Marcus lived in Vicksburg for 35 years, and the acres surrounding his house and store became known as Marcus Bottom.
They remained there seven years until their father felt they were old enough to take care of themselves in their own home. Tragedy struck the family when the mother died at 36 years of age, and the boy and two girls were sent to an orphanage in New Orleans. The family home was adjacent to the business.
He would then stretch it out to dry on Great-granddaddy’s land to be made into men’s fine linen suits.Īlice and David Marcus were the parents of three children. I was told that an Irish tailor whose shop was in Vicksburg would bring his fine linen from Ireland and wash it in a stream on the property. Their oxen would be tied in the fields beyond. The black population from Big Black bought their month’s supply of necessities from the store and would camp overnight out in the back. Because there were no other such businesses in the area, customers came from miles around to buy tobacco, salt meat, sweets and other commodities.Ī well on the property offered drink to the thirsty and a stream nearby watered animals. How he accumulated acreage of country land I do not know, but he was the proprietor of a general store located in the vicinity of what is now known as Halls Ferry Road. She evidently left her family, married David Marcus, and moved to Vicksburg, where they made their home. In New Jersey, he met a young Irish Catholic, Alice Clarke, who was sewing buttons on soldiers’ uniforms.