My name is BJ Marlow and I am the volunteer County Director for the Mississippi Genealogy & History Network's Marshall County Project. The mission of our organization is to aid genealogical researchers with resources and materials at no cost to the researcher.

This site is a work in progress. I will be bringing more Marshall County resources to this website as quickly as possible. If I can be of assistance or if you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please email me at BJMarlow. If you have Marshall County information you are willing to share, please let me know.

Marshall County was established February 9, 1836. It was named for Chief Justice John Marshall and formerly included within its area a considerable portion of Benton, Tate, and several other counties. The act creating the county defined its limits as follows:

"Beginning at the point where the line of the basis meridian intersects the northern boundary line of the State, and running thence south with the said basis meridian line, to the center of township 6; thence west through the center of township 6, according to the sectional lines, to the center of range 5 west; thence north through the center of range 5 west, according to the sectional lines, to the northern boundary line of the State, and thence east with the said boundary line, to the beginning." 

Its original area was about 23 townships or 828 square miles. In 1870 it gave up part of its territory on the east to Benton County, and in 1873 it gave up another portion of its area to assist in the formation of Tate County. Because a portion was given to form Tate County, Marshall County received all that portion of De Soto County lying within townships 1 and 2, R. 5 west.

During the early rush of emigration into the newly opened Chickasaw cession, Marshall County received its share of settlers. By the year 1840, it had a population of about 17,500, and by the year 1850 the population was 29,089. This population included many prominent families and wealthy planters.

Three of the earliest settlements were at Tallaloosa, located about 8 miles southwest of Holly Springs, on the Pigeon Roost Creek; Waterford, one mile west of the station of the same name on the Illinois Central railroad, and the place of muster for the militia of that part of the State; and Hudsonville, about 4 miles southwest of old Lamar, on the stage road from Lagrange, Tennessee, to Holly Springs, Mississippi. All three places are now practically extinct. Its chief town and county seat is Holly Springs, the "City of Flowers".

For more information check out the Marshall County Facts & Information link on the menu panel as well as other Marshall County Records links.