MARSHALL F. GRIDER, a prominent citizen of Athensville township, was born in Morgan county, Ill., Feb. 10, 1834, and is a son of Martin S. and Ava (Duncan) Grider, natives of North Carolina. His father was born July 2, 1791, and his mother, Aug. 25, 1795. His parents removed to Kentucky and were there married. Martin was engaged in farming and remained in that state until 1820, when he removed to Illinois and located eight miles southeast of Jacksonville, in Morgan county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. He died in 1834, while on a visit in Kentucky, and Mrs. Grider died in 1854. They had a family of five children - Sarah, born Aug. 25, 1815; Emery D., born Dec. 26, 1818; Elijah t., born May 7, 1824; James M., born June 15, 1829; and Marshall F., born Feb. 10, 1834. The family were members of the Regular Predestinarian Baptist Church. When Mr. Grider came to Illinois he had nothing but a horse, but at the time of his death he left a comfortable home for his family. In politics he was a staunch democrat. Marshall F. Grider grew to manhood in Morgan county, receiving his education in the common schools of that day. He was reared on the farm, his mother having married again after his father's death, so that at the age of 14, he started out for himself, working out on neighboring farms until 1853, when he rented land there until 1855. On April 13, 1853, he was married to Martha Sheppard, a native of Russell county, Ky., born Nov. 14, 1825. She is a daughter of Elder Thornton Sheppard, a native of North Carolina, born in 1796, who removed with his parents to Russell county, Ky., where he grew to manhood and married Elender Hopper, also a native of North Carolina, born in 1803, and who removed to Russell county, Ky., with her parents. Mr. Sheppard engaged in farming there until 1830, when he came to Illinois, settling in Morgan county, where he bought and entered land, on which he and his wife resided until their deaths. They had a family of 12 children, 11 of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. They came to Illinois with only ox teams, but left a farm of 200 acres at their death. Mr. Sheppard was an elder in the Baptist church, of which his wife was also a member. After marriage Mr. Grider rented land for awhile and then purchased 80 acres of timber land, south of Jacksonville, which he cleared and on which he remained until Oct., 1866, when he bought 120 acres on sections 14 and 23, in Athensville township, Greene county, where he has since resided. He has by thrift and industry added to this until he now has 289 acres under a good state of cultivation, and good, comfortable buildings thereon. Mr. and Mrs. Grider have had a family of six children - Sarah M., born July 1, 1854, now the wife of Samuel Hicks; Sidney S., born Dec. 9, 1856, died oct. 23, 1877; Emery H., born Feb. 4, 1860; Clinton A., born Aug. 10, 1862; Rachel J., born Feb. 28, 1865, died Sept. 18, 1871; and Albin L., born March 21, 1868. Mr. Grider professed religion in 1866, and united with the Primitive Baptist church in 1869, and is still a consistent member. He is a democrat, politically, his first vote having been cast for James Buchanan, his last for Cleveland. He is a highly esteemed citizen of that community.