My Present Past
A genealogical experience
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Argentine, Kansas
In 1910, Mary lived at 107 East Ruby Avenue in Argentine.
Helen was a teacher in the Argentine Public Schools along
with her sister Mary, who was a music teacher.
1910 Census Mary Bliss                         Argentine, Kansas
1905 Kansas Census Mary Bliss Argentine, Wyandotte County, Kansas.
In 1915, Mary was living with her daughter Helen, who
had married Harry K. Rupp. Harry was an Architect at
the Kansas City Structural Steel Company in Argentine.
Mary's youngest daughter, continued as music teacher
in Argentine.
In early 1917 the family moved to Galveston, Texas
where Harry was working as a Structural Engineer for
the Texas Carnegie Steel Company.
In 1900, Mary Bliss along with her two daughters, Helen and
Mary , lived at 225 Metropolitan Avenue in Argentine.
Mary was an Elocution teacher and her daughters were
attending school.

Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation,
grammar, style, and tone. It was one of the five core disciplines
of pronunciation, which was the art of delivering speeches.
Orators were trained not only on proper diction, but on the
proper use of gestures, stance, and dress.
1920 Census Mary Bliss                              Galveston, Texas
WW1 Military Registration                           Harry Kent Rupp
John Blaine Marshel originally came to Junction City, Davis County, Kansas in September of 1867 and accepted a
position as an operator for the Union Pacific Eastern Division Railroad, now called the U. R. R. W., Kansas
Division, served eighteen months, then served the Memphis & Ohio Railroad, a branch of the Louisville &
Nashville in the same capacity at Humboldt, Tennessee until October, 1874 . He then continued in the employ
of this road as night dispatcher at Memphis for two years. The next five or six years, he was engaged as chief
clerk of the Union Transfer Company at Louisville, Kentucky and in May, 1882, was made assistant freight
agent of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad at Argentine, Wyandotte County Kansas.

He was born in New Albany, Indiana, April 28, 1849,  the son of Blaine and Mary Jane (Pryor) Marshel. He lived
in New Albany, Indiana until 1860, and then moved to Louisville, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Union Army in
1862 (Kentucky) and was engaged one month on the gunboat Tuscumbia then was discharged on account of his
youth. He returned to Louisville, where he remained until 1863. For the next four years he lived in New Haven,
Nelson County Kentucky until 1867.

He was married in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, on  November 20, 1872 to Louise Lorraine Sabin, of
Indiana, daughter of Elijah and Martha Sabin. John and Louise have three children, Addison, Jennie and
Charlotte. Mr. Marshel was educated in the public schools of New Albany and Louisville; is a man of pleasing
address, quick perception and industrious habits, possessing in a marked degree all those qualities which make a
successful business man.

Source:
William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
Published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL
John B. Marshel November 10, 1883                                  Argentine, Wyandotte County, Kansas
Background:
Edward Engel and friends
Argentine, Kansas 1885
Mary Olive Orcutt Bliss died November 28, 1934 in Galveston, Galveston,  Texas.
She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas.
John Marshel was appointed to the Argentine school board as a director in 1886. In July of the same year he
was appointed as officer of the Cincinnatus Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He was also a member of the
A.O.U.W., Lodge #90 of Argentine. While employed as a railroad clerk, he also sold real estate in Argentine and
Kansas City, Kansas. His office was located at 2nd and Silver Avenue in Argentine. Unfortunately in December
of 1888, a large fire broke out next to his business which caused considerable damage to the building. During
that same year an article was printed in the Argentine Republic about John being one of the original clerks at
Argentine in 1882 with the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe along with John Z. Roraback, both being instrumental in
the success of the depot. Mr. Roraback was also  a friend and colleague of Edward J Engel, my great
grandfather in Halstead, Harvey, Kansas. In 1900, John and Louise lived at 127 Silver Avenue in Argentine.
John B. Marshel was a charter member of the Ben Hur Lodge #322, A. F. & A. M., a thirty second degree mason
and a member of  the Ivanhoe Commandry #21, Knights Templar.
Mr. Marshel became the commercial agent for the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, Southwest division,
first in Kansas City, Missouri, then on July 13, 1900 he was appointed chief clerk of commercial freight in
Chicago, Illinois, thereafter to St. Louis, Missouri and finally in 1911 to Dallas, Texas.
He died February 09, 1914 while on a business trip at the Brazos Hotel in Houston, Texas.
He is buried with his wife Louise, in Maple Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas
Right:
July 13, 1900 Railway Age Magazine pg 33

1893 Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul flyer