We have little idea who the father of John Marshall may be. According to Sue Keller, "He seems to simply appear out of thin air in Montgomery County, Illinois." We have no real idea where he may have been before that and are hopeful that we can find enough documentation to make a connection to the John Marshall family of Virginia. It is theorized that this family is the root of most of the Marshalls in the colonies during the time of the War of Independence. Please let us know if you have information on this family.

1830, April 11 - John Marshall marries Elizabeth Potter, daughter of William Potter in Montogomery County, Illinois. They were married in one record by Elizabeth's brother Thomas Potter. It was Elizabeth's uncle who was a Rev. Thomas Potter that is a more likely candidate. Elizabeth's oldest brother Thomas becomes a sheriff.

John Marshall is listed in Montgomery Co., Illinois as being a household of 1 male 20-30 and 1 female 15-20. He is listed on the census between Thomas Potter Jr, who is 20-30, wife 20-30, with two children; and James Potter, 1 male 30-40, 1 male 10-15, 1 male under 5, oldest female is 30-40, 2 females 30-40, 2 females 10-15, 2 females 5 -10. On other side of Thomas Potter Jr. lives Thomas Potter Sr. who is listed as 1 male 70 - 80 and 1 female 50 - 60. Three houses from Thomas Potter Sr. lives William Potter (father of Elizabeth Potter Marshall). He is 40-50 years old, his wife is 50 - 60 years, 2 males 15 -20, 3 males 10 -15 and 1 female 10 -15 are still at home.
             [US Census, Illinois, Montgomery Co., photo # 025]

1830-40 - John Marshall purchased land on the southern border of Dallas County on the Greene County line Missouri.

1840 - John Marshall is in the census of Polk County, Missouri with 1 male under 5, 2 males 5 -10, 1 male 20-30; 1 female under 5, 1 famle 10-15 and 1 female 20-30. William and Benjamin Potter are his neighbors in Polk County. Thomas Popejoy is living nearby in what eventually becomes Dallas County. [US Census, Polk County, Missouri.]

1843, April 10 - "John Marshall of Polk County Missouri" files a land patent on Public Lands for "the South East quarter of the South East quarter of Section Thirty-three, in Township Thirty-two of Range Twenty West; in the District of Lands subject to sale at Springfield Missouri, cantaining Forty Acres, "certificate #1503  [records of the US Bureau of Land Management. Accession # MO5160_.312,

1844, Sept 10 - "John Marshall, of Polk County, Missouri" files a land patent on Public Lands sale, for "the south east quarter of the quarter of Section thirty four of township twenty, west, in the District subject of sale at Springfield, Missiouri, containing forty acres." #3210
                                        [records of the US Bureau of Land Management. Accession # MO5190_.083]
On the same exact date.

1845, January - Only three months after filing for the land patents, the entire Marshall family became ill. Dr. Joseph Perham was paid for a visit to the children in January of 1845. One daughter had another visit on the 29 of January. On the 31st of January John Marshall received a visit. Col. Potter apparently sends some medicine to John's son on February 13th. Elizabeth herself receives the doctor on the 7th and 8th of February. John never recovers from the illness which to date is still a mystery.

Elizabeth Potter Marshall Popejoy 1846 - Elizabeth Potter Marshall remarries to John Popejoy. John Popejoy 7 Oct 1846 Greene Co., MO  [Mar. bk. A, page 147] Elizabeth Popejoy (remarried widow of John Marshall), as the eldest surviving heir, becomes the administrator of the estate of her father, William S. Potter. Over about a seven year period she has to get the signature of all the heirs to the estate for the sale of the property. This lengthy set of documents connects the Marshall, Potter, and Bailes families and lays out the relationships. Shortly after the last documents are signed and heirs have received their payment the entire clan picks up roots and moves to Kansas. [Greene County Will Book A:92]

1850 census, 

  next door to Thomas Potter (Elias is incorrectly listed as a female)

Elizabeth    Popejoy   	30 F W		800 		TN  
Elias        Marshall  	19 F W   	Farmer          IL 
William J    Marshall 	15 M W   	Farmer          MO         
James N      Marshall  	13 M W				MO 
Ruthy J      Marshall   12 F W 				MO
Martha E     Marshall   10 F W				MO 
John W       Marshall    7 M W				MO
Lucretia     Popejoy     4 F W 				MO
Washington   Popejoy  	 2 M W				MO    

John Marshal was born May the 
30th day of the year of our lord 1808
                                Died 1845
Elizabeth Marshall was Born April
the 22 nd day in year of our lord of 1813

Elias M. Marshall was Born October
the 12rh in the eyar of our lord 1831

Sarahanna Marshall was Born April
the 28th day in the year of our lord 1833

William Jasper Marshall was Born 
April the 23rd day in the year    1835

James Newton Marshall was Born June 
the 22nd day of the year   1837

Ruthy Jane Marshall was born November
the 7th day in the years    1838

Martha Emeline Marshall was Born 
January the 8th day in the year 1841

John Wesley Marshall was born (?Sept)
5th day in the year 1843
at Seven oclock in the afternoon (unreadable)
The county of Green State of Missouri

Lucretia Popejoy was born April the 12th
day in the year ~ 1847

Washington Layfayette Popejoy was Born February
the 5th day in the year ~  1849

Religious zealousness seems to be prevelent in, at least, the younger members of this family. Elias Marshall eventually becomes a reverend and Sarahana's husband Keithly Bailes becomes a well minister and frontier preacher in eastern Washington and Oregon. There is a good deal of history developed on Keithly Bailes and his travel with Sarahana by ox drawn wagon on the Oregon trail to Washington territory.

1858 - W. J. Marshall marries to Elizabeth Stewart, both of Missouri, at Springfield, Missouri by Keithly Bales (sic) witnesses were Josiah Stewart and R. J. Dunn. [photocopy in the records of Cheryl Christenson]

1860, Oct 1st - Elias M. Marshall files for a land patent in "the south west quarter of the south west quarter, of section twenty five, in township twenty seven, of range thirty one, in the district of lands subject to sale in Springfield, Missouri. containing forty acres." #28752 [records of US Bureau of Land Management]

1866, Dec 5th - Pernetta P. Gower marries Washington Popejoy in Fort Scott, Kansas. The document states that the ceremony was performed by J. E. M. Marshall, the elder, reverend of the Christian Church. The Popejoys, Marshall and Gower are very interconnected. He also marries his brother John W. Marshall to Elizabeth Gower.

John W. Marshal
Elizabeth E. Gower
Recorded about 19th 1867
Summit Creek
This may certify that John W. Marshall and Elizabeth E. Gower were united in the gonds of matrimony by me according to law in Timberhil Township, Bourbon county , Kansas on the 28th of Feb 1867
(seal) E. M. Marshall
Minister of the Gospel
[marriage records of Bourbon County, Kansas]

records of Harry W. Gower, 4739 So. 275 West, Ogden, UT 84405, (719) 495 4892, email - sheep03@hotmail.com
records of Susan Keller
Greene County Will Book A:92
marriage certificate, W. J. Marshall and Elizabeth Stewart, 15 Sept 1858, Springfield, MO.
US Bureau of Land Management, sales in Missouri, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov.
US Census, Greene County, Jackson Twp. #2047
Probate records of Greene Co., MO
Court Records of Greene County, Missouri

All information and photos included within these pages are here for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Cheryl and Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2008.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- echriste@sccd.ctc.edu - last updated 4/30/07