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A Historical Perspective

A City With a Rich Past and Glowing Future

Nestled within the heart of Iowa, Marshalltown embraces its dynamic “hometown” lifestyle, which is characterized by an ideal blend of rural and urban living. The enviable quality of life discovered in the city of today is owed in large part to the forward- thinking nature of early settlers and businessmen.

Nearly a decade after the Sac and Fox Indians signed a treaty with the U.S. government to open up the land for settlement (1842), current-day Marshalltown welcomed its first settler. Henry Anson, a now-famous Iowa pioneer, chose the divide between Linn Creek and the Iowa River as the optimal site for a new town. Anson constructed his cabin on what is now Main Street, paving the way for settlement in the new town.

Anson and his fellow settlers became friendly with a local Native American chief named Johnny Green (Che Muese) who provided much needed guidance to the men. By 1853, the town site was platted, taking on the name Marshall—which was soon changed to Marshalltown in 1862.

The settlement began to develop in the years prior to the Civil War, and by the mid-1850s, Anson made a land contribution for the building of a county courthouse. After struggles over the location of the county seat, Marshalltown was finally given the proud designation in 1863.

After Johnny Green’s death in 1868, he was buried on a bluff overlooking the Des Moines River. A tribute to the Native American leader can be seen in the form of a significant monument that stands on the grounds of the Iowa Veterans Home.

Marshalltown experienced much development in the ensuing years. Due to the advent of the railroad in town, Marshalltown was now well-connected and became an attractive community for many light industries. By the onset of the 20th century, Marshalltown emerged as an established city of more than 10,000 residents and quite a few industries that would ultimately evolve into major national and international corporations.

Today, Marshalltown has transformed into a thriving city of more than 26,000 residents who take pleasure in the establishment of a diversified base of businesses, award-winning schools, esteemed medical facilities, modern shopping centers, well-maintained recreational and cultural amenities, and high-quality residential areas. While the city looks to its future, its strong heritage remains present and continues to have a profound influence in every aspect of community life today.

ENTREPRENEURIAL BACKGROUND

An entrepreneurial spirit has always been prevalent in Marshalltown—a quality that is seen through the presence of such leading companies as Fisher Controls and Lennox Industries, Inc.

Founded as the Fisher Governor Company in 1880 after William Fisher’s invention of the Type 1 constant pressure pump governor, Fisher Controls is now recognized as the largest control valve and regulator manufacturer in the world. Now a member of the Emerson Process Management family, the company continues to be a prominent entity in the city of Marshalltown to this day.

Marshalltown is also the original location of Lennox Furnace Company, which was incorporated as a business in 1904. The company expanded nationwide by 1948 and changed its name to Lennox Industries, Inc., in 1955. Lennox still operates a 1 million-square-foot factory in the city and remains one of the community’s largest employers.

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Marshalltown’s rich history also includes the presence of several prominent sports and entertainment figures. In fact, Henry Anson’s son, “Cap” Anson, grew up to become one of the greatest baseball players of his era. Playing a record 27 consecutive seasons in Major League Baseball, Anson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 and was the first Iowan named to the state’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Originally born near Ames, popular evangelist Billy Sunday relocated to Marshalltown in 1880. It was here that he met Cap Anson, who launched Sunday’s Major League Baseball career. After a few years in the big leagues, Sunday converted—finding religion to be of the utmost importance. After leaving his career in professional baseball, Sunday began speaking to crowds nationwide—establishing himself as the country’s chief evangelist.

Further distinguished figures who were born and raised in Marshalltown include T. Nelson Downs, known for his expertise of complex coin manipulations—earning the name “King of Koins”—and iconic actresses Jean Seberg (star of such films as Saint Joan and Breathless) and Mary Beth Hurt (star of such films as The Age of Innocence, The World According to Garp and Chilly Scenes of Winter).