The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-31
Death OF 10. A. Marsh
Ne Came 10 City Years Ago;
Engaged In Business
From Mondays Daily.

From McEdays DSHb.
Death. the grim reaper, entered the
Marsh residence, rs West Front
street at 1880 last evening and
claimed John Quincy Adams Marsh.
one of the oldest settlers Of Mankato,
whose long life in this part OF Min
nesota had made him one OF our well
known pioneers. He passed away
after a lingering illness, having been
confined to his home for long time
by a gradual weakening OF the facul-
ties due TO his advancing years. He
was born in Chesterfield, \. H., on
October Is. 1926, OF excellent New
England ancestry and was educated
in the common school OF his native
town. and Mount Caesar seminary in
Swansea. H After spending some
years as a school teacher he went in
TO the mercantile business i'm his ma
tive town. which he conducted for
five or six years. In the meantime
his brother. George II. Marsh, had
come 10 Mankato. and advised him to
come here also as il was fine bust
ness point Packing most of his goods
he shipped them to Mankato in the
spring of 1854, with lot of new mer-
chandise. bought at Boston and st
Louis. and arrived at his destination
with most OF his stock on the boat
with him. on May 20. 1854.
Opened General Store.
The Marsh brothers then opened
the first general merchandise store
in Mankato. which they conducted
with great success until 1858. when
they sold out. I'm the winter of 1854
George Marsh had been awarded the
contract TO carry the mails between
ST. Paul and Mankato. along the Min
nesota valley, for four years. COM
mencing July !, 1854. and this con-
tract was performed by both broth
ers At first the service was only
once a week. but later II was in
creased TO twice a week. and finally
daily. and the southern terminus eN-
tended to South Bend. The first trip
was made by George Marsh on foot
as far as Traverse des Sioux, and
thence by Indian canoe TO ST. Paul.
4 horse and light wagon were then
procured and did service for time.
and soon thereafter two horses and
covered rig were employed on the
route. In 1856 the brothers in COM
pany with J. w. Babcock secured the
contract for two years. from July /
to carry the mail once every two
weeks between Fort Smelling and
Sioux City. passing north of Kasota
along the old DOdd road.
Acquired Considerable Real Estate.
Incident 10 this contract was the
privilege to pre-empt one section OF
land for every twenty miles of the
route. which resulted in the brothers
acquiring considerable real estate. or
so little value was land then consid-
cred that they never filed on any on
the route west of Cottonwood county
On December 20. 1859. John Marsh
was married TO Miss Sarah ]. Hanna
who was born in Guernsey county.
Ohio, October Is, 1888. and came TO
Mankato with her parents in April,
1853. teaching the first school here In
the summer of that year. Before COM
ing to Mankato Mr.. Marsh was su-
perintendent of schools and surveyor
Il his native town ana after coming
% Mankato he was elected county
treasurer in 1855. and also served as
supervisor. trustee and clerk during
the early life OF the city After the
Marsh brothers retired from the
mercantile business they devoted
their time to the real estate business.
For many years past Mr.. Marsh has
been too feeble to engage in any ac-
tive work. but has lived quietly az
the residence in West Mankato which
has been his home for over fifty
years. His wife and two children are
dead, and the only surviving relative
is the granddaughter, Miss Margaret
Marsh. with whom he made his home.
Funeral services will be held tenor
row from the residence, lis West
Front street. Rev. Ross T. Paden.
pastor of the Presbyterian church Of
floating and interment will be made
in Glenwood cemetery.