The 1840 U.S. Census for Monroe Co. listed two new Marr families, one led by Joseph Marr and the other by a William Marr. These two young men were the eldest sons of Benjamin and Frances Marr. The census records showed they were neighbors or lived in separate houses on the same farm. These two families appeared to work closely and had a joint farming operations. Their documented loan arrange is covered elsewhere in this paper.

    Joseph life is well documented in Monroe Co. legal papers. His family also shows up regularly in the U.S. Census for Monroe Co. Tn
 

U.S. Cen 1840	U.S. Census 1850	U.S. Cen 1860	U.S. Cens1870	U.S. Census 1880
Monroe Co.	Monroe Co.	Monroe Co.	Monroe Co.	Monroe Co.
Mars, Joseph	Marr, Joseph 36	Marr, Joseph 46	Marr, Joseph 56	Marr, Joseph 66
1 fem 20-30	Melinda, Bain 35	Malinda 46,(d.66)	(m. Rena Allen	(He died 1/3/84)
1 m >5	William W. 13		Feb. 1867)
1 fem >5	Susan E. 9	Susan 18
	Mary Ann 6	Manerva 16		Manvera 55 b. TN
	John Columbus 2	John C. 12		Oshell
		(4 poorhouse	(Poor house	Luis 13 b. Ga
		keeper)	keeper)	Sarah 20 b. Ga

    The 1840 census showed Joseph must have married Melinda Bain about 1836 when he was 22 years old. They had 5 children and she died about 1866 just after the Civil War. His second marriage to a Rena Allen in 1867 was recorded in Monroe Co marriage book. Joseph must have been an ambitious and an industrious individual. His name showed in 8-10 land purchases and sales in the county land book. When he died in 1884 he owned three large farms that were divided between his second wife and his children.

    When the Civil War began he joined the Confederates Forces even though he was in his forties. He was given the rank of Lt. and later he became a Capt. He apparently fought throughout the war, first in VA and then later his unit was sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi where they were caught in the Siege of Vicksburg. Joseph's unit had to surrender but later fought in other battles. After the war he was active in the Eleazer Camp Ground Methodist Church which is located near the community of Mt. Vernon, Monroe Co. He apparently had a large farm was credited for giving land to the church and helping to rebuild (1865-1870) the church after a fire. In the 1870's he was elected a school board director along with his son William W..  Joseph must have had a large home because he boarded destitute people of the county who had no relatives to help them. The 1860, 1870 and 1880 census lists several people in his home that cannot be explained except that they must have been boarders. He died in 1884 and is buried in the Eleazer church cemetery and his tombstone reads Capt. Joseph Marr.

His son, William W., also served in the Confederate ranks as a private. After the war William W. records show he was deputy sheriff for awhile and housed the first prisoner convicted of murder in Monroe Co.

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