Chapter 3 Page 7
James Marsden came to America in 1903 and married Laura Crawder on 26 Dec 1903 in Chicago, Illinois. Their first two children were born in 1903 and 1906 in Illinois. Their third child was born in 1914 in Grand Rapids.
Clarence and Ethel most likely met the Marsdens in the 1920s after moving to the northwest side of Grand Rapids. They must have been pretty close to the Marsdens as it appears they named three of their children after their children. The James and Laura Marsden’s children were Dorothy, Frank, and Evelyn. My grandparents named their last three children Dorothy, Frank James, and Meredith Evelyn.
Murell mentions that Mr. Marsden “was offered a job in a private greenhouse ran by an old woman as a hobby which included living quarters……on Fisk Lake. The old woman with the greenhouse apparently didn’t know what to do with her money.” The woman Murell is referring to is Clara Limbert, sister of Charles Limbert. Charles Limbert was a pioneer furniture man in Grand Rapids. When he passed away in 1923, Limbert’s unmarried sister Clara was his sole heir. They lived together at the home on Robinson Road. His estate was worth $300k in 1923 which is equivalent to over Five Million Dollars today (2026). Mr. Marsden went to work for Clara Limbert in 1929. He worked for her through the 30s and into early 1940s. He was probably pretty lucky to have a secure job throughout the depression years. He passed away in May of 1945, just one month after Clarence died. Mrs. Marsden lived another 30+ years and passed away in 1978 at the age of 95.
Ancestors Across the Ages 