Marshall, William and Rosa Lena

Lea County Families and History, "Then and Now" Vol II, 1984

      William S. "Bud" Marshall and Rosa Lena Mundy were married in 1892 and began married life in Oklahoma. They learned of land in the territory of New Mexico which could be homesteaded so the packed up and left Okemah, Oklahoma, in 1901. They came by train as far as Midland, Texas. Their third daughter, Estella, was born in Midland in 1902. They lived for awhile in Midland and then moved to Shafter Lake, Texas. Shafter Lake is not in existance now but was between Eunice, New Mexico and and Andrews, Texas. They operated a hotel in Shafter Lake.

     Bud Marshall and Johnny Carson married sisters (Mundy). The Carson's moved west of Shafter Lake and homesteaded. Johnny Carson started operating a small general store and Bud Marshall hauled supplies. Bud would load up his wagon in Midland (popular by then because of the railroad) and then haul to ranchers and homesteaders in the area from Midland west as far as Johnny's store. In time, Johnny Carson's daughter, Eunice Carson, began taking care of the mail for the people who picked up their supplies in her Dad's store. After a while (about 1908) the people decided to name the little place, Eunice, New Mexico, in honor of their postmistress.

     Bud and Rosa Marshall moved to Midland, Texas in 1918 and started a mattress factory after they left the hotel in Shafter Lake. The maintained homes in both Eunice and Midland. They built their hotel (with cafe) in Eunice in 1930. The hotel was later sold to the Berryman family and they moved it across the street from the first location.

     The first oil well that was ever drilled in the Eunice townsite was on Marshall land just behind their house. That well is still there (corner of Avenue J & 11th Street) and is east of the present City Hall.

     The Marshall Memorial Park in Eunice is named in memory of Bud & Rosa Marshall and is located on land donated by Hazel Turner.

     Eunice is still a special place for our family. The Marshall's eldest daughter, Hazel, married Heck Turner, November 28, 1915 in Eunice. Their first son, Marshall Truman Turner, was born in Eunice, June 13, 1917. Truman married Nona Belle Smith and their eldest child, Marshallene Turner was born in Eunice September 18, 1937. Marshall Robert Nessel, was also born in Eunice March 22, 1962.

     The Marshall's lived the rest of their lives in Eunice and are buried there, as are Heck and Hazel.