Died -- At his late residence in Geneva township, Wednesday, Dec. 13,
1876, at 3 p.m., Samuel Marsh, aged 64 years, 8 months and 17 days.

He had been in failing health for some time, and from the time he was
taken bad, at midnight, Sunday, Nov. 19, he never again regained his
conciousness or speech, except to partially recognize his family,
friends and neighbors, and even then only at intervals seeming to
forget, as soon as gone from his gaze, that anyone had been there.  
He gradually grew worse, occasionally reviving, until relieved by 
death; at which time he was surrounded by all his children, seven in 
number; while his wife lay almost at death's door, in an adjoining room. 
The scene was one which calls out the deepest and most profound 
sympathies to those who know what it is to lose the ones who are dear 
to them.  His disease was that of "Chronic Meningitis."

Deceased had long been identified with the grange movement, and was at
the time of his death, Lecturer of Sand Creek Grange, No. 117, of
Elizabethtown, Bartholomew County, Ind.  He was buried by that order.

But for the fact that man was born to die, it would be difficult to
reconcile ourselves to the pains and tortures which the scene of the
death-bed brings to our hearts.  Death is an unwelcome visitor in any
and every shade of life, whether beneath the parental roof softened by
the surrounding presence of sorrowing relatives and sympathizing friends
or alone in the hotel of the poor where want and poverty leaves in pity
and shame upon the world's cold charity - it is all the same.

Its noiseless approach has the same unwelcome terror for the prince in
his gold-tinselled ball - for the [save] in his palace, the hermit in
his seclusion, the philosopher in his garret, as it has for the prisoner
in his lonely cell.  Its mandates bring us all to a common level.  But
it is most painful to record the death of one who stood by the cradle of
our infancy and bore us up from dependency to manhood.  In reflecting
upon it the recollections of a life-time flit in visions before us.  The
drama of childhood is re-enacted and the stage of mimic plays glide in
quick succession from the cradle to the grave.  At last the curtain
falls and the dark river of Time rolls between us and life and all
beyond is the great unknown.

Thus it is our sad duty to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory
of one most dear to us.

Samuel Marsh was born in Harrison County, Ky., March 26th, 1812, 
came to Indiana with his father, James Marsh in 1825, settled at Azalia,
Bartholomew County, removed to Rock Creek in Geneva township, this
county in 1836 just 40 years ago, where he resided until the time of his
death.

Think of it!  Forty years ago Rock Creek was a howling wilderness and
the lairs of wild beasts and the wigwams of the red men had scarcely 
given sway to the onward march of  civilization.  Two generations of men 
have passed away since then.  The lands that were shaded by the densest 
forest that shed its foliage upon the American soil have been transformed 
from a desert to open fields and beautiful homes.  It was where he began 
life alone and penniless.  Where once stood the wigwam of the savage 
stands the school and church house; and instead of Indian trails, turnpikes 
and railroads have risen up,  pointing the onward march of civilized man.

Think of it reader!  Forty years ago!  And all this change taken place
under the guidance and by the help of him who now rests from all his
labors.  Think of the change -- will the present or oncoming generation
do as much for man or civilization as did Samuel Marsh, and his
co-pioneers.

He helped to make life in Indiana bearable, by braving all the
disadvantages of a home in  the wilderness.  He met and conquered the
monarch of the forest; he drained the lowlands and made grow two blades
of grass where before only one had grown.  What will the present
generation do to add to his work.  Mr. Marsh first married Miss Susan
Daugherty, who together with an infant child he was called to bury
shortly afterwards.

He then married Miss Minerva Brown, daughter of Randal Brown 
of Ripley County, Ind., with whom he was permitted to live only a few 
short years, and she too was laid beside the first.  The issue of the 
second marriage was William J. and Jas N. Marsh, the latter, editor 
of the Sun.  She died when Jas. N. was but an infant, fourteen days of 
age, July 23, 1844.

After that he married Elizabeth Chandler, daughter of Alfred Chandler,
who at that time resided two miles south of Vernon.  She is the mother
of five children and still survives her deceased husband, though at the
time of his death, her life was dispaired of.

Mr. Marsh was the last of his father's family.  He leaves seven children
mostly all grown up.

Owing to the fact that in his youth there were no schools, he received
the benefits of but a meagre education; but being possessed by nature 
with a robust brain and indomitable will he overcome many adversities, 
and gathered about him more than a sufficiency of this world's
goods.  By his generosity he at one time became the indorser for a
friend and had to pay over $20,000 still he leaves one of the largest
estates in our county.

Endowed with sterling good sense and a will made of iron he never 
shrank from any task, however great.

It is but fair and just to say that what he has bequeathed to his
children was honestly made, and no man living, can say that Samuel 
Marsh ever wronged him out of a farthing; but the poor of his 
neighborhood will ever regret his sudden demise.  Their calls for 
aid when  the cold blasts of winter howled about the scanty homes 
never were unheard by him.  He answered their wants and lightened 
their burdens -- and their tears to-day follow him to his grave.  Such 
is his reward.

After a long and eventul life covering the most interesting period of
our national existence; a period that has seen Empires rise and fall 
and Kingdoms fade into nothingness; a period that has seen the 
successful terminations of three great wars in this country, and a 
settlement of all the questions growing out of them; a period that 
has seen the invention of Fulton wrought to perfection, and the genius 
of Morse sending the lightnings of heaven from continent to continent 
and under both oceans; in the noon-tide of this period filled with great 
promise he is gathered to his fathers and now sleeps the sleep that 
knows no waking in the old home grave-yard, at Reddington, Jackson 
County, Indiana.

The cold winds may howl above his grave, the poor and hungry may 
cry for bread, the young and the gay may sing their songs of youth and 
joy, the haughty and powerful may tread in scorn upon the earth, blasts 
of way may shake nations to their center, and revolting nature defy 
the laws of God, but his sleep will be peace and joy forever.

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RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT

HALL OF SANDCREEK GRANGE, NO.
117, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY,
ELIZABETHTOWN, Dec. 16, 1876.

WHEREAS, By an Allwise Providence, our worthy and beloved 
lecturer has been called to lay down his implements of labor here 
below to be garnered in the unseen world:  Therefore, be it
 Resolved,  That in the death of brother Samuel Marsh, Sandcreek 
Grange, No. 117, has lost a faithful and energetic member, his 
family a kind and affectionate husband and father, the community 
one of its most worthy citizens, and that we deeply sympathize with 
all the friends in this most sad bereavement to us all.
 Resolved, Further that the usual badge of mourning be worn by the
members of this grange for the space of thirty days, and that this hall
be dressed in mourning for the space of six months.
 Resolved,  Further, that a copy of these resolutions be sent the family
of deceased, and spread upon the record of this grange, and that a copy
be sent to the press of Bartholomew and Jennings counties and to the
Indiana Farmer for publication.
       WALLIS WILSON,
       JAMES MOFFAT,
       JACOB DAVIS,
        Committee.

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