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Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census.
History
Henry Anson was the first European settler in what is now called Marshalltown. In April 1851, Anson found what he described as “the prettiest place in Iowa.” On a high point between the Iowa River and Linn Creek, Anson built a log cabin. A plaque at 112 West Main Street marks the site of the cabin. Anson’s plan was for the area to become a town. In 1853 Anson named the town Marshall, after Marshall, Michigan, a former residence of his.
The town’s name changed to Marshalltown in 1862 because another Marshall already existed in Henry County, Iowa (In 1880, Marshall's name changed to Wayland). With the help of Potawatomi chief Johnny Green, Anson persuaded early settlers to stay in the area. In the mid 1850s Henry Anson donated land on which to build a county courthouse. Residents donated money for the building’s construction. In 1863 the title of county seat transferred from the village of Marietta to Marshalltown. The young town began growing. By 1900, Marshalltown had 10,000 residents. Many industries began developing in Marshalltown, like Fisher Controls, Lennox International and Marshalltown Company.
Baseball
Adrian Constantine "Cap" Anson, son of Henry and Jennette Anson, was the first European child born in the new pioneer town and is today known as Marshalltown’s “first son”. Adrian became a Major League Baseball player and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. He was regarded as one of the greatest players of his era and one of the first superstars of the game.
Baseball steadily became popular as Marshalltown grew in the mid 1800s. Adrian’s brother Sturgis also became a talented baseball player and both went to play on intra-school teams at the University of Notre Dame. Both later returned to Marshalltown to play baseball for the town team. Along with their father Henry, the town’s founder, they put together a team and became the most prominent team in the state of Iowa. The Marshalltown team, with Henry Anson at third base, Adrian's brother Sturgis in center field, and Adrian at second base, won the Iowa state championship in 1868. In 1870 Marshalltown played an exhibition game with the talented Rockford Forest Citys. Although Marshalltown lost the game, Rockford’s management offered contracts to all three of the Ansons. Adrian accepted the contract, which began his professional career in baseball in 1871.
Baseball continued its popularity in Marshalltown. In the early 1880s Billy Sunday played for the town baseball team. In 1882, with Sunday in left field, the Marshalltown team defeated the state champion Des Moines team 13-4. Marshalltown later formed a minor league team naming it after the Anson family, the Marshalltown Ansons. From 1914-1928 the team played in the Central Association and Mississippi Valley League.
Notable people
- Adrian Constantine Anson "Cap" (1852–1922) Major League Baseball player and manager, Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939
- Jerry Burke pianist and organist from The Lawrence Welk Show
- Jeff Clement Baseball player for University of Southern California, drafted to the Seattle Mariners in 2005 and currently plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- T. Nelson Downs World renowned stage magician known as the "King of Koins" for his sleight of hand work,visited in Marshalltown by magic notables (i.e.Houdini and Dai Vernon)
- Frank Hawks Record breaking aviator during the 1920s and 1930s.
- Anna Arnold Hedgeman (1899–1990) African American civil rights leader.
- Clifford B. Hicks (1920-2010) children's author
- Wally Hilgenberg (1942–2008) American football player
- Mary Beth Hurt Actress
- Blean Calkins (1921–2003) Radio Sportscaster, Former President, National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association 1979-1981. 4 Time Iowa Broadcaster of the Year.
- Toby Huss Actor
- Lance Corporal Darwin Judge (1956–1975) One of the last two soldiers to be killed in the Vietnam War.
- Joseph Kosinski (1974– ) director of the Disney film Tron Legacy
- Dave Lennox Inventor and businessman. Founded Lennox furnace manufacturing business in Marshalltown in 1895
- Allie Morrison (1904–1966) American wrestler World and Olympic champion.
- Jim Rayburn (1909–1970) Founder of Young Life
- Adolph Rupp (1901–1977) Legendary basketball coach was a wrestling coach in the mid 1920s
- Jean Seberg actress
- Billy Sunday (1862–1935) a Major League Baseball player and Christian evangelist of the early 20th century.
- Henry Haven Windsor (1859–1924), American author, magazine editor, publisher, and founder/first editor of Popular Mechanics.
Marshalltown...certainly not Chicago or even Cleveland for that matter...but a city nonetheless. When the day's riding is behind us (no pun intended), a stroll through the main drag will allow for some good home-town food and spirits...bikers from all over will fill the streets while mingling with the dozens of 'cycling gear' and t-shirt booths. I, for one, will be in search of pie. So , I will close with an old clip of Jerry Burke playing an organ (!) rendition of "I get a kick out of you".
"My 2nd great grandparents, Ammon Hartman and Rhoda Gingrich were married in Marshalltown in 1870. My great grandmother Alta Adella Hartman was born in Marshalltown in 1874. Her son Earl Owen Hanon would eventually marry Mary Angela Hilmes, and voila, we would become cousins one day. Marshalltown is on my list of places to visit. You beat me to it. :)"
My maternal grandfather was a Hilmes...who knew? So I guess I will be going back to my roots as I cycle through that wonderful city of Marshalltown.
My 2nd great grandparents, Ammon Hartman and Rhoda Gingrich were married in Marshalltown in 1870. My great grandmother Alta Adella Hartman was born in Marshalltown in 1874. Her son Earl Owen Hanon would eventually marry Mary Angela Hilmes, and voila, we would become cousins one day. Marshalltown is on my list of places to visit. You beat me to it. :)
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