ter Marsh, and this look at the struggling village of
Chicago when he was in manhood's prime, enables us to comprehend in some
slight degree the mighty trend of events during the life time of a
single individual; an advancement unparalleled through all the ages.

For eighteen years, the business begun under the spreading oak upon what
is now Court House square, in Chicago, was successfully conducted,--each
year assuming larger proportions. He was one of the founders of Chicago,
doing his full share in the promotion of every public enterprise. The
prominent business men with whom he associated were John H. Kuisie,
Baptiste Bounier, Deacon John Wright, Gurdon S. Hubbard, William H.
Brown, Dr. Kimberly, Henry Graves, the proprietor of the first Hotel,
the Mansion house, the first framed two-story building erected, Francis
Sherman, who arrived in Chicago the same year and became subsequent
builder of the Sherman House.

Mr. Marsh was the originator of meat packing in Chicago, and invented
many of the appliances used in the process--especially the employment of
steam.

In common with most of the business men of the country, he suffered loss
from the re-action of the speculative fever which swept over the country
during the third decade of the century; but the man whose boyhood had
been passed on the Campton hills was never cast down by commercial
disaster. His entire accumulations were swept away, leaving a legacy of
liability; but with undaunted bravery he began once more, and by
untiring energy not only paid the last dollar of liability, but
accumulated a substantial fortune--engaging in the grain business.

His active mind was ever alert to invent some method for the saving of
human muscle by the employment of the forces of nature. He invented the
dried-meal process, and "Marsh's Caloric Dried Meal" is still an article
of commerce.

While on a visit to his native state in 1852, he ascended Mount
Washington, accompanied by Rev. A.C. Thompson, pastor of the Eliot
Church, Roxbury, and while struggling up the steep ascent, the idea came
to him that a railroad to the summit was feasable and that it could be
made a profitable enterprise. He obtained a charter for such a road in
1858, but the breaking out of the war postponed action till 1866, when a
company was formed and the enterprise successfully inaugurated and
completed.

Leaving Chicago he returned to New England, settling in Littleton, New
Hampshire, in 1864; remo