There is starting to be enough information on the site to take an individual from birth to death. It’s interesting to read the hopes and aspirations of one of the young Marshall boys as he heads into the world. James Alexander “Alex” or “Alec” or “Elec,” as he was variously called, was the oldest of the Marshall children. He was born in South Carolina, somewhere in the Abbeville district. He traveled with his parents, aunts, uncles, and grandfather to MIssouri. We know from early letters that he had an eye for the ladies. An early census lists his as married within the year. There is no mention of a wife, so either it was in error, or she died soon after their marriage, and Elec moved back home.

 

When Gold Fever struck, he headed out to the mines, believing he would make his fortune. He toiled at several different claims, but he never struck gold. We have no record of him finding any. He bought many parcels of land, but it doesn’t appear that he farmed any. After his mother died, he came home and settled her estate. He stayed in Pettis County for a while, and then, as an old man, he moved to Texas. He married at the age of 71 and died in Texas. He never made a fortune. He never had children (the only one of the Marshall children who didn’t). He is buried in Texas. Mollie made the entry in the Marshall Bible for the death of the first of her siblings.

 

One wonders if he carried that hope and enthusiasm that he took to the Last Chance mine with him to the end. There are no later letters surviving to tell us. William Osker does say that Elec is enjoying “living bach” in Texas - but not too long after this was written, Elec up and married Martha, a woman about whom we know nothing. Elec is 71 in the picture above. Martha appears to be several decades younger.

 

The Marshalls are the only family for whom this great body of information exists. However, there are interesting photographs, documents, and bits of information for a number of other Pettis County Pioneers.

 

Meanwhile, on the site, the school photos are being reorganized. At first, I thought there were just a few things to post, and that they would fit on one page. As more school photos, letters and information come to light, it’s easier on all of us to list them with links. As always, please report any broken links or missing information. Sometimes, it’s just that I haven’t uploaded things yet, but sometimes, things slip through the cracks.