The First Marshal

Grove City now has around 70 police officers but there was a time when only one marshal protected the town. There’s conflicting information who that marshal was. Most record state it was Gabriel Postle Sr., who was hired in May 1866 by the newly elected and first mayor, Dr. Joseph Bullen. But other accounts claim Randolph Higgy was the first marshal and another suggest Joseph Pence was the first hire. Guess we’ll never know for sure but history is always interesting and challenging. One fact we do know is that Elbert L. (Lightning) Evans was the first Grove City chief of police assuming those duties in 1954; he previously was a village marshal. Ever wonder where the nickname “Lightning” originated?