This county was named in honor of Chief Justice Marshall. The surface of the county is generally level, though there are places in which it may be called rolling. About one half of the county is timbered land; the other half is oak openings or barrens, interspersed with wet and dry prairies, which are mostly of a small size, and in their vicinity are several small, beautiful lakes. The soil, where the land was originally timbered, is very rich and fertile, as also in the prairies. In the barrens it is thinner, though yet a greater portion of them is well adapted to wheat, oats, and vines. This portion of the soil improves with continued cultivation. There are in this county rich beds of iron ore. Marshall county has already become one of the leading agricultural counties in Indiana. Plymouth, located in Centre township, is the county seat. It is one of the most enterprising towns in the State, has a population of over three thousand five hundred, and is rapidly increasing in wealth and importance. It has excellent railroad facilities, being located on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago and the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville railroads. Bourbon is another smart town in this county. It is located on the railroad first mentioned. Tyner City and Argos are also smart towns on the latter road.
(Transcribed from The History Of The State Of Indiana published 1876)