Oscar W. Marshall
Oscar W. Marshall, senior editor of the Xenia Republican, has been connected, with scarcely an intermission, in an editorial capacity with the newspaper press of Greene County for nearly twenty-four years. He is a native of this county, and was born at Xenia, September 27, 1839, his parents being Thornton and Mary (Walker) Marshall. The father was by profession a physician, but for many years was an honored official of the county of Greene and city of Xenia, having served as Clerk of Court, Probate Judge, Mayor of Xenia and Justice of the Peace.
Our subject received his primary education at the Xenia schools, finishing in the Ohio University at Athens, where he was graduated in 1857. On completing his studies he returned to Xenia, and engaged in the drug business until the firing of Ft. Sumter in April, 1861. Two days after the news of that event had arrived at Xenia he enlisted in Company D, Twelfth Regiment Ohio Infantry, having responded to a call for ninety-day soldiers. At the expiration of his term of service he returned to Xenia, but the conflict continuing, he again enlisted, in 1863, in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry. Being a druggist he served most of the time on detached duty as Assistant Hospital Steward and Medical Clerk. He was with his regiment in West Virginia, and at the battle of New Creek, in which his company participated.
In 1864, his term of enlistment having expired, Mr. Marshall again took up his abode in Xenia, where for nearly two years he served as Deputy Clerk of the Common Pleas and Probate Courts. In 1866 he first became identified with the press of Greene County, by buying a part interest in the office and plant of the Xenia Torchlight. In the fall of 1878 he severed his connection with that paper, selling his interest in it and engaging in other pursuits. In 1880 he again entered the newspaper field, forming a partnership with Warren Anderson in the publication of the Xenia Sunlight; three months later our subject became sole proprietor by the purchase of Mr. Anderson’s interest.
In 1881 John A. Benendje entered into partnership with Mr. Marshall in the newspaper and job-printing business under the firm name of Marshall & Benendje, when the name of the paper was changed to the Xenia Republican. It is a nine column folio, is Republican in politics, and has a large circulation. The Republican office is well equipped with everything required for a first-class newspaper and job-printing establishment, including two cylinder presses, several bed and platen presses, gas engine, stereotyping outfit, etc.
Mr. Marshall was married April 23,1884, to Miss Sarah A. Adams, a native of Jamestown, Greene County, and both are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Xenia. Mr. Marshall, socially, is a member of Xenia Lodge, No. 45, F & A. M.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890