The first location was made under the pre-emption law, in May, 1851, by Henry Anson.  The season was noted for the remarkably high water.  Mr. Anson built his pre-emption cabin on what is now Main street, near First avenue, May 25th of that year, and remained here about one month.  He then went to Dubuque and filed his papers.

The cabin thus erected was the joint work of Isaac Myers and William Asher, who assisted Mr. Anson in the labor of making his claim.  When the first log house was put up, the region for several miles about was an unbroken prairie, dotted with beautiful groves and watered by running streams.

Mr. Anson came to this county on horseback, for the swollen condition of the streams and sloughs prevented the passage of wagons.

At the time of his coming to Marshall County, Mr. Anson had for "neighbors," that is, within a radius of several miles, the pioneers on Linn and Timber Creeks, and those who had gone north of Linn to the Minerva Creek settlement.  He was at no loss for elbow room.

The town of Marshall was named after Marshall, Michigan, a beautiful town Henry Anson had seen.

Mr. Anson had left his relatives in Bureau County, Illinois, when he started out on a prospecting tour, and thither he repaired when his pre-emption was effected.

William Ralls had made a squatter's claim on the lands immediately north of Anson's site, and it was the latter's desire to induce his brothers-in-law, John A. Kelley and Wells S. Rice, to locate thereon, or near him.  To that end, Mr. Anson made the trip to Illinois, as before stated, during the Winter of 1851-52.  The mission was successful, but Mr. Anson had to return before the others were ready to start.  He was in hopes of finding the Mississippi in a passable condition, but was disappointed in that calculation, and did not effect a crossing until he reached New Buffalo.  This long journey on horseback consumed so much time that he did not reach his cabin in Marshall until in the Spring.  The very day he reached his destination he was joyfully surprised to see his two brothers-in-law drive up to his cabin.  The meeting was one which can better be imagined than described.

Anson purchased Ralls' claim for $400, or thereabouts, and transferred it to Kelley.  The latter did not find the outlook so pleasing as he imagined, and in the Winter of 1852, sold his claim to John Childs.  Mr. K. returned to Illinois the following Spring.

Mrs. Anson's family was the first to locate on the site of Marshall.  Henry, Elizabeth R., Horace, Almira (now Mrs. William Walters), and Emily (now Mrs. Haviland), consituted the pioneer band.  The settlement was made in the Spring of 1852.

The family mansion was made of logs and stood just east of the town plat, but was afterward removed to the west side of Center street, south of where the City Bank block now stands, in 1853.

There was need of a store in such a thriving little town, and, although the village existed only in the mind of Mr. Anson, Mr. Rice put up a grout building and prepared to open a store.  The edifice was not much of a palace, but it was good enough for the times, and stood where the Willard House now stands, next door east of the Boardman House.

In the Fall of 1852, the third stock of goods ever purchased for the Marshall market was bought in St. Louis, by Mr. Rice, and landed at Keokuk.  The water was so high that the stock could not be shipped overland at once, and in the Winter of 1852-53, Mr. Anson hauled the goods, via Oskaloosa, to their destination.

There was a hogshead of sugar that proved too much for the team, and it was dumped off some distance from the store, by the side of the road.  The country was so honest in those days, that no trouble was experienced from thieves, and there the sugar remained until it was gradually taken to the store, as occasion required.

Thr first birth occurred before the town was surveyed. Adrian C. Anson, son of Henry Anson, was born April 17, 1852.

The first death occurred Aug. 10, 1853, the deceased being a daughter of Silas Chorn.

The first weddings were Miles Rice to Miss E. Anson, and Horace Anson to Miss E. Smith, both being solemnized at once.

The survey for the village of Marshall was made in August, 1853, and was recorded on the 15th of that month.

Mr. Childs traded and sold his entire interest to Reuben H. Webster soon after the survey.

Mr. Childs had put up a log cabin in the edge of the timber, on his property, and after the village was laid out, he moved the building to the north side of Main street.  He lived in it while the first frame house was in process of construction, in the Summer and Fall of 1853.

Mr. Anson bought this house before it was completed, and finished it for his own residence.  It was in this building that the first regular window sash in town was placed.  The building still stands and is used by Mr. Lacey as a grocery store.

The first school in the vicinity was taught by Neri Hoxie, in a log building just west of the town site, in the Winter of 1853-4.

The first ministers were Solomon Dunton, the pioneer missionary, whose name figures so conspicuously in the annals of this county, and Mr. Armstrong.  The former came to this region when there was no Marshalltown.

In 1854, Greenleaf M. Woodbury chose Marshall as his future home.  The presence of a man of his power and vigor of character was at once felt.  He inaugurated measures of permanent value, and at that early day exerted a wide influence upon the susceptible community.

The little hamlet recognized the leadership thus quietly assumed by Mr. Woodbury, and when within a year he set in motion his mill upon the river, north of the town, he was regarded as one of the governing spirits of the place.  Throughout his residence in Marshall County, Mr. Woodbury worked for the advancement of the region, and his name is connected with railroad enterprises, schools and other public interests in a manner equal, if not superior, to that of any citizen.  This passing tribute is paid here, but a more fitting mention of his deeds is recorded in almost every event of moment which is elaborated within the covers of this volume.

The first hotel was opened by L.D. Anson, who named his place of entertainment the Marshall House, in 185405.

Dr. Bissell was the first physician.

The name of Marshall became a confusing one, as there was a post office elsewhere in the State bearing a similar title.  The people, therefore, changed the name of the place to that of Marshalltown.