My Genealogy Hound

Dr. M. C. Marshall, one of the most prominent dentists in Little Rock, was born in Maysville, Ky., where his father, Dr. Hammond Marshall, practiced dentistry for a number of years. The elder Marshall was a native of Maine, and was well known throughout New England and the Northern States as the inventor of the galvanized sheet-iron burial casket, which took the place of the old cast-iron and lead caskets then in vogue. He was afterward engaged in the manufacture of these at Cincinnati, Ohio, but on the outbreak of the Civil War moved his entire plant to Nashville, Tenn. The blockade at this point prevented his obtaining any galvanized sheet iron, and being in sympathy with the Confederacy, he converted his establishment into a factory for manufacturing shot, shell and sabers for that Government. At the fall of Fort Donelson, he left Nashville within a half-hour’s notice, and went to Atlanta, Ga., and soon after removed part of his machinery to that place to re-establish his factory, remaining in Atlanta until the day of his death, in September, 1874. Dr. Hammond Marshall was at one time a resident of Fayetteville, Ark., from 1854 to 1860, and while there took out a patent on his celebrated burial cases. He was married to Miss Mary Maddox, a native of England, who came to America when in her second year. Dr. M. C. Marshall was only four years old when he came to Fayetteville with his parents, and before he was fourteen years old he was a member of Gov. Joe Brown’s militia, and served six months in that body. After the war he felt the need of a more thorough education than he had, and attended night school, paying his own way through. He then entered a large general-supply establishment and remained with the firm until his twenty-second year, when he removed to Oxford, Miss., and commenced studying dentistry under the instruction of his elder brother, Dr. W. H. Marshall. After a few years’ study he began the practice of his profession, and in 1877 was married to Miss Alice Kittrell, of Black Hawk, Miss. Here he met with a great sorrow, as he lost his young wife ere they had been married a year. Afterward he went to Philadelphia and graduated in the College of Dentistry, in the class of 1880, following which he returned to Mississippi, where he was again married, in 1883, to Mrs. Cora Wilkings. Removing thence to Little Rock, Ark., he has since resided here, and has now reached the top round in the ladder of his profession. His success is assured, his practice one of the largest, and his comfortable offices at 501 Main Street, in the Watkins Block, are well arranged for comfort and convenience. The Doctor is secretary of the Southern Dental Association, and also fills the same position for the State Dental Examining Board. He is interested in all the affairs of his profession, and assisted in the organization of the State Dental Association, being president of that body in 1888. Before leaving Mississippi he was appointed a member of the first Board of Dental Examiners, under the laws of that State, and elected president of that body. In secret societies he is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, and of the Masonic fraternity.