Issac Marsh was born in Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada and came to North Dakota in 1884. He homesteaded the northeast quarter of Section 18, Township 142 and Range 60 Edna Township.

His brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Hilborn, had preceded him to Edna Township. Another sister, Mrs. Frank Oglesby, had a claim on the Northwest ¼ of Section 18. When the Soo Line Railroad passed thru Edna Twp. Isaac dug a well to furnish the grading crews in the early 1890's. His first wheat raised was loaded on a box car on the Soo Line spur. In 1906 he purchased Section 17 and later purchased the West ½ of Section 8. He now had eight quarters of land, operating as the Leal Stock Farm with Registered Polled Shorthorn cattle, Clydesdale horses and Pland China hogs his specialty. His sideline was the operation and ownership of the Leal Dray and Livery Stable for about 20 years until 1918.

From his homestead days until his death in 1952, Issac was a firm supporter of community enterprises, such as the Leal Rural Telephone Co., an elevator, lumber yard, potato warehouse as well as farm organizations.

Issac married Alice Daniel, of Irish background, in Ontario, in 1900. To this union there was born one son, Victor, who continued to operate the farm after the death of Issac until 1959, finally selling the farm to William Werner in 1972. He is retired and lives in Leal, North Dakota. Issac took a second wife after the death of Alice, a Miss Birdie M. Keenright of Washington, D.C. and Virginia, who passed away in 1928.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 150