MARSH, Edward Nelson
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 418-419

Edward Nelson MARSH, resident of Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], is actively 
identified with the development and prosperity of the state, a man whose 
business enterprises and industries have been of decided advantage to this 
section, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. Mr. MARSH 
was born in Lysander, near Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, NY, 16 Jun 1833, a 
son of Joshua and Elizabeth (PALMETER) MARSH. All representatives of the 
MARSH family in this country are supposed to be descendants of two or three 
brothers who came from England in the early days of the Massachusetts colony 
and settled in Braintree [Norfolk County]. Joshua MARSH, grandfather of our 
subject, was born at that place in 1745, and in early life moved to Nova 
Scotia, where he married Margaret CORBET, who was born in Plymouth [Plymouth 
County], MA, of Scotch ancestry. He was a farmer and fisherman by 
occupation. He died at the age of 60 years, his death being caused by an 
accident. His wife reached the extreme age of 103 years and three months, 
and died at Londonderry, Nova Scotia. The names and dates of birth of their 
children were: (1) Isabel. 06 Dec 1771; (2) Sarah, 26 Sep 1773; (3) 
Peleg, 08 Jul 1775; (4) Elizabeth, 29 Aug 1777; (5) Joshua, 05 Aug 1779' 
(6) John, 24 May 1781; (7) Samuel, 09 Apr 1784; (8) Eleanor, 02 May 1787; 
(9) Wilson, 21 Apr 1789; (10) Alexander, 21 Apr 1791; and (11) Charles, 23 
Apr 1793.

Joshua MARSH, Jr., father of our subject, was born in Economy, Nova Scotia, 
and in 1831 moved to Onondaga County, NY. In 1843 he went to Lake County, 
IL, and in 1862 came to Baraboo [Sauk County], WI, where he died the 
following year, at the age of 84. His wife had died near Antioch, in Lake 
County, IL, in 1843, at the age of 55 years. She was born in Cornwallis, 
Nova Scotia, and her parents were from the highlands of Scotland. The 
subject of this sketch is the youngest in a family of eleven children, the 
others being: (1) John Palmeter, born 03 Nov 1808, was living in OR when 
last heard of; (2) Peleg, born 23 Nov 1810, died in Baraboo [Sauk County], 
WI, in Nov 1896; (3) Alexander, born 23 Apr 1813, is a resident of Delton, 
Sauk County [WI]; (4) Margaret, born 03 Nov 1815, married David CALKINS and 
died in 1858; (5) Susan, born 23 Mar 1818, married David KIMBALL and died in 
1896; (6) Mary, born 23 Aug 1820, married Nathan PADDOCK and died in 1896; 
(7) Lavinia, born Feb 1823, married first William PRATT, and second Jacob 
KLINE; (8) Joshua, born 20 Jul 1823, is now living in CA; (9) Ann Chandler, 
born 11 Jul 1827, now deceased, was the wife of George PADDOCK, of Baraboo 
[Sauk County, WI]; and (10) Abigail, born 04 May 1830, is the widow of Henry 
WILLARD, and resides in Delton, Sauk County [WI]. [Note the birth dates of 
Lavinia and Joshua are too close together to make common sense. Lavinia was 
probably born in 1822, or Joshua in 1824.] 

Edward Nelson MARSH first came to Baraboo in 1849 on a hunting trip, and 
three years later located here, being employed in the lumber woods and mills 
of this locality until 1855. He then turned his attention to daguerreotype 
and ambrotype work, and the introduction of photography a few years later 
caused him to lose abouit $600 invested in daguerreotype plates, etc. He was 
then interested in [p 419] photography until the Civil war broke out. The 
next day after the first call for WI troops, 16 Apr 1861, he enlisted in 
Company E, 1st WI Volunteer Infantry, under Captain George E. Bryant. 
Although he only enlisted for three months, he served four months under 
General Patterson in MD and VA, taking part in the engagement at Falling 
Water. After his discharge he helped recruit several WI regiments, and was 
offered commissions in both the 23rd and 6th Infantry, but could not accept 
either owing to physical disability. In 1862 he accompanied 800 recruits to 
Leavenworth, KS, there having been recent raids by Quantrell and others in 
that state, and from there he proceeded to Fort Scott, where he was attacked 
by hemorrhage and treated by an Indian doctor, who belonged to a company of 
Winnebagos that had enlisted in WI. Upon his recovery he was detailed for 
service in the commissary department, but owing to failing health he was 
discharged in 1864.

In 1865 Mr. MARSH built the Minniwaken House, the first hotel at Devil's 
Lake, and though at that time the nearest railroad station was at Kilbourn 
[Columbia County, WI], he did a good business until 1868, when he sold out. 
He afterward conducted hotels in Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] and Mauston 
[Juneau County], WI, and initiated another summer resort at Elkhart 
[Sheboygan County?], WI. He took an active part in securing the construction 
of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad through Baraboo, from which event the 
town dates its growth and development. He was engaged in the hotel business 
in Milwaukee [Milwaukee County, WI] for a time, but owing to the panic of 
1873 that enterprise and the one at Elkhart were not financial successes. He 
then went to CO and conducted hotels at Fairplay [Park County] and South Park 
with good success for two years. The following three years were spent in 
Forestburg Sanborn County], SD, where he engaged in farming and stock raising 
on a large scale, and since 1890 has given his attention to the real estate 
business at Baraboo [Sauk County], WI, opening the first office of the kind 
in the place, and handling city and farm property, together with a general 
loan and insurance business. Since the spring of 1897 he has also been 
engaged in developing a summer resort at Lock Mirror Park, Sauk County, in 
connection with other parties, and has constructed a fine trout pond and made 
other improvements. This place is surely destined to become one of the most 
popular resorts in WI. Mr. MARSH is a far-sighted, capable business man, and 
in his undertakings has met with well-deserved success.

On 01 Sep 1855, Mr. MARSH was united in marriage with Miss May A. BLAKE, a 
native of Devonshire, England, who in 1849 came to Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] 
with her parents, Philip and Mary (MAY) BLAKE. They were three weeks on a 
sailing vessel in coming from Liverpool to NY. Mr. BLAKE died in Lemonweir 
[Juneau County], WI, in Apr 1850, and his wife passed away in Baraboo 29 Oct 
1895, aged 83 years. Our subject and his wife have two daughters: Effie 
May, now the wife of F. W. GREENLEAF, of Milwaukee, WI; and Mabel A., wife of 
C. B. DUTCHER, of Baraboo. Fraternally Mr. MARSH is identified with the G. 
A. R. and the Indpendent Order if Odd Fellows. He cast his first presidential 
ballot for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, but since the war has been a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party and its principles.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly