Charles Thomas Marsden Jr. "Tot" was born in
Salt Lake City, Utah, January 17. 1877. He was
the oldest son of the family of 13 of Charles
Thomas Sr. and Isabell Harker Marsden. The
family moved from Salt Lake City to Taylorville, Utah
in 1844. In August 1892 "Tot" started to Cardston,
Alberta, Canada with his father, his brothers Joe,
Levi and Sam Buck. He was only 15 years of age.
They travelled in covered wagons with four head
of horses to each wagon and trailed extra livestock.
They arrived in July.

He took on responsibilities at an early age and helped
in the pioneering of Cardston district. He rode the
range, taking part in the roundups, branding and training
horses. One of his driving teams was very high spirited.
He would drive them into Cardston and tie them up at
the hitching post in front of the barber shop while he went
in for a hair cut or shave. As long as Tot sat in the barber
chair the horses stood quietly, watching him constantly
through the window. As soon as he stood up to leave
they began to rear. This continued until he would take
hold of the reins and get into the buggy. Then immediately
they calmed down and responded to his guidance.

His work horses were of the best. He worked them on
many projects such as irrigation building, plowing fire
guards and farming. Travel was by buggy, wagon or
horseback. The fields were plowed, the crops and hay
gathered by horsepower. Later machine power was used.
His first car, a Dodge was purchased about 1918. Tot
was interested in stock. He bought, fed and shipped beef.
The beef he butchered was of high quality due to his
very careful way of handling it. He ran large herds of sheep
and always said that the sheep would pay for themselves if
they were properly cared for.

He was married to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Caroline Pilling, May 17
1899. She was the youngest daughter of Richard and
Catherine Pilling of Aetna, Alberta They were married in
the famous Pilling home. Her sister Margaret(Maggie)
was married to James E Nielson the same day. Following
the marriage Tot and Lizzie made their home on the
homestead of his brother Joe, about five miles northeast
of Cardston near the St. Mary River. It bordered the
homestead of Charles Thomas Marsden Sr. After about
seven or eight years they moved to Cardston where
they were located for 30 years. Tot's late life kept him
from home a great deal. This deprived him of a
real home life with his family which he loved very much.

Before marriage "Lizzie" worked hard with her family
members as there was always plenty of work to be
done in the Pilling home. It was a place of hospitality.
There were cows to milk by hand, extra beds to be
made, dishes to wash and meals to prepare. Often
in hunting season tubs of wild ducks would be brought
into the kitchen to be plucked, drawn, and prepared for
the next meal. From her early experience and training
Lizzie became a good housewife, cook and loving
mother. She loved the nice things of life. She became
a great seamstress, using her own patterns and
creations. She had poor health. After her husband's
death she became an invalid due to rheumatoid
arthritis. During the remaining 30 years of her life she
set a marvelous example to others with her pleasant,
uncomplaining attitude toward her great affliction.
She gave service in the church and home as much
as possible. They had two daughters.

In 1908 Tot and Joe purchased six sections of land
from William Mclntyre about five miles south of Spring
Coulee. Here they became known as the Marsden
brothers. They carried on extensive farming and
ranching, Joe and family lived there working and
managing the farm. Tot and family lived in Cardston.
Tot took care of the business affairs of Marsden
Brothers. In 1938 his health began to fail. While
visiting in Utah with his daughter, he passed away
April 24, 1939, in Payson, Utah at the age of 62.

At his funeral service Attorney P Clarke of Lethbridge
had this to say. "I knew Tot intimately in a business
way. I knew his business, his ideas, his ideals and his
desire to do the right thing. Tot was a man who by
training, by example and companionship was a
gentleman. Because of the nature of his work being
out so much with hired men, he could have been a
rough stone. But as I knew him he was a man, morally,
physically and mentally, a man who did not partake of
his surroundings in the sense that it made him less a
man. Tot thought a great deal of his family and made
every sacrifice for his wife and daughter. He was a
good father, a good husband and a hard worker."

Elizabeth Marsden passed away November 13, 1971
in Cardston at the age of 90 years. Interment for both
took place in the Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah.

Together they had worked to assist in the development
of his district, receiving love and respect from all who
knew them.

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