COL. BRYAN MARSH AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX  

*****************************************************************  
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

Submitted by Debbie Brown - cottagehill@altavista.com  
21 May 2001  
*****************************************************************   

COL. BRYAN MARSH AND FAMILY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." 
Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I  
By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas  
Chapter XXXII. - Pages 158-162  

Col. Bryan Marsh is a native Alabamian and removed to Smith county in 
1854.  He was at College when his father, Bryan Marsh, Sr., died in  
Smith county, and immediately after his father's death he quit school,  
and returned to Texas and took charge of the plantation and business 
of his father.  He managed the farm and business affairs of the farm 
with success, mastering the details of farm life.  

Before the civil war, he made farming and general merchandizing a  
success, and was counted among Tyler's best business men.  When the 
civil war was announced, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 
17th Texas.  He was elected Captain and promoted to the position of  
Col. in Grandbury's Texas brigade in the army of Tennessee.  He spent  
several months in prison before his exchange, as he was captured with  
his command at Fort Donalson.  He participated in all the campaigns of  
his brigade up to the time of the loss of his right arm in front of  
Atlanta.  As soon as he was able to do duty he returned to his command  
and remained with it until the surrender.  He had reached the position  
of Colonel from that of a private by gallant and meritorious conduct,  
and was slated for a Brigadier Generalship that met the endorsement of  
his superior officers in rank, and the only reason that kept him from  
receiving the commission was the early termination of the war.  

At the surrender Col. Marsh returned home, merchandized a few years in  
Tyler, moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, and was a member of the firm of  
Jessup, Marsh & McKellar, doing an immense wholesale grocery trade.   
Retiring from the firm he removed to Tyler and was soon elected sheriff  
of Smith county, serving in that capacity for eighteen years, making  
one of the most popular officers Smith county ever had.  

A few years ago he was stricken with paralysis and from that cause has 
lost his speech.  His health is improving at this writing, and it is 
the hope of his friends that he will recover his usual health.  He  
resides on his beautiful homestead on South Broadway, in Tyler,  
surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of life.  He has the  
attention of his devoted wife, son and daughters, making the  
surroundings as pleasant as can be made for an invalid.  He is cheerful  
and is always glad when his friends call to see him.  He is the same  
Bryan Marsh, in his ways and manners now, as he was in the prime of his  
manhood.  His very intelligent family is one of the comforts that he  
enjoys, and being a big-hearted man, he enjoys the many comforts  
offered him.  

As a citizen, soldier, business man, he has always borne an excellent  
name, and has had the confidence of more than is usually allotted to  
but few men.  

The writer has enjoyed his confidence and friendship for nearly one- 
half of a century and can speak by the card, I have sounded him as a 
citizen and soldier and I believe I never knew a better man, and one  
more true to what he promises than Col. Bryan Marsh.  True to his  
friends, true to his country and true to his Southern manhood.