Margaret Alice Byrd Marsh
She was born December 15, 1859 in Jackson County, FL to Louvina Martin and John A. Byrd. Her father apparently died before November 1, 1867 when her mother married Adam McNealy. Margaret Alice became a schoolteacher.
Marcus L. Marsh was born May 18,1852 in Cumberland County, N.C. He left his home community of Gray's Creek with a small band of Marsh cousins G. T. T. "Gone To Texas" read the sign left behind. They left for fresh acres and a dream of raising Holsteins in Texas. Other Marsh cousins had settled a few years earlier in Arkansas. While traveling around with some cousins he met Margaret Alice Byrd in Greenwood, Florida. Family lore says a few years later in Blum, TX he met a fellow from Greenwood and inquired about Margaret Alice. Upon learning that she was unmarried he went back to Greenwood in pursuit of her. They were married upon April 15, 1887 in Jackson County, Florida.
They returned to Texas where they purchased 270 acres of land in Hill County, Texas on November 28,1888. There they lived until Absalom L. Marsh, father to Marcus, died. At that time with three children and a stock of Holstein cattle sent to Cumberland County by the cattle car, this Marsh family returned to live in the Gray's Creek Community by the Cape Fear River. Three more children were born before Margaret Alice became sick. The name of each of her children with their birth date was carefully recorded into her Family Bible. On August 31, 1904 Margaret Alice Byrd Marsh died. At that time she was buried at the Marsh Cemetery at the Spring House. The pride and love Margaret Alice felt for her family showed up in the names she gave to her children. Her children passed Byrd family names to their children. The girls born to Marcus and Alice were very pretty girls. Her children had the prettiest blue eyes with long, dark lashes. Their eyes sparkled and danced at they talked. They loved children and were gifted in the art of story telling.
Marcus never married but he returned to Florida each winter as Malaria in his youth left him with fragile health. Marcus died in Dade County, FL on March 1, 1928. He was buried next to his wife in Cumberland County, N.C.
In 1924, the children of Margaret Alice and Marcus planned a birthday celebration for their father, which became an annual reunion. Not only did Marcus Marsh desire his children and grandchildren to attend. He dreamed of an event to include the family of his mother's, the Butlers. The Butler and Marsh families attended church together and were good friends in the community. This past October 16, 1999, the Marsh Butler Reunion celebrated its 75th Anniversary Reunion at Cape Fear Baptist Church. The reunion moved the graves of Marcus and Margaret to the cemetery of this church in 1995.
Their children:
1. Vance Absalom Marsh b. 1889 TX
2. Mary Vina Marsh b. 1891 TX
3. Joseph Pogue Marsh b. 1893 TX
4. Tommie Eula Marsh b. 1896 NC
5. Marcus Byrd Marsh b. 1898 NC
6. Margaret Alice Marsh b. 1902 NC
Submitted by great granddaughter:
Cathrine Marsh Cashwell
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