The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Lincoln Township, pages 663-665
Dr. John L. Marsh was born in Brown Township, Hendricks County, Dec. 27, 1851. His father, Jonas Marsh, was one of the first settlers of the county having moved from East Tennessee to the county in 1837 and lived continuously upon the same farm until his death in 1877. During this time he helped to clear the forests, drain the swamps, make roads and convert the wilderness into broad grain fields. He reared a large family of children and gave them a liberal education. Some are graduates of Asbury University and all have occupied prominent positions in the social and political affairs of the county. One son has been County Clerk eight years and is now a prominent attorney at Greenfield; another son is an attorney, and the youngest is a physician, the others being farmers. To his children he bequeathed a record of a sterling character and Quaker honesty which he in turned received from his father who was a Quaker of the strictest faith. John L. Marsh, the youngest son, at the age of eighteen entered the office of Dr. William Trees as a medical student. In 1872 and 1873 he entered a course of lectures in the Louisville Medical College and was in attendance at the United States Marine Hospital for the remainder of the year. The next year he attended the Ohio Medical College receiving the degree of M.D. at the close of the term. He was the youngest member of the graduating class being just twenty-one years old. After leaving college, in 1874, he located in Warrington, Hancock County, and commenced practice with his preceptor. In 1877 he moved to Greenfield where most of his relatives lived, and where he built up a fine practice. Not being satisfied he determined to move to Indianapolis but friends persuaded him to go to Brownsburg as it was close to the city and otherwise desirable. This he did in the fall of 1881, and has practiced medicine at this place for the past four years. During this time he has enjoyed a fine practice built up among strangers and without assistance, opposed by the local profession on account of his liberal ideas and belief in progressive medicine, as his idea of medical practice is to use any remedy in any manner that will most speedily cure disease and relieve suffering. In 1879 he commenced the publication of a medical journal at Greenfield, devoted to liberal medicine. This proved a success and soon gained a good circulation. The next year it was moved to Indianapolis where it is still being published with some modifications by its original editor in conjunction with other parties. The office of publication is 118 North Illinois street, at which place the Doctor has a consultation office. In 1883 the Beach Medical College was organized on a liberal basis, and the chair of physiology was given to Dr. Marsh, which position he still retains, as the college has proven a success financially and otherwise. The Doctor's motto of professional life has been to be honest and upright with his patrons and to never slander or speak slightingly of other practitioners but to attend strictly to his own business. The Doctor's social life has been a pleasant one. In 1875 he married Laura E. Trees, daughter of John W. Trees, of Warrington, Ind., who has contributed largely to his success in life. She attends to her domestic duties to the almost entire exclusion of fashionable life and sees that home is what it should be. During the ten years of married life three children have been born to them. Florence, the eldest, died at the age of four years and this was the greatest affliction the family has sustained as she was a child of unusual promise. Mabel, the next, is now five years old and is a beautiful and intelligent child, having her mind enriched by travel and contact with people until her knowledge is greater than many grown people. Katie is the baby and bids fair to make another Florence. The Doctor each year leaves the cares of business and with his family takes a trip to some of the fishing resorts and spends a few days in boyhood pleasures and takes a renewed lease on life. They have a nice residence with his office near by, in one of the best localities in Brownsburg.