William S. Marshall
6th Pa HA, Co. A

William S. Marshall, of West Deer Township, has claim upon the local historian of Allegheny County as a successful farmer, a breeder of high-grade cattle, a veteran of the Civil war, and an all-around good citizen in all that term implies. Himself a native of Ireland, he comes of ancestors noted for their robust physiques, capacity for hard work, steadiness of purpose and remarkable longevity. His grandfather, Robert, was not far from ninety when he died, his grandmother reached the phenomenal age of 103 years, his father was ninety-seven when he died, and his mother, at her death, had completed the eighty-sixth year of her age. Samuel and Martha (Swan) Marshall, parents of our subject, came from Ireland to Pittsburgh in 1848, and shortly afterwards located in West Deer township, on 200 acres of land. His death occurred on this farm, Dec. 28, 1871, and his wife passed away July 7, 1878. Of their nine children, seven grew to maturity, but only three are now living: Mrs. Parks, of Butler county; Moses Marshall, of Kansas, and William S. Marshall, the subject of this sketch. The latter was born in Ireland, Feb. 29, 1832, and was consequently about sixteen years old when his parents reached Pennsylvania. He assisted his father on the Allegheny county farm, became an expert as he grew up in all the requirements of agriculture in that section, and laid the foundations of his future success on an enduring basis of industry, economy and strict attention to business. At the present time he owns ninety-seven acres of land, and has acquired reputation as a breeder of registered Holstein cattle. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, 6th Pennsylvania heavy artillery, and served eleven months with such soldierly fidelity as to give him creditable standing with his veteran comrades. As a result he now holds the position as commander of William Scott post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has long been a member. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican Party. In 1856 Mr. Marshall was married to Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Duff) Ferguson, who was mentioned elsewhere in this work in the sketch of Thomas Ferguson. By this marriage there were seven daughters and on son, who, with their respective families, are mentioned specifically, as follows: Thomas Marshal, born June 14, 1857, and married, Feb. 11, 1891, to Sara, daughter of Henry and Eliza (Crawford) Monnier, of West Deer township. They have four children: William J., Samuel F., Mary J., and Selden H. Rebecca, wife of Samuel J. McIntyre, who has nine children: Mary A., Maggie, George, Thomas, Lillie, Iva L., Martha, Emma and Clara I.; Mary A., eldest child in the above list, wife of John Bardonar, has one son, John M. Martha J., wife of William Scott, has one child, Leon V. Mary, wife of William H. Dawson, of West Deer township, has seven children: Flora, Cora, Laura, Ralph, Samuel, Alberta P. and William Scott. Nancy I., wife of Selden W. Goodrich, had five children: Meral, Vera, Sara A., William M. and Harold E. Lillian (deceased). Clara E., wife of Daniel Smith, has three children: J. Ronald, Lawrence and Leona; by a previous marriage to George Ritman, she had on daughter, Georgia E. Emma E., wife of Samuel Swab, has no children. The mother of the above-mentioned children died Dec 20, 1875, and in November 1880, Mr. Marshall married Miss Margaret Hare. The entire family are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and few families have more friends or are more highly respected by those who know them intimately.

-Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Personal and Genealogical with Portraits
Northwest Historical Association, Madison, WI. 1904; Volume II, Pg 356 - 357