By Muriel Bristol | February 4, 2023
Oscar Fitzon Marsh was born in Milton Mills, January 23, 1846, son of John and Asenath I. (Runnells) Marsh.
John Marsh, a farmer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Asenath [(Runnells)] Marsh, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), J.E. [John E.] Marsh, a farmer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Hannah E. Marsh, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Thomas D. Marsh, a farmer, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Oscar F. Marsh, aged fourteen years (b. NH), A.A. [Asenath A.] Marsh, aged eleven years (b. NH), L.R. [Letitia R.] Marsh, aged nine years (b. NH), and L.R. [Lucretia R.] Marsh, aged nine years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Noah Robinson, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH), and Albert Robertson, a farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH).
Father John Marsh died of dropsy in Milton, April 19, 1867, aged sixty-eight years, three months.
Oscar F. Marsh married in Wakefield, NH, January 22, 1868, Georgia W. Reed, he of Milton and she of Acton, ME. Rev. Joel A. Steel performed the ceremony. She was born in Somersworth, NH, October 28, 1845, daughter of Lewis D. and Annette W. (Randall) Reed.
Father-in-law Lewis D. Reed died of delirium tremens in Milton, NH, March 31, 1870, aged fifty-one years.
Oscar F. Marsh, a finisher in woolen mill, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Georgia W. [(Reed)] Marsh, keeping house, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and Annette W. [(Randall)] Reed, aged forty [forty-three] years (b. ME). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Fanny Robinson, keeping house, aged fifty-four years (b. ME). (His widowed mother, Asenath [(Runnells)] Marsh, keeping house, aged fifty-seven years (b. ME), had her household on the prior page).
Oscar F. Marsh was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. Miltonia Lodge, No. 52, when it was founded at Milton Mills, October 5, 1871.
The first officers were Noble Grand, Asa A. Fox; Vice Grand, Oscar Marsh; Permanent Secretary, Oliver Titcomb. All the charter members at different times have passed through the chairs with one exception whose modesty prevented his accepting the office of Noble Grand though repeatedly pressed upon him (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), October 13, 1911).
Oscar F. Marsh appeared in a list of subordinate Odd Fellows lodges for the year 1877.
MILTONIA LODGE, No. 52, Milton Mills: (Tuesday). First term – Oscar F. Marsh, N.G.; William B. Townsend, V.G.; John E. Leach, R. Sec.; Freeman H. Lowd, Treas.; J.L. Pike, P. Sec. Last term – Asa A. Fox, N.G.; John F. Hurd, V.G.; John E. Leach, Sec; Freeman H. Lowd, Treas. (Grand Lodge, 1872).
Son Forrest Leonard Marsh was born in Milton, September 12, 1872.
Oscar F. Marsh, works in felt mill, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Georgiana W. [(Reed)] Marsh, keeping house, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), and his son, Forrest L. Marsh, at home, aged seven years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John W. Prescott, a stable keeper, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Daniel D. Stevens, a farmer, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).
Mother Asenath I. (Runnells) Marsh died of pneumonia in Milton, January 28, 1882, aged seventy years.
The Milton Selectmen of 1890 were O.F. Marsh, L.F. Corson, and C.A. Jones. In a General Court Manual, Oscar F. Marsh and Charles A. Jones were identified as Republicans, while Leroy F. Corson was identified as a Democrat (NH Secretary of State, 1891).
The Milton Selectmen of 1891 were O.F. Marsh, L.F. Corson, and F.P. Jones.
Mother-in-law Annette W. ((Randall) [Reed]) Newhall died of heart disease in Haverhill, MA, April 2, 1895, aged sixty-eight years, six months, and twenty-five days.
Son Forrest Linwood Marsh married (1st) in Newfield, ME, December 19, 1899, Mildred J. Tebbetts, he of Milton Mills and she of Newfield, ME. He was an attorney, aged twenty-seven years, and she was a lady, aged twenty-two years. Rev. W.A. Nottage performed the ceremony. She was born in Newfield, ME, December 15, 1877, daughter of William N. and Mary J. (Wyatt) Tebbetts. (Her father was a carriage manufacturer).
Oscar F. Marsh, a blanket finisher, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-two years), Georgia [(Reed)] Marsh, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), his son, Forrest L. Marsh, an attorney, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), and his daughter-in-law, Mildred J. [(Tebbetts)] Marsh, aged twenty-two years (b. ME). Oscar F. Marsh rented their house. Georgia Marsh was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. Their house appeared in the enumeration between those of George E. Simes, a carpenter, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and Calvin S. Haines, a hostler, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH).
Oscar F. Marsh appeared in the Milton directories of 1902, and 1905, as a boss finisher, W. [Waumbeck Mill], with his house at 30 Main street, Milton Mills. (Forrest L. Marsh, a lawyer and insurance agent, had his house also at 30 Main street].
MILTON MILLS, N.H. Oscar F. Marsh is enjoying a well-earned vacation at York beach (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), August 3, 1906).
MILTON MILLS, N.H. Oscar F. Marsh is still quite ill (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), October 19, 1906).
Oscar F. Marsh of Milton appeared in a January 1907 list of State Road Patrolmen that had been appointed also as Forest Fire Wardens in Division Seven. James J. Ham and Fred M. Chamberlain, both of Milton, were also so appointed (NH College, 1907).
MILTON MILLS, N.H. Oscar F. Marsh is thought to be gaining strength (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 29, 1907).
MILTON MILLS, N.H. Oscar F. Marsh, who has been taken to a private sanitarium at Nashua, is reported as much better, and it is hoped may come home fully recovered (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), September 27, 1907).
Oscar F. Marsh appeared in the Milton directories of 1909, as a boss finisher, W. [Waumbeck] Mills, with his house at 30 Main street, Milton Mills. (Forrest L. Marsh, a lawyer and insurance agent, had his house also at 30 Main street].
Oscar F. Marsh appeared in the Milton directories of 1912, as being retired, with his house at 30 Main street, Milton Mills. (Forrest L. Marsh, a lawyer, insurance agent, and notary public, had his house also at 30 Main street].
Oscar F. Marsh appeared in the Milton directories of 1917, as being retired, with his house at 30 Main street, Milton Mills. (Forrest L. Marsh, a lawyer, insurance agent, and notary public, had his house also at 30 Main street].
Georgia W. (Reed) Marsh died of an unknown chronic disease (and aortic insufficiency) in Milton Mills, December 29, 1918, aged seventy-three years, two months, and one day. She had been resident in Milton Mills for fifty-nine years, having come there from Somersworth, NH. Frank S. Weeks, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Oscar F. Marsh, a state road patrolman, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his son, Forrest L. Marsh, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law, Mildred T. [(Tebbetts)] Marsh, aged forty-two years (b. ME), and his grandchildren, Doris L. Marsh, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and Ronald T. Marsh, aged ten years (b. NH). Oscar F. Marsh owned their house on Main Street, free-and-clear. Their house appeared in the enumeration between those of Frederick H. Simes, a woolen mill superintendent, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and Eugene W. Emerson, a druggist (owner), aged sixty-three years (b. NH).
Daughter-in-law Mildred J. (Tebbetts) Marsh died of a goitre (and a contracted heart blockage) in Milton Mills, November 11, 1921, aged forty-three years, ten years, and twenty-six days. Frank S. Weeks, M.D., signed the death certificate.
ACTON. Oscar F. Marsh was in Acton this week after wood (Sanford Tribune & Advocate (Biddeford, ME), December 13, 1923).
Oscar F. Marsh died of a cerebral hemorrhage in the Hayes Hospital on Summer Street in Dover, NH, December 13, 1928, aged eighty-two years. He had been there for six months. James J. Buckley, M.D., signed the death certificate.
ACTON. The funeral of Oscar Marsh was held at the Free Baptist Church last Sunday (Sanford Tribune & Advocate (Biddeford, ME), [Thursday,] December 20, 1928).
Forrest L. Marsh married (2nd), probably in New Jersey, circa 1928, Anna M. (Hopkins) Martin. She was born in Bergen, NJ, June 19, 1885, daughter of Andrew J. and Winifred (Casey) Hopkins. (She had married (1st), in 1905, James A. Martin, who had died in 1917).
Forrest L. Marsh, a general lawyer, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed an East Orange, NJ, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Anna M. Marsh, aged forty-three years (b. NJ), and his [step-] son, James A. Martin, a school teacher, aged twenty-one years (b. NJ). Forrest L. Marsh rented their apartment, for $55 per month. They had a radio set.
Forrest L Marsh, a gas and electric co. agent, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Kaylad, NJ, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Anne M Marsh, aged fifty-three years (b. Kaylad), his son, Martin Marsh, a real estate agent, aged thirty-one years (b. Arlington, NJ), his daughter-in-law, Vivian Marsh, a doctor’s nurse, aged twenty-eight years (b. Irvington, NJ), his lodgers, Vera Bianco, a restaurant waitress, aged twenty-eight years (b. NY), and Francis Griffin, a restaurant waitress, aged twenty-one years (b. NY), and his aunt, Betty Lemacina, aged thirty-one years (b. Unknown). Forrest L Marsh rented their house at 258 Highland Avenue, for $75 per month. The family had resided in the “same place,” in 1935, while Vera Bianco had resided in NY City and Frances Griffin had resided in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Son Forrest L. Marsh died in Bloomfield, NJ, July 17, 1945, aged seventy-two years.
James J. Martin, a brewery co. salesman, aged forty-one years (b. NJ), headed a Bellevue, NJ, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Anne M. Marsh, a widow, aged sixty-three years (b. NJ). They resided at 31B Broad Street.
Daughter-in-law Anne M. ((Hopkins) Martin) Marsh died in October 1976.
References:
Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). Oscar F. Marsh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115493700/oscar-f-marsh
Grand Lodge. (1872). Journal of Proceedings of the R.W. Grand Lodge of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=GcuVn6tKSTAC&pg=PA949
NH College [UNH]. (1907). Pamphlets on Forestry in New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=uNdDAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA92
NH Secretary of State. (1891). New Hampshire Manual for the General Court. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=0jdAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA279
Milton Observer 