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         ROBERT MARSHALL, a farmer residing on section 9, Marshall Township, was born in Brooke County, W. Va., in 1828. He came with his parents, Joshua and Margaret (Maxwell) Marshall, to this county in 1842, and here he received his early education. Remaining upon the farm until 1850, he then decided he would make a trip to California. With a company of others, and driving five yoke of oxen, he followed the tide of human emigration to the gold fields of the Far West. Starting from Wapello, Iowa, on the 17th of March, 1850, they traveled until the 10th of May, when they crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, and there halted for two weeks. Once more resuming their journey, they traveled across the plains, reaching Hangtown, now known as Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal., about the middle of August. The company had eighteen teams, and there was but one lady among that party of emigrants, she being the wife of George Peck. For some time after their arrival in California it was a very rare thing to see a lady, and many of the “boys” would go to the hotel for dinner just for the privilege of being waited on by a lady. At that time the wages of a lady waiter were often $100 a month.

After his arrival in Hangtown Mr. Marshall immediately began mining, in which business he continued from 1850 to 1880, and was quite successful in that occupation. During his residence in California he made several overland trips from Placerville to Sacramento. He was one of the liberal, whole-souled men who were always ready to land a helping hand to the weary traveler. Mr. Marshall remained in California until the 1st of November, 1880, when he returned home after an absence of thirty years. When he left his home there was no settlement between his farm and Brighton, Washington Co., Iowa, but during his absence the wild prairies had been developed into fine farms, and the boys of his youth had grown to manhood; some had gone to that land from which no traveler returns, while others had gone to the Far West. In fact there were but few of his childhood acquaintances left. His father and mother were also numbered among the dead. Often during his absence his mother would call and long for her boy, though she was never again permitted to see him. In 1880 he came back to the old home, which is still standing, and which is surrounded by the pleasant memories of his childhood days. A handsome two-story brick dwelling, 36x38 feet, has since been erected. Mr. Marshall is now the owner of a fine farm of 250 acres, which is well stocked. In his political views he has been a life-long Democrat.