Joseph F. Marshall was born in Boone county, Indiana, February 1, 1843. When he was five years old his parents moved to Grant county and there he attended school. When he was sixteen he left school and engaged in life's work on his own account. He has been identified with agricultural pursuits for the most part, though he earned a livelihood by day labor for about six years. He is a son of Joshua and Tamar (Osborne) Marshall. They are natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina. When his father was a boy of fifteen he came to Indiana, where he married and spent the remainder of his life. Both parents died in Franklin township, Grant county.

        During the Civil war Joseph F. Marshall served as a member of Company G., Twenty-third Indiana Infantry. His enlistment occurred on the 20th of September, 1864, and he served until July 11, 1865, when he was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. His military life was spent principally in doing guard duty, picketing and skirmishing in the vicinity of Dalton, Georgia.

        On his return from the war Mr. Marshall re-engaged in farming, and on the 28th of November, 1866, he wedded Miss Sarah C. Elliott, who was born in this state and is a daughter of Samuel Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have a family of nine children, viz.: Irene, born October 21, 1867, and is now the wife of John Mathews; Jesse L., born February 12, 1869; John W., born October 17, 1871; Margaret J., born August 28, 1873, married to John Loer; Joseph H., born November 4, 1875; Ruth, born February 5, 1878, and married Roleigh Bloxham; James A., born June 28, 1878; Letha A., born April 23, 1891; Delpha and Alpha, twins, born Febrary 8, 1894, the last named dying April 18, 1894.

        Joseph F. Marshall of this review is one of the substantial men of the community in which he lives. He bears the reputation of an honorable, upright citizen whose word is as good as his bond. The family sustain high social standing and is rated among the best families in the neighborhood. Mr. Marshall has served his township in some of the responsible official positions, in which he clearly demonstrated the wisdom of the selection. His efforts in life have been crowned with reasonable success. Though he does not boast of great riches he very sensibly concludes that there are other considerations than the accumulation of wealth which are of paramount importance in the life work of the people.