James Barney Marsh

James Barney Marsh (April 12, 1856 – June 26, 1936) was an American engineer and bridge designer.

Marsh gave Archie Alexander, the first African-American to graduate as an engineer from Iowa State University, his first job.

Within the next year, he traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to work as a contracting agent for the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio.

Marsh wrote about reinforced concrete girder bridges, which were published in works by the International Engineering Congress in St. Louis in 1904.

[1] The Melan bridges that were built by Marsh and others required royalties to be paid to the American holders of the patent.

Marsh's patented work allowed rural townships to have bridges that resembled the ones used over rivers in bigger cities.

Marsh gave Archie Alexander, the first African-American to graduate as an engineer from the University of Iowa, his start.

[1] Several of Marsh's bridges remain and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).