of whatever honor or success they may attain. Mr. Marshall is a member of the Christian church, while his children attend the Baptist church.