Marrs Family History & Genealogy

John D Marrs and wife Rachel M Davis, list births and deaths of their children, Ann Marrs, Anthony, Marrs, Gustav Marrs, John H Marrs, William Marrs, Harriet Marrs ,

Marriage records for John D. Marrs to Rachel M. Davis 31 May 1877 in Glenwood, 23rd Ward, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa.

Ora (Atkenson) & Willie Marrs: Trying to find relatives to my ggrandmother Ora Atkenson Marrs b. 1897, residence Carrsville, Kentucky. Her mother's name is Renda Thompson (deceased).
People in photo include: Willie Marrs

top l-r wives
Mona Alison Corten, Kathleen Mary Cross, Almeta Myrle Marrs, Susan Ludene Harris

bottom l-r husbands
Charles Hobart Cross, William Henry Taylor Jr., Kenneth Olen Cross, Donald Ray Cross

Mollie told her granddaughter, Hilda (Cartwright) Plum, that when she was four years old, she and her family went to Missouri on a wagon train. She said that when they got ready to leave they couldn't find their dog, so after looking for a while they had to leave without him. The trip took four months. After they had been there for awhile the dog showed up.

Melba Becker was Wiley Brooks Marrs second wife. They had a son Randolph (Randy) Marrs who was born on 22 Mar 1954.

I am hoping someone knows about these folks and can give me an update.
People in photo include: Melba Becker

Willey Brooks Marrs was born on a farm near Dixon, Webster Co., Kentucky 4 Aug 1892. He was the son of Dockery Jordon Marrs and Cynthia Barthena McClaire Price.

Wiley, a tall red-haired man, worked for the C.B.Q. railroad as a gandy dancer. He worked for the coal mines in Valier, Illinois helping sink the mine, loading coal, running machines, using dynamite. The house he had in Valier was built by he and other miners, then paid for by deductions from his paycheck.

When in St. Louis, Missouri he worked for Busiers Steam Shovel Company, was again a railroad gandy dancer and a shipping clerk.

Wiley later retired to his cabin at Crab Orchard Lake in Illinois, among the wide expanses of cornfields, filled with Canada Geese. He was famous for his bar-b-ques, starting early morning, going all afternoon. The special ingredient was beer, although not all of it went into the sauce!

When he could no longer stay at the cabin, he went to live with his son, Carl Reeves and Cecila Marrs, at Lake Sherwood, Missouri. He died 20 Jan 1985 in St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Charles, St. Charles Co., Missouri and was buried 23 Jan 1985 in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Valier, Franklin Co., Illinois.

He married Maude Elsie Golden 1 Jan 1911 in Morganfield, Union Co., Kentucky/ Maude was born 28 Mar 1893 Point Twp., Posey Co., Indiana and died 7 Apr 1924 a farm near Valier, Franklin Co., Illinois. She was buried 8 Apr 1924 in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Valier, Franklin Co., Illinois.

Wiley Brooks Marrs courted Maude Elsie Golden, borrowing her employer's (Walt Omer) horse and buggy and taking her to the Uniontown Fair. Walter Omer was the surety on the marriage bond. He and his wife, Edna, witnessed the affidavit of Maude's age of twenty-one. If her birth date is recorded correctly, they were fibbing.

Wiley Brooks' Marrs cabin at Crab Orchard Lake was the site of many family reunions. Beer flowed freely into people and onto the bar-b-que meat that seemed to take all day.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
People in photo include: Four Station Wagons in A Row!!!

Bessie lee Mars born to Dockery Jordon Marrs and Cynthia Barthena McClaire Price on 5 Aug 1882 in Kentucky. She married Chirstopher Columbus Hall on 22 Dec 1898 in Dixon, Webster Co., Kentucky. Her second husband Randle J. Culver. She died 19 Jan 1969.

Red-headed Alla Maymie Marrs born 18 Sep 1898 in Webster Co., Kentucky, was the daughter of Dockery jordon and Cynthia Barthena McClaire (nee Price) Marrs. On 1 Aug 1920 she married Harry Gulley in Perry Co., Illinois.

Maymie died of post partem thrombophlebitis, at that time called "milk Leg" on 25 Oct 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri. She is buried in Harrison Cemetery, Christopher, Illinois.

After her death Harry could not take care of the children and work so they
were placed in an orphanage. He first tried to put them in the Lutheran
orphanage but they required the children be baptised and Harry was Baptist
and refused. So he put them in the Christian orphanage which charged $40 a
month for 8 children. Harry didn't always have the money so he would do
odd jobs for the orphanage to pay for it. Harry told Emma she was the
oldest so she had to see each of her siblings every day to make sure they
were ok, so she arranged to have chores so she could see them all. When
Harry married again, the kids were brought home two at a time, oldest and
youngest over several weeks.

Harry remarried 8 Jul 1932 to Irma Louise Benard. She and Harry had six more children of their own. The family thought Irma was a "saint" when she married Harry and took in Maymie's eight children.

Ina Lillian (Lillie) Marrs, daughter of Dockery Jordon and Cynthia Barthena McClaire (nee Price) Marrs, was born in Webster Co., Kentucky on 4 Jul 1856.

Lillie married John Harry McGuire from West Frankfort, Illinois. He had a sister Nora. Both had been placed in an orphanage, and nothing is known about their parents.

Lillie visted often with everyone in the famiy, because of this, she knew what was going...who had a baby, who got married, who moved, and so forth. A lot of the information we have about the family today, came from correspondence (now lost) from Aunt Lillie to Almeta (nee Marrs) Cross. She was like a "Round Robin Letter" for those of us that rarely stayed in touch with our kin.

Carl Reaves (Ray) Marrs was the eldest son of Wiley Brooks Marrs and Maude Elsie Golden. He was born 10 Nov 1911 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee.

He played the steel guitar with other musicians, and held patents for steel guitar improvements. He died of heart failure 29 Sep 1986 while in Artesia, Eddy Co., New Mexico "on a gig" playing the Steel Guitar in a band. He is buried in Frohna, Perry Co., Missouri.

His last known residences were Lake Sherwood and Marthasville, Warren Co., Missouri.

Ray married Cecelia Margaret Friel 24 Nov 1937 in Waterloo, Monroe Co., Illinois.

Ivy May Carr is Mabel Vivian Carr's sister. They married Marrs Brothers Herbert Norman and Gerald Brooks.

Ivy was born on 15 May 1915 to Edward Lemuel and Katherine Alcenia Thankful (nee Edmonds) Carr. She married Herbert Norman (Chaney) Marrs on 28 Sep 1934 in Waterloo, Monroe Co., Illinois.

Herbert Norman Marrs was nicknamed Chaney because of his love for Lon Chaney horror movies.

Chaney was the son of Wiley Brooks and Maudie Elsie (nee Golden) Marrs. He was born 12 Nov 1914 in Valier, Franklin Co., Illinois. He marreid Ivy May Carr in Waterloo, Monroe Co., Illinois on 28 Sep 1934.

Born Theodore Ernest Epperson on 10 Jun 1921 to Con Epperson Sr. and Anna Louise Hummel, in Willow Springs, Howel Co., Missouri.

Ted married Nadine Vineta Marrs 7 Dec 1945 in Coral Gables, Dade Co., Florida.

Nadine Vineta Marrs was born 30 Apr 1919 in Valier, Franklin Co., Illinois. She married Theodore Ernest Epperson 7 Dec 1945 in Coral Gables, Dade Co., Florida. Nadine died of breast cancer on 13 Jan 1978 in Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri.

Her parents were Wiley Brooks and Maude Elsie (Golden) Marrs.

Nadine served in the Coast Guard SPARS.

Ernest Virgle McGuire born to John Harry McGuire and Ina Lilian Marrs.

Virgle played bass in several bands, including the Cincinnatians and the Rhythm Islanders. He played some gigs in Las vegas, Nevada.

Note cousin Carl Reaves (Ray) Marrs playing steel guitar with the Rhytum Islanders band.

Gerald Brooks Marrs' wife Mabel Vivian Carr was born to Edward Lemuel Carr and Katherine Alcenia Thankful Edmonds, on 27 Jun 1913 in Ridgefield, Clark Co., Washington. Mabel died 26 Jul 1994 in Vancouver, Clark Co., Washington.

Sister to Ivy May Carr who married Gerald's brother Herbert Norman Marrs.

Mabel was an avid bowler, and traveled a good deal, as a key team member, for league championships. Received 1979 Meritorious Service award from Women's International Bowling Congress.

The Columbian, July 28, 1994
Mabel Vivian Carr Marrs, 81, Vancouver, wa.
(Great granddaughter of Thomas & Kate Soden)
Mabel Marrs, 81, died Tuesday, July 26, 1994, in Vancouver of complications from a stroke.. Born June 27, 1913, in Ridgefield, Washington, she later moved with her family to St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked as a secretary, attended Washington University and received an A.A. in social work.

In 1945, Mrs. Marrs moved with her husband, Gerald, to Vancouver and worked for the V.A. Hospital, the U.S. Air Force, the Red Cross, and the Women's International Bowling Congress.

An avid bowler, Mrs. Marrs was president of the Oregon State Women's Bowling Association for 25 years, president of the 600000 Club and a vice president of the Women's International Bowling congress. In 1979, she was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis for meritorious service. She also loved softball, swimming, pool, camping, cards, traveling and music.

Mrs. Marrs is preceded in death by her son, Gerald Marrs Jr. Survivors include her husband, Gerald, at home; her daughter, Marlinda Stearns of Salem, Oregon; three sisters, Ivy Marrs of Portland, Doris Jarchow of Falls City, Washington; Patricia Carr of Sequim, Washington and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bowling Hall of Fame.

Gerald Brooks Marrs, son of Willey Brooks Marrs and Maude Elsie Golden, was born 27 Feb 1913 in Grove Center, Union Co., Kentucky. He married Mabel Vivian Carr 18 Jan 1936 in Waterloo, Monroe Co., Illinois. Gerry died 24 Jan 2000 in Vancouver, Washington.

Gerald's birth certificate was written by a clerk who erroneously spelled his name just the way she heard it "Jurl". He did not know this until he had the occasion to obtain his birth certificate for entry to the U.S. Navy during WWI. Pat Carr thereafter addressed correspondence to him as "Jurl", just to tease him.

Gerald was broken hearted when his sister, Almeta, was sent to live with their aunt and uncle after their mother's death. He told his daughter Malina that he saved every dime he could to buy bus tickets to go visit her when she (Almeta) was little.

In the Navy he became a ship's mechanic, he latter used the GI bill to train for a profession in engineering.

Part of his obituary in "The Columbian", Vancouver, WA, Weds, Jan 26, 2000 read:
"A civil engineer who lived in Vancouver, WA since 1945, Gerald B. Marrs died in Vancouver on Monday, Jan 24, 2000. He was 86. Mr. Marrs worked for the state highway department for 25 years." ... "He graduated from Tri-State College in Indiana and served in the Navy during World War II. Mr. Marrs was a member of the American Legion, Smith-Reynolds Post 14, and the Battle Ground Elks Lodge. He enjoyed music, watching television and crossword puzzles."

This story is told by his daughter Malinda Marrs: "Dad never talked about the war much and I never pried because I thought he didn't want to talk about it. But when my boys were older and much enamored of the military, they asked him all kinds of questions about it, and this is one story he told. The ship he was on had engine problems and they simple could not fix it. Finally the captain called for a whole new engine and after some time the engine was brought out on a huge ship. The ships anchored near each other and a tug boat was deployed to carry the engine from one ship to the other. My dad was on the tug that went over to get the engine, which was loaded and they reached his ship fine, but before they unloaded the engine, the captain called down to someone on the tug :Did you bring my box of cigars?". The seaman said no and the captain was mad and told them to go right back to the other ship and get his cigars. So they turned around and went back and almost made it to the other ship when something went wrong and the tug began taking on water. The men got out in life boats, but the tug with the new engine went down. My dad was quite emotional when he said "I'll never forget seeing that beautiful new engine, so shiny and beautiful sink into the ocean, and all for a box of cigars!". I thought it was interesting that he thought an engine was so beautiful (a true mechanic) and that he was angry at the waste. He got shore leave after this incident, AND got a new captain."

Here is another great story from Marlinda: "During the war the GI's letters were censored in order to conceal from the enemy any location of troops, but before my dad left, he and my mother worked out a code using the middle initial of her name, so that she would know where he was. Each letter of the alphabet represented a different region of the world, So her middle initial would change when his location changed. My mom said "They never cracked our code". When I was cleaning out the house after my dad died, I found the list of codes."

May Jewel Kerrico was born 29 May 1905 in Grove Center, Union Co., Kentucky. She was the daughter of Christopher Columbus Kerrico and Sybil Jane Marrs.

Jewel married Isaac Greene and had a son Robert Melvin Greene.

Jewel died in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 2 Nov 1999.

Sybil (Sybie) Jane Marrs was born 11 Apr 1884 in Kentucky to Dockery Jordon Cynthia Barthena McClaire (nee Price) Marrs.

The record of Sybil and Columbus's marriage states Columbus was from Hearin (probably Herrin) age 27 1st marriage, occupation farmer, and his parents born in Ky. Sibbie J Marrs of Wheatcroft age 17 1st marriage, bride and her parents born in Ky. Married at Dave Marrs' house in Webster Co. by U J Fox Baptist Minister. Witnesses were S. P. Nall and C.C. Hall (probably brother-in-law C. Christopher Hall). Date of Bond 17 Dec 1901; surety: D J Marrs (Dockery Jordon Marrs)

When they divorced Sibbie took Jewel and went to Indianapolis and started a rooming house. There she met Mr Hoalt. Columbus and CJ lived with Dock and Cynthia.

Columbus and Sybie (under the name Kerrico) are buried side by side in Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery, Benton, Franklin Co., Illinois.

Emma's father said Columbus died of a broken heart.

Four Generations
Dock and Sis Marrs
Mollie (Marrs) Farmer
Virgie (Farmer) Glazebrook
Virgie's kids: Elmer Lester Glazebrook and Texal Glazebrook
Little girl Unknown

Virgie Farmer is the daughter of William Henry Farmer and Mary Emily Marrs. She married Archlaus Chillis Glazebrook on 18 Jun 1909 in Dixon, Webster Co., Kentucky.