To understand the driving forces that are responsible for giving Marshall H. Ensor the grasp to undertake the endless creative quests of his life and in particular that of emerging himself in the area of amateur radio so successfully, it is helpful to see where he came from and look for the sources of his inspiration.
Both of Marshall’s parents like many others of the 1800s sought to make a life for themselves on the Westward front of our countries growth pattern. That life where aspiring interests mixed with knowledge gained by studies as well as the adventure of being willing to take part in calculated chances.
Marshall was no doubt made aware by his father, Jacob Franklin Ensor of his own worthy goals that led him to settle in the mid-West region of Kansas. Because of his education in Maryland including bookkeeping and experience working with the public in retail store clerking gave him self-confidence. That confidence helped Jacob Ensor make choices in the path of his life. Trials in city life and work showed him a desire to chance other ventures. Teaching in public schools of the Topeka, Kansas area were rewarding but he longed to work the soil and tend his own animals and farm. Upon returning to Maryland where he married Ida Hicks Devilbiss, and returning with her to the Kansas farmland, Jacob got a foothold on realizing his farming goals.
Marshall also had the work ethic of his father. As a youngster he was always eager to watch, help, and learn the ways of his father and mother in operating successful leased farmland around the area of North-East Johnson County, Kansas. By 1909, Marshall was 9 years of age, was doing well in his schoolwork and took in stride the move to the newly purchased farm in rural Olathe at the place called "Bonita", a whistle stop on the railroad and a place known to be higher above sea level than surrounding Eastern Kansas.
As an early high school student, Marshall and some like minded boys found interest and delight in learning all they could about the new science of radio. It was every boy’s goal to make a real radio receiver and be able to hear the signals that were beginning to radiate in some parts of the country. Everything at that time was experimental. The devotees of the new science were blending radio energy with the Continental Code commonly used by the railroads and news telegraphers. Some telegraphy was sent along wires from station to station. It was the radio telegraphers however who were creating excitement around the country. In Marshall’s case like other boys, making a radio set was a matter of handiness more than expense. Money, if you had it may not bring you a better signal than hand made equipment.
By age 15, Marshall had made a number of crystal set radios and was advancing into sending equipment construction. Much progress had taken place in military use of two way spark radio work. The Navy experts at radio communications were using spark gap equipment regularly from ship to ship, as well as ship to shore.
These challenges stayed with Marshall during the first World War and more so afterwards, as you will learn while seeing the information at this web site.