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Marshall, located the Kalamazoo River, is the county
seat of Calhoun County and is in the center of the
county. Marshall is best known for its historic preservation
of Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture
in the downtown area. Established in1830, town founders
Sidney and George Ketchum named the community for
Chief Justice John Marshall of Virginia whom they
greatly admired. This occurred five years before Marshall's
death and was the first of dozens of communities and
counties named for him. John Marshall was an American
statesman and jurist who greatly influenced American
constitutional law. Marshall was the fourth Chief
Justice of the United States, serving from February
4, 1801 until his death on July 6, 1835.
The early settlers expected the town to become Michigan's
state capital. Marshall was nominated in 1839 but
lost to Lansing, then a village of eight registered
voters in 1847. However, at this point, Marshall had
become the switching center for the Michigan Central
Railroad which kept it booming and growing during
the Civil war era. In 1872 the rail yards were moved
to Jackson and Marshall seemed to slumber.
During the 19th century the small city was touched
lightly by U.S. history in three areas: education,
abolition and unionism.
Two Marshall Citizens, Rev. John D. Pierce and lawyer
Isaac E. Crary, innovated the Michigan school system
and established it as part of the state constitution.
Marshall was a station on the Underground Railroad
and a strong anti-slavery town.
The third touch of U.S. history was the founding
of a union called the Brotherhood of the Footboard
in 1863. A few months later members realized that
most people didn't know what a footboard was, so they
changed the union to the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, still on e of the country's strongest railroad
unions.
30% of Marshall Residents age 25 and older have a
bachelor's or advanced college degree.
Please meet a Marshal Citizen that will someday soon
join the ranks of the 30%.
This is Citizens’ High School Graduate Jamie
Lothamer. Jamie completed all the requirements for
a high school diploma in December of 2005. Jamie’s
family moved to Marshal from Texas at the end of her
junior year.
Jamie loved the Texas School system. The love affair
died when she reached Marshall. She was so disappointed
in difference she made a poor decision and dropped
out. Her family was very concerned and supportive.
The lovingly encouraged her to finish somehow. Jamie
researched her options and discovered that Citizens’
High School was her best option to finish her diploma
requirements.
After earning her diploma, Jamie told us how excited
she was to be entering college. She plans to attend
Kellogg Community College for her Associates’
Degree and then head back to Northern Texas for a
bachelors’ in Business Administration.
We here at Citizens’ High School have every
confidence in Jamie’s talents and we know she
will succeed. She already has……
Jamie, you are our graduate of the Month for April
2006.
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