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This brief history of the Marsh family and other associated families is an excerpt from the TOWSLEE FAMILY HISTORY, left to me by my father, Gail Edward Towslee (November 30, 1918 - November 12, 1968) as the greatest of all legacies, the knowledge of the people I come from and the understanding of their importance to my father and to me.

My dad first received THE TOWSLEE FAMILY HISTORY from his Aunt Sarah Niesz at Christmas 1931. He completed his revision in late 1967 as he lay dying of Lung Cancer.

I am providing this document to honor my father, who had he lived would have been delighted with the ability to provide so many people with so much information, via the internet.

This information is given in the hopes that others who are searching may perhaps find what they seek. Happy Hunting!

Laura Towslee Hadfield




THE NATHAN MARSH FAMILY HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIP



The 1790 census of Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont listed NATHAN MARSH and GIDEON TOWSLEE as next door neighbors.

Medina County, Ohio was still very young...only five years old...when our pioneer ancestor, NATHAN MARSH, and his family, migrated to this densely timbered new country first settled February 14, 1811.

The Marsh family came in 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were the parents of Sarah Marsh Towslee, wife of Darius, and our line descends from them. Records are meager but conclusive. In the same company came Josiah Perkins and family, who were evidently relatives. With them also were the James Rogers family. Mrs. Rogers was Elizabeth Marsh, daughter of NATHAN MARSH. Sarah, the little four year old, Rogers' daughter, often related the experiences of that eventful history making trip to Ohio. Aunt Sarah Niesz related in this history, "We have heard the story from Sarah's daughter, Harriet Grant Drake. The Rogers' home, one mile west of Lodi, adjoins ours on the north."

Marsh and Perkins selected a section of land two and one-half miles southwest of the Harrisville settlement. Marsh occupied the north part and Perkins the south of what is known as the "Albert Section" at Crawford Corners. Together they operated a sawmill on the densely wooded tracts. Evidence of the old millrace is still discernable.

In the brief sketches given, no mention is made concerning Mrs. Nathan Marsh, nor do we know her name. By association there is reason to assume her name was Perkins since "P" appears repeatedly.

The Marsh family figured largely in the development of Medina County, Ohio. They were hardy pioneers.

The James Rogers' family located on the farm one mile west of Lodi and built a double log cabin just south of what later was the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad. Mr. Rogers was an influental citizen during a long lifetime.

In 1831 the Elihu Grant family came to Medina County. Mrs. Grant was Amy Marsh, sister of Elizabeth Marsh Rogers, and daughter of Nathan Marsh. The Grants located just south of the Rogers home.

The DARIUS TOWSLEE's came to the Medina County community in Harrisville Township in 1838. Sarah Marsh Towslee was sister to Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Rogers, the three, daughters of Nathan Marsh. The Towslee family located south of the Rogers and about one and one-half miles northeast of the Nathan Marsh location.

All were from Chenango County, New York but had originally moved from Vermont. We wonder how they found this place in the heart of the forest not far from the lovely little settlement of Harrisville. There were no roads and the land was densely covered with timber. No neighbors were within calling distance and roving Indians and wild animals would try the stoutest of hearts.

The pioneer could take care of himself, but how could he provide the comforts of a home? Soon there was thriving industry evidenced by the old millrace on the Emerson Albert farmsite of the Marsh-Perkins sawmill.

Other Marsh people came to Medina County before Nathan and lived in the vicinity of Medina. Sarah, the little four year old Rogers' daughter, who came in 1816, often related the story of how glad they were to reach the home of the other Marsh family at Medina, as they were cold and tired. They rested a few days before continuing on to their destination a mile west of Lodi. Aunt Sarah Niesz said, "My informant was Sarah's own daughter Harriet Grant Drake"(October 6, 1846 - May 24, 1937).

Of the family


Sarah Ann Marsh Towslee, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Marsh was born at Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont on November 21, 1787. She was married at the home of her parents in Pownal to DARIUS TOWSLEE on June 24, 1804. They moved to Oswego County, New York where they raised their family of fourteen. In 1838 the family moved to Medina County, Ohio on the banks of Black River west of Lodi. She is at rest, September 16, 1858 in the Albert Cemetery, Crawford Corners, southwest of Lodi, Ohio.

Elizabeth Marsh Rogers was born at Pownal, Vermont in 1792 and was married to James Rogers in 1809. They lived in Chenango County, New York where their eldest daughter, Sarah was born in 1811. They came with the with the Marsh and Perkins families in the westward move into Ohio in 1816. Elizabeth Marsh Rogers and her sister, Amy Marsh Grant, were married the same day in 1809. Elizabeth and Amy were 17 and 15 years of age, respectively. Elizabeth's daughter, Sarah, married Amy's eldest son, Loren, born in 1810. They were cousins and parents of Harriet Grant Drake, who gave valuable assistance in the compilation of this History. Elizabeth Marsh Rogers was the mother of five children.

Amy Marsh Grant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Marsh, was born at Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont in 1794. She was married to Elihu Grant in 1809 at the age of 15 and became the mother of 13 children. In 1831 Elihu and Amy Marsh Grant came from Chenango County, New York to Medina County, Ohio with their family of thirteen and located on a farm just north of the James Rogers' home, on what has been known as Grant Hill. A part of the homestead remained in the family until sold many years later by Ray Drake of Lodi, Ohio. A distinguished member of this family, Bishop Ralph Ward, was for many years a Methodist missionary to China. He was taken to Japan and interned in a prison camp under extreme hardship for many months. Reverend Ward was a great grandson of Amy Marsh Grant.

Laura Marsh Holcomb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Marsh, was born in Vermont and came to Medina County, Ohio in 1815 when a young girl. Her marriage to Levi Holcomb in 1818 is said to have been the first marriage in Medina County, Ohio. James Rogers, the brother-in-law, walked to Seville to engage a minister, intending to ride back with the pastor. However, when found the minister ill and unable to leave his home. So, after ten more miles were covered, another parson was found, but the wedding was delayed until the next day.

John P. Marsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Marsh, the first settler of Spencer Township, Medina County,Ohio, was born in Pownal, Vermont.[Editor's note: Spencer Township is bordered on the south by Homer Township.] John Marsh married Clarissa Rogers who was born in Connecticut. They live in Chenango County, New York where their eldest son, Orson was born on January 2, 1814. No date is available as to when this family came to Medina County, Ohio. Perhaps it was 1816. They moved to Spencer Township in 1823. Clarissa Rogers Marsh rode horseback with one child in her arms while another rode on the horse behind her. John Marsh and son Orson, then nine years old, went ahead to chop the brush to get the team and wagon through. The site chosen for the their home was densely timbered on the banks of Black River. A country known only to Indians, it was unbounded and wild, yet less than twelve miles from the Harrisville settlement on the southeast. Such was Spencer Township in 1823.

History has honored John and Clarissa Rogers Marsh, pioneers and first settlers of Spencer Township. THE MEDINA COUNTY HISTORY OF 1881 gives a description of their primitive log cabin home. Also included is a description of their development of the commonwealth with the social and educational advantages and their encouraging and promoting good government.

A son, Samuel P. Marsh born March 25, 1826 was the first white child born in Spencer Township, Medina County, Ohio. The Townships of Spencer and Homer were governed jointly for a number of years, their leading citizens being their first settlers. John P. Marsh was honored as "Justice" and John Park who settled Homer Township was honored as "Esquire" all authority was invested in these two leaders.

Excerpted from: THE TOWSLEE FAMILY HISTORY
GAIL EDWARD TOWSLEE (Nov. 30, 1918-Nov. 12, 1968)
From the 1967 Revision