ALEXANDER KEITH MARSHALL was born at Oakhill, Fauquier county, Virginia,
in 1770, and died at his home, "Walnut Grove," in Mason county, Kentucky,
February 7, 1825. His parents were Colonel Thomas and Fanny (Keith)
Marshall. The former commanded a regiment of Virginia troops during
the Revolutionary war and was a neighbor and friend of General George
Washington. After the war he was appointed surveyor-general of the
land in Kentucky appropriated by Virginia to the officers and soldiers
of the Virginia state line. He made one trip to this state and in 1785
brought his family, sailing down the Ohio river to what is now Maysville.
Alexander K. Marshall was one of fifteen children and a brother of
Chief Justice John Marshall, of the United States supreme court, also a
cousin of Humphrey Marshall, statesman and historian. His education
was acquired at home under the instruction of private tutors. He
accompanied his father to Kentucky in 1785, and was married in Danville
October 10, 1794, to Mary McDowell, who died January 27, 1822. On the
3d of November, 1823, he wedded Mrs. Eliza A. Ball, nee Lewis, who
died in July, 1829.
On his first marriage Mr. Marshall located in Mason county, on the
farm now known as Walnut Grove, where he erected the quaint brick house
that still stands and is in possession of his posterity. The locust and
walnut groves which he cherished have almost disappeared, but the
old-fashioned building with its high stone steps, double doors and round
front windows and antique carvings still stands, and will, probably for
generations to come, resist the encroachment of time. Mr. Marshall was
possessed of a large and valuable estate, and his practice of law was
rather for the excitement and employment it afforded than for the income
derived therefrom. He, however, won a reputation as one of the most
eminent jurists of his day, and was one of the most chaste and fluent
speakers of the time. His business was chiefly in the court of appeals,
of which he also served as clerk for some years. In 1797 he was elected
to represent Mason county in the state legislature and there served for
four successive years. In 1818 he was appointed state reporter for the
court of appeals and edited three volumes of decisions. One of Kentucky's
pioneer lawyers, his brilliant work at the bar engraved his name deeply
on the record of judicial proceedings of the state.
