1) The village and township of Marcellon were named for a French missionary whose name was Marcell. He died at the Indian settlement in the southeast section of where the township would be some years prior to the arrival of the settlers. Beginning in 1846, a village of white settlers was established nearby and took the name. The township was organized in 1849. 2) "Means absolutely nothing. The organization of a town by the name of Massillon was then being agitated which was soon accomplished, but the scribe who handled the pen wrote Marrsellon instead, and it appeared on the plat as Marrsellon, but was afterward changed to Marcellon, which signifies nothing in its present form."

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[Source: 1) Pardeeville Times, May 21, 1964. (courtesy of John W. Flower, Jr.)2) p. 421 of Jones, History of Columbia County, Wisconsin]