BIOGRAPHY

Marsh was born in Cresco, Iowa, USA, on 9 June 1868, to parents Abner S. Pepin (1836–1920) and Esther Elizabeth Bly (1846–1901). She had at least nine siblings. In 1870, the family moved to South Dakota by covered wagon. A year later, the family moved to Kansas where they lived in a basement cut into the side of a hill with an unfinished house above them. Her father was a stonemason who, due to the scarcity of such work, would accept any job that paid a dollar a day.

At some point, she married John B Marsh (1878–1953). The couple had two children: Marjorie Oliver (1902–1957) and Owen David Marsh (1907–1958). The family farmed in the Cedar Falls area.

In 1957, when she was about 89 years old, she moved into a nursing home. At the age of 100, she was still able to walk downtown, but at some point during her centenarian years, she became confined indoors due to her declining health. At the age of 110, her hearing was impaired, her eyesight was cloudy, and her legs were immobile, but her mind remained sharp.

Marsh passed away at the Bartels Lutheran Home in Waverly, Iowa, USA, on 20 March 1979, at the age of 110 years, 284 days. She was survived by two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 22 January 1978, following the passing of 110-year-old Minnie Druse, she became the oldest (known) living woman in the U.S. state of Iowa.

On 20 August 1978, following the passing of 110-year-old Charlie Nelson, she became the oldest (known) living person in Iowa.

Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 16 February 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Oldest Iowan takes time to chat” – The Des Moines Register, 17 December 1978

* “Mrs. Effie Marsh” – The Courier, 21 March 1979

* Effie S Pepin Marsh – Find A Grave

GALLERY