Joe Carroll Marsh
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Joe Carroll Marsh AKA Ole Marsh, Joe Carroll, J.C. Marsh, was one of professional wrestling’s most enigmatic characters. He was born in Decorah, Iowa in 1869 to a blacksmith. His real name was George M. Marsh.
He became a wrestler and toured with Farmer Burns and Frank Gotch around the Midwest; mainly Iowa. At this stage of his career Marsh often appeared as a challenger from the audience under various names and disguises. Marsh took Gotch along on a barnstorming trip to the Klondike during 1901. Gotch used the name Frank Kennedy, while Joe was wrestling as Ole Marsh. He even picked up victories over Gotch/Kennedy on August 30, a second on September 13, and a third on September 21 in a "three-cornered contest" with Colonel James Hiram McLaughlin.
He managed Gotch’s career for several years, leading him to his first championship victory over Tom Jenkins in Bellingham, Washington in front of about 5,000 people during 1904. Shortly after Gotch went east and Marsh settled in Seattle for some time.
In 1908 Marsh was arrested for the first (known) time along with Bert Warner and another man named Winn Sharris. A letter containing a cryptic message was delivered to the wrong address in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The receiver passed it on to the relevant authorities. Not too long after they were nabbed in Omaha, Nebraska also.
On June 12, 1909, Marsh and Warner were arrested by the United States Postal Authorities for their roles in the infamous Mabray Gang. The gang was known for fixing sports and other ventures associated with gambling. They were released though and spent some time in Seattle. They were indicted in Council Bluffs on September 23, 1909, while still in Seattle. Marsh, Warner and Winn were deported to Iowa on October 21, 1909.
Marsh plead guilty on March 9, 1910. His association with the likes of Frank Gotch, Dr. Benjamin Roller and others was brought up. By no means were Marsh, Warner and Winn the only men facing jail time though. It was reported over 80 men in total were arrested as members of the Mabray Gang. All together Marsh spent around 18 months inside a jail cell for this humongous national scandal.
in 1917 Marsh took over managing Burns’ protégé Marin Plestina, touting him as “the trustbuster” and “the uncrowned champion.” They toured the country challenging all heavyweight championship claimants and top contenders. When Plestina split from Marsh and became a “trust” wrestler in 1926, Marsh tried the same stunt with Jack Sherry. Marsh also, briefly toured with George Calza as a “trustbuster.”
He settled down in Seattle and began booking a troupe of middleweight wrestlers, spending several months in 1934 as a matchmaker in Honolulu. He died in 1952 at 84 years of age and was buried on his brother’s farm in Oregon.
Joe Carroll Marsh is not to be confused with the champion Lancashire wrestler Joe Carroll, who also toured the US in the early 1900s.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Joe Carroll Marsh.
Authors: Mark Hewitt & Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: June 13, 2019.
Biography: #148.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Joe Carroll Marsh.
Authors: Mark Hewitt & Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: June 13, 2019.
Biography: #148.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.