His success in insurance and his association with various important business and public activities have brought into prominence in Providence, Rhode Island, Henry Gildersleeve Marsh, insurance broker and agent, with offices in the National Exchange Bank Building at No. 17 Exchange Street. Mr. Marsh is also a veteran of the World War.
Henry Gildersleeve Marsh was born in Providence, Rhode Island, December 24, 1888, son of Henry Marsh, Jr., whose record accompanies this (q. v.), and his wife, Mary Ida (Gildersleeve) Marsh. The father was born in Worcester, Massachusetts; the mother in Brooklyn, descendant of Richard Gildersleeve, Jr., born about 1728, in Hempstead, Long Island, died before February 4, 1807. He signed a declaration July 19. 17/6, “as an inhabitant of Queens County promising to obey the orders of the Provincial and Continental Congress in defense of liberty never to fight against the Americans or help the British.”
The son of this couple, subject of our record, was educated in the Providence public schools and at Brown University, where he spent three years in studying. An opportunity to enter the insurance business called him from college and into association with the Providence Washington Insurance Company, with which he was connected for eleven years. In 1922, he resigned and for eighteen months was associated with the Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford. The following year, 1923, he engaged in business for himself with offices in the Howard Building and so continued until May, 1929, when he went into partnership with Sylvester M. Budlong, and moved into their present offices.
This eminently successful career was interrupted by Mr. Marsh’s military service during the World War. He enlisted in the United States Army October 2, 1917, and was assigned to Company D, 301st Engineers, stationed at Camp Devens. His outfit sailed overseas July 14, 1918, and landed in Liverpool, England. Mr. Marsh was transferred to the Headquarters of his regiment and took part in the offensives at St. Mihiel and the Toul Sector. He was also a member of the Army of Occupation in Germany, returning to the United States on June 13, 1919, after nearly twelve months in Europe. He was appointed private first class, December 11, 1917, corporal, June 1, I9J8, and color sergeant, July 11, 1918. He was honorably discharged at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. Much interested in his old regiment, Mr. Marsh for ten years after the war served as secretary-treasurer of the 301st Engineers Association. He was also, in 1926, adjutant of the Providence Post No. 1, American Legion, of which he is a member.
In fraternal affairs also Mr. Marsh is active. He belongs to St. Johns Lodge, No. i, and is a charter member of Overseas Lodge, No. 40, of Providence, Free and Accepted Masons. The latter he served for two years as secretary. He is affiliated also with the Providence Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, Providence Council No. x, Royal and Select Masters, and St. Johns Commandery, Knights Templar. His college fraternity was the Phi Kappa Psi. He is first vice-president of the Associated Alumni of Brown University, and a member of the Brown Club, the British Empire Club, the Schipperke Club of America, Inc., and the Sons of the American Revolution.
Henry Gildersleeve Marsh married, October 12, 1926, Blanche Alta Goodspeed, of Providence, daughter of Lawrence P. Goodspeed, now deceased, formerly a Providence merchant, and his wife, Alta M. (Howard) Goodspeed. They reside at No. 24 Rhode Island Avenue.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.