I unfortunately don't know a whole lot about the Marsh's, except that
Henry Marsh was born in England in 1836, he married
Rachel Belle (?) I believe in Ohio. Rachel was born in 1836 in Ohio,
her parents were born in Northern Ireland. I think Rachel
was supposed to be closely related to U.S. Grant, 1st cousin according to family history,but I have not found proof of this yet.
Harry and Rachel had one child, Ella J. Marsh b. 1861 Ohio.
The Marsh's moved to Redwood City Calif. sometime between 1870-1880.
Harry was a teamster, a farmer and I believe had brothers who worked for the Railroad.
They went back and fourth several times from Ohio to Northern California.I have them on a 1870 Census in Lorain, Ohio, then 1880 Census in Redwood City Ca.
About 1886(my guestimate) Ella married (?) CHISHOLM(from Nova Scotia)
They had 3 children all born in California,

Alexandria D.Chisholm b. 1888 Alexi married a Hayter-then Langley
Abbie B. Chisholm b. 1890 Abbie married Finnerty
Willaim Stevensen Chisholm b.1895

In 1900 Fed. Census I have Ella(widowed-married 14years) with her 3 children living with her parents in Lorain Ohio again.
Then Fed. Census 1910 in Fort Bragg California, Rachel Marsh (widowed & 0 children living), living with 2 of her grand children,Abbie(20) and Willie(16) and 2 great grand children( Abbie's children; my grandmother,Elaine and her sister, Harriet).

I found later that Ellen Chisholm died in Fort Bragg on Nov.21,1905.

Harry Marsh died in 1908 in Fort Bragg Mendocino Co. Calif.
Rachel Belle Marsh died in 1914 in Fort Bragg Mendocino Co. Calif.


After Rachel died in 1914, Abbie Chisholm was alone at that time with 3 small children and another on the way. It was shortly after that that she sent the 3 older girls to S.F. by boat to live in the Orphanage.
Shortly after that time she met Earl James Finnerty and married him. He knew nothing of these girls in the Orphanage,
he eventually found out and demanded Abbie take him to see these girls.
My Grandmother, Elaine remembered the Nuns coming up to her and saying you have a visitor, your mother, and she thought it was a cruel joke. She couldn't understand why Abbie was there to see them after years of absence.
They ended up leaving the Orphnage abt.1930 and moving in with Mr. Finnerty and their mother,Abbie and their step brother and sister.

Elaine and her sisters never did know who their real father was.