MARSHALL, Thomas

MARSHALL

Posted By: volunteer - nfj (email)
Date: 6/5/2013 at 12:52:30

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa, by Acme Publishing 1887 p. 202

Thomas MARSHALL, furniture dealer, is one of the prominent business men of Brighton. He was born Oct. 6, 1847, in Carroll County, Ohio, and is the son of John and Miriam Marshall, who were also natives of Ohio. They were the parents of three children, two of whom died in infancy. In 1866 the family came to Washington County, Iowa, landing in Brighton on the 20th day of September. John Marshall immediately purchased forty acres of a man in Jefferson County, near the village, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1874. He was a plain and unassuming man, one devoted to his family and to his Church, and in all things endeavored to conform his life to the teachings of the Scriptures. He was for many years a member of the Christian Church, and was well posted in the Bible.
The early life of Thomas Marshall, the subject of this sketch, was spent upon his father's farm in Ohio. In the summer months he did his share of the work upon the farm, and in the winter usually attended the public schools. He was nineteen years of age when the family came to Washington County. In this new western home he continued to labor on the farm, and was engaged in that occupation until the fall of 1881, when he moved
with his aged mother to the village of Brighton, where they have since continued to live. In the spring of 1882 the old homestead was sold, and Mr. Marshall engaged in various occupations until April 5, 1886, when he purchased the stock of furniture of Uriah Smith, and has since engaged in that trade. He is carrying a full and complete stock, consisting of bureaus, dressing-cases, bookcases, and a fine line of upholstered goods, parlor and kitchen furniture, and in fact everything usually kept in a first-class furniture house. With light expenses, he is enabled to meet all competition in his line. Although engaged in business comparatively a short time, he has gained an excellent reputation for square dealing.
Mr. Marshall yet remains unmarried, and is making his home with his mother. He is a member of the Christian Church, and is well respected by all. His mother is also a member of the Christian Church, with which she has been connected for many years. She is a well-preserved woman, and is now seventy-four years of age, but is able to attend to all her household duties.