Col James Marshel was born in Ireland in 1753. He removed some time between 1776 and 1778 in what is now Washington County and bought up large amounts of land in Cross Creek Township. Upon the organization of Washington County he was appointed (1781) county lieutenant, an office which he resigned three years later. He served as sheriff from 1784 to 1789, was a member of the state legislature and recorder of the land office. He took a prominent part in the Whiskey Rebellion but submitted to the government at its close. About this time he removed to Brooke County VA where he died in 1829