Author: Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. I, Atlanta, Ga.
Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. I, Atlanta, Ga.
Published by the Atlanta Historical Society in 1895
Page 569

J.W. Marshall, farmer, Burketts, Crawford Co., Ga., son of Joe and Nancy (Layfield) Marshall, was born in Bibb county in 1837.  His paternal grandfather was John Marshall.  He was a native of Virginia, moved from there to Georgia early in this century, and settled in Hancock county, where he died.  He was a Primitive Baptist preacher, and was a soldier in the war of 1812.  Mr. Marshall’s father was born in Hancock county; when a young man moved to Bibb county, where he reared his family, and then moved to Crawford, where he died.  His occupation was that of a farmer, but the latter part of his life he became a great fox-hunter and hunted the county over.  Mr. Marshall’s mother was the daughter of Jack Layfield, who was born in Hancock county and was a farmer all his life, which was spent entirely in Hancock county.  Mr. Marshall began life as a farmer’s boy, and poor, received very little schooling, and has followed farming all his life.  Although not rich, he has prospered, and now has a large farm of good land.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Capt. Cleveland, Sixth Georgia regiment, and was engaged in many hard-fought, bloody battles, among them: Seven Pines, Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville, James Island, Ocean Pond, Weldon, Kurston, and Bentonville.  He was severely wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor, was in the hospital two months, and then came home, where he remained three months.  When he recovered he returned to the army, and was
again wounded at Bentonville.  When the war ended he resumed farming, and bought his first land, a small farm in 1867, to which he has added.  In 1860 Mr. Marshall was married to Miss Sarah Walker, born in Crawford county,
daughter of Joe and Sarah (Woods) Walker.  He was an old settler in the county.  To this union were born three children: Addie, Octavia, and Sallie.  His wife died in 1873.  Later in the same year he was married to Miss Nattie
Thorp, born in Crawford county, daughter of Robert and Louise (Colbert) Thorp.  He was born in Bibb county, and was a farmer all his life.  Of the children born to this union six are living: Lila, Thomas, Bettie, Charlie, Lizzie and
William L.  Respected by his neighbors, Mr. Marshall is quietly enjoying the fruits of his labor.