LORENZO DOW MARSH.

In the list of first officers of Bear Grove township Lorenzo D. Marsh, one of the three trustees elected, was the earliest settler. He came from Grant county, Ind., and located on section 19 in 1860, erecting the first frame house in the township. When he commenced his service as trustee he had served through the Civil War. His death occurred on his farm, about 1875.

From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 206.

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Lorenzo Dow Marsh was one of the best known pioneers of this locality, owned a fine farm of 360 acres, and reared a large family of sons and daughters, some of whom married and became honored residents of Cass county. One of his sons, Isaac, was the first constable of Bear Grove township. Mr. Marsh was an Ohio farmer, who removed to Grant county, Ind., in early manhood, where he was married and whence, with his wife, her family and her parents, he came to Bear Grove township in 1860. At that time, as Mr. Marsh once said, "we had no near neighbors except wolves." His purchase was 360 acres of land, to which the entire party removed during the first winter of their arrival. The father died on the homestead, at the anniversary of his birth, aged fifty-five years. His widow retained the homestead and 12 acres of land, the balance being divided among the eight children then (1873) living, viz.: Isaac, of Villisca, Iowa; Enoch W., of this township; Eveline, wife of Ephraim Martin, of Lewis; James, of Davis county, Iowa; William, living in Holt county, Neb.; Rachel, wife of J. McFadden; Ray, of Cass county; and Lorenzo Dow and Almeda, both living on the family homestead.

From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pp. 206-207.