John Sawyer Marsh

John Sawyer Marsh

1898 – 1993

Rev. John S. Marsh was born in Schroon Lake, New York, July 1898 to William D. and Lillian A. Sawyer.  Rev. Marsh studied at Oberlin College, 1917-1919, Yale College, graduating 1922 and at Hartford Theological Seminary, 1922-1925.  At Hartford, he met his wife, Dorothy Louise Van Wie.  She was born April 1901 in New York.  They married June 1926.  Both were ordained at the Oxford, Connecticut Congregational Church and commissioned for missionary service in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

The Marsh’s served in Southern Rhodesia between 1926 and 1956. They were stationed primarily at Chikore Mission.  Rev. Marsh had a number of responsibilities over the years, including Supervisor of the Chikore Mission Circuit (village schools), mission chairman, secretary and treasurer.  He was President of the Southern Rhodesia Missionary Conference in 1952.

After 30 years the Marsh’s returned to the United States and served at churches in New Hampshire and Vermont, retiring as pastor of West Newbury Congregational Church in 1972.  Dorothy proceeded in death in 1984.  Rev. John Marsh died November 1993 in Bradford, Vermont.

References

• John and Dorothy Marsh, Missionaries to Rhodesia for 30-years, 1926-1956
• John Marsh obituary, Journal Opinion, Bradford, Vermont, December 8, 1993
• The John S. Marsh Papers, Talladega College Private Collection

Contributor

• Mark Loomis

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