Flag Day ceremony honors early settler at Marlin Cemetery

The Ozark Mountain Chapter – Missouri Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) gathered on
Saturday, June 14, at Marlin Cemetery west of Conway to mark Flag Day and to honor the life of
one of the area’s earliest settlers.
Approximately 50 descendants, friends, and community members came together for the special
ceremony, which recognized both the significance of the American flag and the pioneering
legacy of Thomas Marlin (1782–1861). Marlin is noted as the first Caucasian to settle the upper
Big Niangua River Basin in 1833, shaping the early history of the region.
Born on October 27, 1782, in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee, Thomas Marlin was the son
of Archibald Marlin—a Revolutionary War soldier and patriot—and Martha (Ferrier) Marlin. In
1806, Thomas married Polly Elizabeth Rice, who was born on October 9, 1787, and died around
1831. Together they raised several children: James (1810), Spencer (1814), Elizabeth "Peggy"
(1816), Archibald (1823), Malinda (1825), William (1828), and Mary Jane (1831).

As part of the Flag Day ceremony, a Sons of the American Revolution medallion was placed into
Marlin’s memorial stone. SAR member Marty Griffin, a descendant of Archibald Marlin,
presented a brief biography of Thomas, highlighting his role as a frontier pioneer who helped lay
the foundation for settlement along the Big Niangua River.
The tribute concluded with a solemn triple musket volley, performed by the Ozark Mountain
Chapter SAR Color Guard, in honor of Marlin’s enduring legacy.
The event provided an opportunity not only to celebrate the national symbol of freedom on Flag
Day but also to recognize the important contributions of the families who first shaped the local
landscape nearly two centuries ago.
With so many in attendance, the ceremony also served as both a remembrance of the nation's
past and a celebration of the family and community ties that endure in the region today.