Husband of Nelle J Haddix Marshall and only son of Nancy Louise North and Harry Singleton Marshall.
Stories and memories:
From Gilbert S. Marshall:
One of my favorite sayings of my father, later in his life, was "I'm glad I'm old, if I wasn't old, I would be dead."
A note from Gilbert S. Marshall, Jr.
I remember telling the family about a letter that Grandpa Marshall had written me telling me about a religious experience he had one night in the Big Bend of Texas. I told the story as he had told me and many family members approached me and said they had never heard him tell it. Grandpa was a tough old man, but he knew God and let me in on his personal experience. I felt honored and still do.
My Gramps was a hard man, but a good one. Down from his house in Atlanta was a bakery and the wind always blew up the street carrying the sweet smell of cooked baked goods. That's mainly what I remember of him...oh, he chewed tobacco.
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 19:11:22 -0400
My father was born 103 years ago today. He lived 90 1/2 years. Still miss him. He had lots of stories.
Gil
I miss him lots too. Hardly a day goes by when I don't have a thought for or about Pap.
I spent the summer of 1980 with him, and as Dad and Michael left me there to return home I was scared to death, not knowing how I could manage there on my own. When the summer was over and I had to head back to get back to school I didn't think I could leave. I had learned so much about Pap, Grandma, my own father and met so many fine people I felt right at home. I grew up a lot that summer.
Pap was really hoping to make it to this birthday. He had hoped to make it to his 103rd birthday so he could say he had lived in 3 different centuries. If you ask me he is still apart of us and with us all the time. Happy 103 Pap!
Anne (I need a tissue)
From personal knowledge of Constance Marshall Byrd:
My grandfather died of hardening of the arteries. Near the end of his life he had terrible memory loss, and could only recall that he had one child - his son Harry. He once told his daughter, my Aunt Jean, who cared for him with great love the last years of his life, that he never had a daughter, but if he had, he would have wanted her to be just like her. I am sure that must have hurt my aunt, but at the same time it was a great compliment.
Date: 11/7/00 From: Gil Marshall
The last time I saw my Dad alive, I kissed him on the forehead and said, I love you, Dad. He replied, you're a good boy, Harry.
Date: 6/15/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Uncle Gil, do you know what "you were in Germany" means? Anne
All of my youth I heard, That's when you were in Germany, boy. My Dad's favorite saying for before I was born. Gil
Yep, Pap explained it to me. He had me laughing as he told the story. He said stories would be told about things the family had done or places they had been and you would be completely confused because you couldn't remember any of the details. You would often ask "where was I?" To make life easier Grandma and Pap just got in the habit of telling you that you were in Germany then. Anne
Date: 6/25/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Before I forget I want to mention that today is Pap's birthday. If he had it his way he would be 104 today. Anne (think about him everyday)
Date: 9/29/01 From: Anne Marshall
If memory serves, this happened when we (my family) went down to Atlanta for Grandma and Pap's 50th wedding anniversary. We were by the front door and this old ragged man (that's how he looked to me) came up and spoke to Pap asking for a hand out. Pap said absolutely not (figuring the man would spend any money he had on liquor) but offered him food. Pap told the man he had a house full of food and would bring the man sandwiches and tea to help him out in his time of need. The man declined that offer and left. I was just a kid, but it was an eye opening experience for me, not only had the man left without cash, but without food. It also showed me what a class act Pap was.
Date: 8/2/02 6:58:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: From: Anne Marshall
When my father's father (Thomas Franklin Marshall) passed my parents gave each of us "kids" a sum of money from his estate to get something to remember him by. As I was moving to a new home I used my share to buy a piece of furniture. While it may just seem to be some wood and glass it is an everyday reminder of my grandfather and the time I spent with him during the summer of 1980. Every time I clean it or need to open a drawer it seems I'm reminded of both Grandma and Pap. It's a fairly large piece and when it came time to move to this house I think the movers thought I was a bit crazy. I was very possessive of it. I made sure they wrapped every inch of it in blankets, escorted them and it down the stairs, ensuring they didn't bump it around and wouldn't let them unwrap it at the new house until I was there for the unveiling. Anne
Branan Towers Resident Chased Pancho Villa in 1916 (1982 Atlanta Journal newspaper article transcript)
Tom Marshall, tall and erect at 85, still remembers in vivid detail being dispatched from the University of Kentucky to the Texas-Mexican border in 1916.
He was part of an organized signal company as a student. The whole company was sent to the border when President Wilson responded to a raid by Pancho Villa, the Mexican bandit and revolutionary who crossed the U.S. border in March 1916 with 400 men, raiding and burning Columbus, New Mexico, killing 16 citizens.
"Black Jack Pershing was sent down to go into Mexico and apprehend Pancho Villa," Mr. Marshall recalled in his Branan Towers Apartment. "Pershing took a lot of the national guard troops with him. They were all mounted, including our Signal Corps outfit."
There was a remount station at Ft. Bliss, Texas where the soldiers drew their horses and mules from some 150,000 animals kept there.
A Kentucky farm boy used to horses and mules, Mr. Marshall chuckled out loud at his mental picture of the city boys in his outfit trying to ride horses for the first time.
"Our officers had us gather our horses, saddle and bridle them and lead them out. He told us to walk around the prairie with our horses and get acquainted with them. Then he blew his whistle and told everybody to mount up. I knew my horse, he had been broken. A lot of those horses had never been broken. It was the most ridiculous sight you ever saw, arms and legs pinwheeling all over the place."
Fortunately the commanding officer was a good professional who "straightened us out and made a good outfit in no time," Mr. Marshall said.
At that time the Signal Corps used, among other things, a strange device called a heliograph by which they could telegraph signals using the sun's rays reflected by a mirror. The area where west Texas borders New Mexico provided two perfect spots to break the world's distance record for heliographing.
"From Mt. Franklin we could see the Sacramento Mountains far in the distance at Alamogordo, New Mexico, about 150 miles," Mr. Marshall recalled. His detail was assigned to take a heliograph to the Sacramento Mountains and make contact with Mt. Franklin.
Eighteen mounted men and a wagon pulled by six mules made up the expedition. The two extra mules were added because the desert sand made pulling difficult. Their route took them through the white sands of New Mexico later famous as a testing site for the nation's first atomic bomb.
We went at night to avoid the heat, riding 40 minutes, dismounting and leading our horses 10 minutes and resting 10 minutes," he said, describing the vivid whiteness of the sand and the brilliance of the stars in the dry desert night, as if he had seen it last night instead of 66 years ago.
"It was chilly at night because of the altitude and the dry air," he said. "We would light the tops of those dried out yucca plants in the desert to warm the night air."
Alamogordo was [illegible], it had a city park in the center and cottonwood trees planted along the streets with a ditch alongside carrying water to keep the cottonwoods alive, Mr. Marshall remembered.
They made it to the mountains through sands so white an early film company had just used them for a snow scene. At a mountain peak they set up the heliograph and made contact with Mt. Franklin, setting a distance record at the time.
He never did see Pancho Villa. It wasn't long before the U.S. entered World War I and Tom Marshall's unit was torpedoed on a Dutch ship named The Princess, after Queen Juliana of Holland. They did reach France, but that's another story.
Mr. Marshall was in charge of the machine shop at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta for many years before his retirement in 1963. He still attends the Sunday School class he taught for two decades at Lakewood United Methodist Church.
One son is vice president of a steamship company and lives in New Jersey. His daughter lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and a second son is with a major construction company in Texas.
From: Susan Date: Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 9:20 AM
This is the story that Pap told me, he also told the Sunday School class at Lakewood Methodist. Pap was sent with a squad of troopers in a forward position to observe the movement of the Mexican Troups. He said they were out in this place, across the border for a couple of days. The older troopers were running low on coffee and tobacco. Because he was the youngest trooper he was selected to ride to the rear lines and get the necessities. He took off with his horse and soon after got turned around. He rode into a town he did not recognize. He spotted some Mexican Army horses, and the Mexican men spotted him at the same time. He wheeled his horse around, said a prayer to God to deliver him from the enemy, and took off at a gallop. Pap said in a short time, he left the Mexicans in the dust. He still did not know where he was. All he could see was open prairie and a sky full of stars. Again he said a prayer for God's deliverance. Pap kept going in the direction he felt good about. He did make it back to the rear lines and completed his mission. Here is another story, that means more to me. After Grandmom died I visited Pap and we attended Lakewood Methodist. After the sermon, I was happily surprised that the minister gave an altar call. Never heard of this at Lakewood Methodist. Pap and I were seated in the middle of the church. I felt moved to go up to the altar like I have never felt it before. Pap went with me and we were the only two to go forward and surrender our lives to Jesus. I know that he always believed, but that was the closest time I had with Pap. I am very thankful for that time.
Stories and memories:
From Gilbert S. Marshall:
One of my favorite sayings of my father, later in his life, was "I'm glad I'm old, if I wasn't old, I would be dead."
A note from Gilbert S. Marshall, Jr.
I remember telling the family about a letter that Grandpa Marshall had written me telling me about a religious experience he had one night in the Big Bend of Texas. I told the story as he had told me and many family members approached me and said they had never heard him tell it. Grandpa was a tough old man, but he knew God and let me in on his personal experience. I felt honored and still do.
My Gramps was a hard man, but a good one. Down from his house in Atlanta was a bakery and the wind always blew up the street carrying the sweet smell of cooked baked goods. That's mainly what I remember of him...oh, he chewed tobacco.
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 19:11:22 -0400
My father was born 103 years ago today. He lived 90 1/2 years. Still miss him. He had lots of stories.
Gil
I miss him lots too. Hardly a day goes by when I don't have a thought for or about Pap.
I spent the summer of 1980 with him, and as Dad and Michael left me there to return home I was scared to death, not knowing how I could manage there on my own. When the summer was over and I had to head back to get back to school I didn't think I could leave. I had learned so much about Pap, Grandma, my own father and met so many fine people I felt right at home. I grew up a lot that summer.
Pap was really hoping to make it to this birthday. He had hoped to make it to his 103rd birthday so he could say he had lived in 3 different centuries. If you ask me he is still apart of us and with us all the time. Happy 103 Pap!
Anne (I need a tissue)
From personal knowledge of Constance Marshall Byrd:
My grandfather died of hardening of the arteries. Near the end of his life he had terrible memory loss, and could only recall that he had one child - his son Harry. He once told his daughter, my Aunt Jean, who cared for him with great love the last years of his life, that he never had a daughter, but if he had, he would have wanted her to be just like her. I am sure that must have hurt my aunt, but at the same time it was a great compliment.
Date: 11/7/00 From: Gil Marshall
The last time I saw my Dad alive, I kissed him on the forehead and said, I love you, Dad. He replied, you're a good boy, Harry.
Date: 6/15/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Uncle Gil, do you know what "you were in Germany" means? Anne
All of my youth I heard, That's when you were in Germany, boy. My Dad's favorite saying for before I was born. Gil
Yep, Pap explained it to me. He had me laughing as he told the story. He said stories would be told about things the family had done or places they had been and you would be completely confused because you couldn't remember any of the details. You would often ask "where was I?" To make life easier Grandma and Pap just got in the habit of telling you that you were in Germany then. Anne
Date: 6/25/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Before I forget I want to mention that today is Pap's birthday. If he had it his way he would be 104 today. Anne (think about him everyday)
Date: 9/29/01 From: Anne Marshall
If memory serves, this happened when we (my family) went down to Atlanta for Grandma and Pap's 50th wedding anniversary. We were by the front door and this old ragged man (that's how he looked to me) came up and spoke to Pap asking for a hand out. Pap said absolutely not (figuring the man would spend any money he had on liquor) but offered him food. Pap told the man he had a house full of food and would bring the man sandwiches and tea to help him out in his time of need. The man declined that offer and left. I was just a kid, but it was an eye opening experience for me, not only had the man left without cash, but without food. It also showed me what a class act Pap was.
Date: 8/2/02 6:58:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: From: Anne Marshall
When my father's father (Thomas Franklin Marshall) passed my parents gave each of us "kids" a sum of money from his estate to get something to remember him by. As I was moving to a new home I used my share to buy a piece of furniture. While it may just seem to be some wood and glass it is an everyday reminder of my grandfather and the time I spent with him during the summer of 1980. Every time I clean it or need to open a drawer it seems I'm reminded of both Grandma and Pap. It's a fairly large piece and when it came time to move to this house I think the movers thought I was a bit crazy. I was very possessive of it. I made sure they wrapped every inch of it in blankets, escorted them and it down the stairs, ensuring they didn't bump it around and wouldn't let them unwrap it at the new house until I was there for the unveiling. Anne
Branan Towers Resident Chased Pancho Villa in 1916 (1982 Atlanta Journal newspaper article transcript)
Tom Marshall, tall and erect at 85, still remembers in vivid detail being dispatched from the University of Kentucky to the Texas-Mexican border in 1916.
He was part of an organized signal company as a student. The whole company was sent to the border when President Wilson responded to a raid by Pancho Villa, the Mexican bandit and revolutionary who crossed the U.S. border in March 1916 with 400 men, raiding and burning Columbus, New Mexico, killing 16 citizens.
"Black Jack Pershing was sent down to go into Mexico and apprehend Pancho Villa," Mr. Marshall recalled in his Branan Towers Apartment. "Pershing took a lot of the national guard troops with him. They were all mounted, including our Signal Corps outfit."
There was a remount station at Ft. Bliss, Texas where the soldiers drew their horses and mules from some 150,000 animals kept there.
A Kentucky farm boy used to horses and mules, Mr. Marshall chuckled out loud at his mental picture of the city boys in his outfit trying to ride horses for the first time.
"Our officers had us gather our horses, saddle and bridle them and lead them out. He told us to walk around the prairie with our horses and get acquainted with them. Then he blew his whistle and told everybody to mount up. I knew my horse, he had been broken. A lot of those horses had never been broken. It was the most ridiculous sight you ever saw, arms and legs pinwheeling all over the place."
Fortunately the commanding officer was a good professional who "straightened us out and made a good outfit in no time," Mr. Marshall said.
At that time the Signal Corps used, among other things, a strange device called a heliograph by which they could telegraph signals using the sun's rays reflected by a mirror. The area where west Texas borders New Mexico provided two perfect spots to break the world's distance record for heliographing.
"From Mt. Franklin we could see the Sacramento Mountains far in the distance at Alamogordo, New Mexico, about 150 miles," Mr. Marshall recalled. His detail was assigned to take a heliograph to the Sacramento Mountains and make contact with Mt. Franklin.
Eighteen mounted men and a wagon pulled by six mules made up the expedition. The two extra mules were added because the desert sand made pulling difficult. Their route took them through the white sands of New Mexico later famous as a testing site for the nation's first atomic bomb.
We went at night to avoid the heat, riding 40 minutes, dismounting and leading our horses 10 minutes and resting 10 minutes," he said, describing the vivid whiteness of the sand and the brilliance of the stars in the dry desert night, as if he had seen it last night instead of 66 years ago.
"It was chilly at night because of the altitude and the dry air," he said. "We would light the tops of those dried out yucca plants in the desert to warm the night air."
Alamogordo was [illegible], it had a city park in the center and cottonwood trees planted along the streets with a ditch alongside carrying water to keep the cottonwoods alive, Mr. Marshall remembered.
They made it to the mountains through sands so white an early film company had just used them for a snow scene. At a mountain peak they set up the heliograph and made contact with Mt. Franklin, setting a distance record at the time.
He never did see Pancho Villa. It wasn't long before the U.S. entered World War I and Tom Marshall's unit was torpedoed on a Dutch ship named The Princess, after Queen Juliana of Holland. They did reach France, but that's another story.
Mr. Marshall was in charge of the machine shop at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta for many years before his retirement in 1963. He still attends the Sunday School class he taught for two decades at Lakewood United Methodist Church.
One son is vice president of a steamship company and lives in New Jersey. His daughter lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and a second son is with a major construction company in Texas.
From: Susan Date: Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 9:20 AM
This is the story that Pap told me, he also told the Sunday School class at Lakewood Methodist. Pap was sent with a squad of troopers in a forward position to observe the movement of the Mexican Troups. He said they were out in this place, across the border for a couple of days. The older troopers were running low on coffee and tobacco. Because he was the youngest trooper he was selected to ride to the rear lines and get the necessities. He took off with his horse and soon after got turned around. He rode into a town he did not recognize. He spotted some Mexican Army horses, and the Mexican men spotted him at the same time. He wheeled his horse around, said a prayer to God to deliver him from the enemy, and took off at a gallop. Pap said in a short time, he left the Mexicans in the dust. He still did not know where he was. All he could see was open prairie and a sky full of stars. Again he said a prayer for God's deliverance. Pap kept going in the direction he felt good about. He did make it back to the rear lines and completed his mission. Here is another story, that means more to me. After Grandmom died I visited Pap and we attended Lakewood Methodist. After the sermon, I was happily surprised that the minister gave an altar call. Never heard of this at Lakewood Methodist. Pap and I were seated in the middle of the church. I felt moved to go up to the altar like I have never felt it before. Pap went with me and we were the only two to go forward and surrender our lives to Jesus. I know that he always believed, but that was the closest time I had with Pap. I am very thankful for that time.
Husband of Nelle J Haddix Marshall and only son of Nancy Louise North and Harry Singleton Marshall.
Stories and memories:
From Gilbert S. Marshall:
One of my favorite sayings of my father, later in his life, was "I'm glad I'm old, if I wasn't old, I would be dead."
A note from Gilbert S. Marshall, Jr.
I remember telling the family about a letter that Grandpa Marshall had written me telling me about a religious experience he had one night in the Big Bend of Texas. I told the story as he had told me and many family members approached me and said they had never heard him tell it. Grandpa was a tough old man, but he knew God and let me in on his personal experience. I felt honored and still do.
My Gramps was a hard man, but a good one. Down from his house in Atlanta was a bakery and the wind always blew up the street carrying the sweet smell of cooked baked goods. That's mainly what I remember of him...oh, he chewed tobacco.
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 19:11:22 -0400
My father was born 103 years ago today. He lived 90 1/2 years. Still miss him. He had lots of stories.
Gil
I miss him lots too. Hardly a day goes by when I don't have a thought for or about Pap.
I spent the summer of 1980 with him, and as Dad and Michael left me there to return home I was scared to death, not knowing how I could manage there on my own. When the summer was over and I had to head back to get back to school I didn't think I could leave. I had learned so much about Pap, Grandma, my own father and met so many fine people I felt right at home. I grew up a lot that summer.
Pap was really hoping to make it to this birthday. He had hoped to make it to his 103rd birthday so he could say he had lived in 3 different centuries. If you ask me he is still apart of us and with us all the time. Happy 103 Pap!
Anne (I need a tissue)
From personal knowledge of Constance Marshall Byrd:
My grandfather died of hardening of the arteries. Near the end of his life he had terrible memory loss, and could only recall that he had one child - his son Harry. He once told his daughter, my Aunt Jean, who cared for him with great love the last years of his life, that he never had a daughter, but if he had, he would have wanted her to be just like her. I am sure that must have hurt my aunt, but at the same time it was a great compliment.
Date: 11/7/00 From: Gil Marshall
The last time I saw my Dad alive, I kissed him on the forehead and said, I love you, Dad. He replied, you're a good boy, Harry.
Date: 6/15/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Uncle Gil, do you know what "you were in Germany" means? Anne
All of my youth I heard, That's when you were in Germany, boy. My Dad's favorite saying for before I was born. Gil
Yep, Pap explained it to me. He had me laughing as he told the story. He said stories would be told about things the family had done or places they had been and you would be completely confused because you couldn't remember any of the details. You would often ask "where was I?" To make life easier Grandma and Pap just got in the habit of telling you that you were in Germany then. Anne
Date: 6/25/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Before I forget I want to mention that today is Pap's birthday. If he had it his way he would be 104 today. Anne (think about him everyday)
Date: 9/29/01 From: Anne Marshall
If memory serves, this happened when we (my family) went down to Atlanta for Grandma and Pap's 50th wedding anniversary. We were by the front door and this old ragged man (that's how he looked to me) came up and spoke to Pap asking for a hand out. Pap said absolutely not (figuring the man would spend any money he had on liquor) but offered him food. Pap told the man he had a house full of food and would bring the man sandwiches and tea to help him out in his time of need. The man declined that offer and left. I was just a kid, but it was an eye opening experience for me, not only had the man left without cash, but without food. It also showed me what a class act Pap was.
Date: 8/2/02 6:58:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: From: Anne Marshall
When my father's father (Thomas Franklin Marshall) passed my parents gave each of us "kids" a sum of money from his estate to get something to remember him by. As I was moving to a new home I used my share to buy a piece of furniture. While it may just seem to be some wood and glass it is an everyday reminder of my grandfather and the time I spent with him during the summer of 1980. Every time I clean it or need to open a drawer it seems I'm reminded of both Grandma and Pap. It's a fairly large piece and when it came time to move to this house I think the movers thought I was a bit crazy. I was very possessive of it. I made sure they wrapped every inch of it in blankets, escorted them and it down the stairs, ensuring they didn't bump it around and wouldn't let them unwrap it at the new house until I was there for the unveiling. Anne
Branan Towers Resident Chased Pancho Villa in 1916 (1982 Atlanta Journal newspaper article transcript)
Tom Marshall, tall and erect at 85, still remembers in vivid detail being dispatched from the University of Kentucky to the Texas-Mexican border in 1916.
He was part of an organized signal company as a student. The whole company was sent to the border when President Wilson responded to a raid by Pancho Villa, the Mexican bandit and revolutionary who crossed the U.S. border in March 1916 with 400 men, raiding and burning Columbus, New Mexico, killing 16 citizens.
"Black Jack Pershing was sent down to go into Mexico and apprehend Pancho Villa," Mr. Marshall recalled in his Branan Towers Apartment. "Pershing took a lot of the national guard troops with him. They were all mounted, including our Signal Corps outfit."
There was a remount station at Ft. Bliss, Texas where the soldiers drew their horses and mules from some 150,000 animals kept there.
A Kentucky farm boy used to horses and mules, Mr. Marshall chuckled out loud at his mental picture of the city boys in his outfit trying to ride horses for the first time.
"Our officers had us gather our horses, saddle and bridle them and lead them out. He told us to walk around the prairie with our horses and get acquainted with them. Then he blew his whistle and told everybody to mount up. I knew my horse, he had been broken. A lot of those horses had never been broken. It was the most ridiculous sight you ever saw, arms and legs pinwheeling all over the place."
Fortunately the commanding officer was a good professional who "straightened us out and made a good outfit in no time," Mr. Marshall said.
At that time the Signal Corps used, among other things, a strange device called a heliograph by which they could telegraph signals using the sun's rays reflected by a mirror. The area where west Texas borders New Mexico provided two perfect spots to break the world's distance record for heliographing.
"From Mt. Franklin we could see the Sacramento Mountains far in the distance at Alamogordo, New Mexico, about 150 miles," Mr. Marshall recalled. His detail was assigned to take a heliograph to the Sacramento Mountains and make contact with Mt. Franklin.
Eighteen mounted men and a wagon pulled by six mules made up the expedition. The two extra mules were added because the desert sand made pulling difficult. Their route took them through the white sands of New Mexico later famous as a testing site for the nation's first atomic bomb.
We went at night to avoid the heat, riding 40 minutes, dismounting and leading our horses 10 minutes and resting 10 minutes," he said, describing the vivid whiteness of the sand and the brilliance of the stars in the dry desert night, as if he had seen it last night instead of 66 years ago.
"It was chilly at night because of the altitude and the dry air," he said. "We would light the tops of those dried out yucca plants in the desert to warm the night air."
Alamogordo was [illegible], it had a city park in the center and cottonwood trees planted along the streets with a ditch alongside carrying water to keep the cottonwoods alive, Mr. Marshall remembered.
They made it to the mountains through sands so white an early film company had just used them for a snow scene. At a mountain peak they set up the heliograph and made contact with Mt. Franklin, setting a distance record at the time.
He never did see Pancho Villa. It wasn't long before the U.S. entered World War I and Tom Marshall's unit was torpedoed on a Dutch ship named The Princess, after Queen Juliana of Holland. They did reach France, but that's another story.
Mr. Marshall was in charge of the machine shop at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta for many years before his retirement in 1963. He still attends the Sunday School class he taught for two decades at Lakewood United Methodist Church.
One son is vice president of a steamship company and lives in New Jersey. His daughter lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and a second son is with a major construction company in Texas.
From: Susan Date: Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 9:20 AM
This is the story that Pap told me, he also told the Sunday School class at Lakewood Methodist. Pap was sent with a squad of troopers in a forward position to observe the movement of the Mexican Troups. He said they were out in this place, across the border for a couple of days. The older troopers were running low on coffee and tobacco. Because he was the youngest trooper he was selected to ride to the rear lines and get the necessities. He took off with his horse and soon after got turned around. He rode into a town he did not recognize. He spotted some Mexican Army horses, and the Mexican men spotted him at the same time. He wheeled his horse around, said a prayer to God to deliver him from the enemy, and took off at a gallop. Pap said in a short time, he left the Mexicans in the dust. He still did not know where he was. All he could see was open prairie and a sky full of stars. Again he said a prayer for God's deliverance. Pap kept going in the direction he felt good about. He did make it back to the rear lines and completed his mission. Here is another story, that means more to me. After Grandmom died I visited Pap and we attended Lakewood Methodist. After the sermon, I was happily surprised that the minister gave an altar call. Never heard of this at Lakewood Methodist. Pap and I were seated in the middle of the church. I felt moved to go up to the altar like I have never felt it before. Pap went with me and we were the only two to go forward and surrender our lives to Jesus. I know that he always believed, but that was the closest time I had with Pap. I am very thankful for that time.
Stories and memories:
From Gilbert S. Marshall:
One of my favorite sayings of my father, later in his life, was "I'm glad I'm old, if I wasn't old, I would be dead."
A note from Gilbert S. Marshall, Jr.
I remember telling the family about a letter that Grandpa Marshall had written me telling me about a religious experience he had one night in the Big Bend of Texas. I told the story as he had told me and many family members approached me and said they had never heard him tell it. Grandpa was a tough old man, but he knew God and let me in on his personal experience. I felt honored and still do.
My Gramps was a hard man, but a good one. Down from his house in Atlanta was a bakery and the wind always blew up the street carrying the sweet smell of cooked baked goods. That's mainly what I remember of him...oh, he chewed tobacco.
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 19:11:22 -0400
My father was born 103 years ago today. He lived 90 1/2 years. Still miss him. He had lots of stories.
Gil
I miss him lots too. Hardly a day goes by when I don't have a thought for or about Pap.
I spent the summer of 1980 with him, and as Dad and Michael left me there to return home I was scared to death, not knowing how I could manage there on my own. When the summer was over and I had to head back to get back to school I didn't think I could leave. I had learned so much about Pap, Grandma, my own father and met so many fine people I felt right at home. I grew up a lot that summer.
Pap was really hoping to make it to this birthday. He had hoped to make it to his 103rd birthday so he could say he had lived in 3 different centuries. If you ask me he is still apart of us and with us all the time. Happy 103 Pap!
Anne (I need a tissue)
From personal knowledge of Constance Marshall Byrd:
My grandfather died of hardening of the arteries. Near the end of his life he had terrible memory loss, and could only recall that he had one child - his son Harry. He once told his daughter, my Aunt Jean, who cared for him with great love the last years of his life, that he never had a daughter, but if he had, he would have wanted her to be just like her. I am sure that must have hurt my aunt, but at the same time it was a great compliment.
Date: 11/7/00 From: Gil Marshall
The last time I saw my Dad alive, I kissed him on the forehead and said, I love you, Dad. He replied, you're a good boy, Harry.
Date: 6/15/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Uncle Gil, do you know what "you were in Germany" means? Anne
All of my youth I heard, That's when you were in Germany, boy. My Dad's favorite saying for before I was born. Gil
Yep, Pap explained it to me. He had me laughing as he told the story. He said stories would be told about things the family had done or places they had been and you would be completely confused because you couldn't remember any of the details. You would often ask "where was I?" To make life easier Grandma and Pap just got in the habit of telling you that you were in Germany then. Anne
Date: 6/25/01 From: From: Anne Marshall
Before I forget I want to mention that today is Pap's birthday. If he had it his way he would be 104 today. Anne (think about him everyday)
Date: 9/29/01 From: Anne Marshall
If memory serves, this happened when we (my family) went down to Atlanta for Grandma and Pap's 50th wedding anniversary. We were by the front door and this old ragged man (that's how he looked to me) came up and spoke to Pap asking for a hand out. Pap said absolutely not (figuring the man would spend any money he had on liquor) but offered him food. Pap told the man he had a house full of food and would bring the man sandwiches and tea to help him out in his time of need. The man declined that offer and left. I was just a kid, but it was an eye opening experience for me, not only had the man left without cash, but without food. It also showed me what a class act Pap was.
Date: 8/2/02 6:58:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: From: Anne Marshall
When my father's father (Thomas Franklin Marshall) passed my parents gave each of us "kids" a sum of money from his estate to get something to remember him by. As I was moving to a new home I used my share to buy a piece of furniture. While it may just seem to be some wood and glass it is an everyday reminder of my grandfather and the time I spent with him during the summer of 1980. Every time I clean it or need to open a drawer it seems I'm reminded of both Grandma and Pap. It's a fairly large piece and when it came time to move to this house I think the movers thought I was a bit crazy. I was very possessive of it. I made sure they wrapped every inch of it in blankets, escorted them and it down the stairs, ensuring they didn't bump it around and wouldn't let them unwrap it at the new house until I was there for the unveiling. Anne
Branan Towers Resident Chased Pancho Villa in 1916 (1982 Atlanta Journal newspaper article transcript)
Tom Marshall, tall and erect at 85, still remembers in vivid detail being dispatched from the University of Kentucky to the Texas-Mexican border in 1916.
He was part of an organized signal company as a student. The whole company was sent to the border when President Wilson responded to a raid by Pancho Villa, the Mexican bandit and revolutionary who crossed the U.S. border in March 1916 with 400 men, raiding and burning Columbus, New Mexico, killing 16 citizens.
"Black Jack Pershing was sent down to go into Mexico and apprehend Pancho Villa," Mr. Marshall recalled in his Branan Towers Apartment. "Pershing took a lot of the national guard troops with him. They were all mounted, including our Signal Corps outfit."
There was a remount station at Ft. Bliss, Texas where the soldiers drew their horses and mules from some 150,000 animals kept there.
A Kentucky farm boy used to horses and mules, Mr. Marshall chuckled out loud at his mental picture of the city boys in his outfit trying to ride horses for the first time.
"Our officers had us gather our horses, saddle and bridle them and lead them out. He told us to walk around the prairie with our horses and get acquainted with them. Then he blew his whistle and told everybody to mount up. I knew my horse, he had been broken. A lot of those horses had never been broken. It was the most ridiculous sight you ever saw, arms and legs pinwheeling all over the place."
Fortunately the commanding officer was a good professional who "straightened us out and made a good outfit in no time," Mr. Marshall said.
At that time the Signal Corps used, among other things, a strange device called a heliograph by which they could telegraph signals using the sun's rays reflected by a mirror. The area where west Texas borders New Mexico provided two perfect spots to break the world's distance record for heliographing.
"From Mt. Franklin we could see the Sacramento Mountains far in the distance at Alamogordo, New Mexico, about 150 miles," Mr. Marshall recalled. His detail was assigned to take a heliograph to the Sacramento Mountains and make contact with Mt. Franklin.
Eighteen mounted men and a wagon pulled by six mules made up the expedition. The two extra mules were added because the desert sand made pulling difficult. Their route took them through the white sands of New Mexico later famous as a testing site for the nation's first atomic bomb.
We went at night to avoid the heat, riding 40 minutes, dismounting and leading our horses 10 minutes and resting 10 minutes," he said, describing the vivid whiteness of the sand and the brilliance of the stars in the dry desert night, as if he had seen it last night instead of 66 years ago.
"It was chilly at night because of the altitude and the dry air," he said. "We would light the tops of those dried out yucca plants in the desert to warm the night air."
Alamogordo was [illegible], it had a city park in the center and cottonwood trees planted along the streets with a ditch alongside carrying water to keep the cottonwoods alive, Mr. Marshall remembered.
They made it to the mountains through sands so white an early film company had just used them for a snow scene. At a mountain peak they set up the heliograph and made contact with Mt. Franklin, setting a distance record at the time.
He never did see Pancho Villa. It wasn't long before the U.S. entered World War I and Tom Marshall's unit was torpedoed on a Dutch ship named The Princess, after Queen Juliana of Holland. They did reach France, but that's another story.
Mr. Marshall was in charge of the machine shop at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta for many years before his retirement in 1963. He still attends the Sunday School class he taught for two decades at Lakewood United Methodist Church.
One son is vice president of a steamship company and lives in New Jersey. His daughter lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and a second son is with a major construction company in Texas.
From: Susan Date: Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 9:20 AM
This is the story that Pap told me, he also told the Sunday School class at Lakewood Methodist. Pap was sent with a squad of troopers in a forward position to observe the movement of the Mexican Troups. He said they were out in this place, across the border for a couple of days. The older troopers were running low on coffee and tobacco. Because he was the youngest trooper he was selected to ride to the rear lines and get the necessities. He took off with his horse and soon after got turned around. He rode into a town he did not recognize. He spotted some Mexican Army horses, and the Mexican men spotted him at the same time. He wheeled his horse around, said a prayer to God to deliver him from the enemy, and took off at a gallop. Pap said in a short time, he left the Mexicans in the dust. He still did not know where he was. All he could see was open prairie and a sky full of stars. Again he said a prayer for God's deliverance. Pap kept going in the direction he felt good about. He did make it back to the rear lines and completed his mission. Here is another story, that means more to me. After Grandmom died I visited Pap and we attended Lakewood Methodist. After the sermon, I was happily surprised that the minister gave an altar call. Never heard of this at Lakewood Methodist. Pap and I were seated in the middle of the church. I felt moved to go up to the altar like I have never felt it before. Pap went with me and we were the only two to go forward and surrender our lives to Jesus. I know that he always believed, but that was the closest time I had with Pap. I am very thankful for that time.
