[p. 768] a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent citizen of Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is the owner of a tract of fifty acres lying about ten miles southwest of New Castle. He was born on a farm adjoining his present place, September 15, 1835, and is a son of William and Eliza (Early) Marshall.
John Marshall, grandfather of Ner Marshall, was born in Ireland and shortly after his marriage came to America, settling in the woods in what is now Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County. He was one of the early pioneers of the vicinity and a good substantial citizen. He and his wife were parents of the following children: James; Joseph; Eliza; John; Anna; Jane; and William.
William Marshall was born on the farm his father first settled, now owned by Samuel Riddle, and there he grew to maturity and aided in clearing the land. He subsequently bought of his father the place on which Ner Marshall now lives, the grandfather having purchased it of Isaac Grubb. There William passed the remainder of his days, dying at the age of sixty-three years. He was three times married. His first union, with Eliza Early, resulted in the birth of five children, namely: Ner; Maria, wife of Homer Early; Almira, wife of John Kayle; :Myrvin, deceased; and Harriet Eliza, deceased. Mrs. Marshall was born in Columbiana County Ohio, and was a daughter of James Early. William Marshall formed a second union with Ann Gibson, who died leaving one son, John Marshall. His third union was with Elizabeth Smith, who survived him some years.
Ner Marshall, being the eldest of the family, was called upon to do much of the clearing on the home farm, and as a consequence his education was limited to a few months' schooling in the winter months. He lived at home in the old log house until his marriage in 1851, and then moved on to his present farm. He has always engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has a highly improved farm. Most of the improvements were made by Mr. Marshall, including the two houses and barn which adorn the place. In August, 1863, he enlisted as a member of Company H, Forty-sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, serving under Captain Alexander Selfridge, and Colonel James I. Selfridge. He participated in the battle of Resaca and others of lesser importance, and after the close of the war returned to his home in Little Beaver. He had been detailed to service in the medical store, keeping the department which supplied the entire army and hospitals with hospital and medical supplies. At the close of the war, Dr. R. T. Kramer of Louisville, Kentucky, under whom he had served, offered him $30 per month to remain with him, but he refused in order to look after the home farm, at the request of his father.
In 1851, Mr. Marshall was joined in marriage with Eliza Kensela, who was born in Ireland, where her parents both died. She was young when she crossed the Atlantic to America, and for a time resided with her sister, Lydia Holliday, in Philadelphia. She later came west to Lawrence County. The following children resulted from this union: Mary, wife of William Ryan, by whom she has a daughter, Blanche, who is the wife of William Alexander and has a child, named Louise; James, who lives in the West and has a daughter, Bessie; Edward who was killed by accident at the age of twenty; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Kenny, has two sons, Paul and Harry; and William, who has a mail route out of Enon, married Nellie Nolan, and has two children, Edward and Hugh. Ner Marshall is substitute mail carrier out of Enon Valley. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has served as supervisor and in other local offices. He is an active member of the local post, Grand Army of the Republic.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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