Alonzo B. Markham Biography, Tuscola County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1037-1038

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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ALONZO B. MARKHAM, President of the Commercial Bank of Mayville, is one 
of the leading members of the Tuscola County Bar and has made his home 
in Mayville for twenty years. He was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, 
June 9, 1845, and is a son of Abraham B. and Mary L. (Bradley) Markham, 
natives of New England, whose ancestors for several generations had 
resided in the Eastern States.

   The father of our subject was born April 6, 1800, and in 1825 
emigrated alone to Michigan and settled in Plymouth Township, Wayne 
County, where he purchased Government land, the patent for which was 
signed by President John Quincy Adams. This purchase comprised eighty 
acres and for sixty-two years .it was the home of Abraham B. Markham. 
He purchased more land and in time his homestead comprised three 
hundred and twenty acres. He also dealt somewhat in real estate and for 
many years he was accounted the most thorough and successful farmer in 
Plymouth Township.

   In his old age the father was stricken with paralysis and was 
removed to Mayville where his death occurred. His funeral was held at 
his old home and he was laid to rest in the old cemetery at Plymouth. 
He was a man of thorough education and a great reader, always keeping 
abreast of the times. In his early life he was an old-line Whig and was 
one of the delegates to the first Republican Convention held at Jackson 
in June, 1854. His good wife who is still living is now in her eighty-
first year.

   The brothers and sister of our subject are George B., who lives at 
Mayville; Henry C., who was a locomotive engineer and died at Mayville; 
Mary L., who resides with her mother at Plymouth, and William F., who 
is the patentee and manufacturer of the Markham Air Rifle, the 
principal manufacturing output of Plymouth. Our subject passed his 
early life upon the farm, attending the common school and spending one 
year at the Agricultural College and Lansing but his schooling was 
interrupted by the breaking out of the Civil War and the call of 
Abraham Lincoln stirred into an active response the patriotism of this 
young man, who enlisted August 5, 1862 although only seventeen years of 
age.

   Alonzo B. Markham joined Company C, Twenty-fourth Regiment Michigan 
Infantry, which formed a part of the Iron Brigade. His first battle was 
at Fredericksburg on the 13th of December, and he was with the Army of 
the Potomac until his discharge at the close of the war. Following his 
return home he again resumed his studies and graduated from the 
Northville High School in Wayne County. He then took a special course 
at the University of Michigan graduating from the law department in the 
Class of '71. His first location was at Mayville and in July of that 
year he hung out his shingle upon which was inscribed: "A. B. Markham 
Attorney at Law." For fifteen years he gave his whole attention to his 
profession and built up a large and lucrative practice, dealing also in 
real estate and loans.

   The Commercial Bank was established September 17, 1890, with A. B. 
Markham & Co. as proprietors, and the Commercial Bank building was 
erected. This is one of the neatest structures in the village. The 
previous year Mr. Markham had built a two story brick block containing 
four stores on the ground floor. He also owned and platted the 
Beachwood Addition to the village of Mayville and owns two improved 
farms besides considerable realty which he is holding for speculation. 
Every dollar of his fortune has been made by his own efforts and 
notwithstanding his success he is still a plain citizen, easily 
approached and courteous to all. He is a shrewd financier and an able 
lawyer.

   Mr. Markham was married January 29, 1873, to Mary, daughter of John 
Van Riper, a farmer of Livingston County, and they have one daughter, 
Edith May, who was born December 19, 1874. In political matters he is 
in sympathy with the Republican party and he has held a number of 
official positions, having been for several years Circuit Court 
Commissioner for the county, besides being Supervisor and Township 
Clerk, and has been the President of the School Board since the 
Mayville Schools have been graded. He is Post Commander of the Grand 
Army Post at Mayville and Past Dictator of the Mayville Lodge and 
Knights of Honor.




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