David M. Marrs was born in Washington County, Arkansas, February 1858, and is the fourth son of Alexander Marrs, a prominent farmer of that State. His mother was a daughter of David Maybury, of German descent, and a leading politician in Arkansas. Young Marrs attended public school until he was twenty years old, when he went to Prairie Grove College, where he remained two years, and then commenced the study of medicine, continuing it for one year. On September 21, 1878, he married Miss Olivia, daughter of C. G. Gunter, of Benton, Arkansas (part of Cherokee), and a niece to Thomas M. Gunter, who was congressman for Arkansas for twelve consecutive years. By this marriage Mr. Marrs has seven children, Helena, born September 12, 1879; Edgar, born December 20, 1880; John D., born November 19, 1883; Augustus Garland, born March 22, 1885; Olivia, born January 30, 1887; Willie Curtis, born July 29, 1888, and Barney, born July 25, 1891. Mrs. Marrs is a lady of culture and refinement, and has many friends. She had been teacher in the public schools of the nation for several years before her marriage. Mr. Marrs when he first came to the nation, made his home in the southwestern portion of the country, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1886, when he sold out and moved to Vinita, engaging in the nursery business and becoming proprietor of the Vinita Nurseries, which he still owns, the firm name being Marrs & Frazee. Early in 1891 Mr. Marrs assumed editorial control of the Vinita Chieftain, the second paper established in the Indian Territory. This paper, under the management of Mr. Marrs, was the first publication in the nation to advocate allotments of lands in severalty. Mr. Marrs’ nursery is the finest in the Indian Territory, and contain fifty acres of ground. He has a nice residence on the place, and owns a good many town lots in Vinita. Mr. Marrs is a gentleman of good education and sound judgment, and is very popular in the country. As a writer he has developed a great deal of ability in his editorial columns, and will no doubt make the Chieftain a most popular and successful publication.
