BIOGRAPHIES: George H. MARKHAM, Burnside Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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George H. Markham, pioneer, assemblyman and public official, is one of the 
county's most notable citizens, and has had a most remarkable influence upon 
its destinies for more than 60 years.  Of distinguished ancestry and 
bearing, he is a genial, courteous gentleman of the old school, and he and 
his wife, a most gracious and kindly lady, have delighted in dispensing 
cordial hospitality for considerably over half a century.  George H. Markham 
was born in Yorkshire, England, Jan. 24, 1837, son of John and Marianne G. 
D. (Wood) Markham.  He led the little group of people who in 1856 settled 
near the mouth of Elk Creek, and here he has since continued to be a leading 
citizen. George H. Markham was the first town clerk of the town of Burnside, 
which then included the present territory of the village of Independence and 
the town of Chimney Rock, and served as treasurer of the town of Burnside 
and later as treasurer from its incorporation in 1886 for 30 years or more.  
He represented Trempealeau County in the Assembly during the 1879 session of 
the State Legislature and also served his town as member of the county board 
when the county seat was at Galesville.  At an early day he held the office 
of justice of the peace and frequently officiated at nuptials of the 
settlers in the absence of a clergyman.  He was made a Mason in "Doyles" 
Lodge No. 99 at the Island of Guernsey in 1854; was a member of the Knights 
of Pythias Lodge at Independence and also held a chair in the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen, frequently representing his local lodges as delegate to 
the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin.  He was married Oct. 8, 1862, to Fannie M. 
Bishop, a daughter of Dr. Edmund Bishop, of Portage City, Wis., and to this 
union one son, George A. Markham, was born on May 7, 1865, who for many 
years, and until his death on July 16, 1909, edited and published the 
Independence News-Wave.  He was married Oct. 11, 1891, to Ada Rogers, of 
Osseo, Wis., an only daughter of Alfred H. Rogers, now living at 
Independence, who was an early settler of the town of Burnside, and left no 
children.  Alfred H. Rogers was born in Dane County, this state, June 4, 
1844, and was married at Osseo Dec. 2, 1866, to Abby Buzzell, who was born 
in Waukesha County, this state, April 28, 1849.  Except for a year in Iowa 
and three years in Missouri their married life has been spent in this county.

--From the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 708 - 709.