BIOGRAPHIES: John MARKHAM, Independence, Trempealeau Co., WI

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John Markham was born at "Becca" Hall, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England, on 
June 6, 1797.  The family traces its ancestry from a period immediately 
anterior to the Norman conquest, down to the present time.  The first 
published history of the family was prepared and the data accumulated by 
David Markham, a younger brother of John Markham, who had spent some twenty 
years in the work, but had not completed his task when death overtook him, 
and the final publication in 1854 was consummated by David's son, Sir 
Clements Robert Markham, afterward president of the Royal Geographical 
Society of England, who again in 1915 published a second and very complete 
history of the family in two volumes.  John Markham's grandfather was 
Archbishop of York, who was chaplain to King George II and afterward to 
King George III, and directed the education of the Prince of Wales and Duke 
of York, and presided over the See of York for 31 years to the time of his 
death.  When but 13 years of age John entered the British navy, where he 
served several years, attaining the office of lieutenant, but upon 
sustaining a sunstroke while on the India station he was obliged to retire.  
In 1834 he was married to Marianne G. D. Wood, daughter of I. B. Wood, Esp., 
by whom he had five sons, the oldest of whom, John, served in the army and 
was for years British consul to Hong Kong, China; he married and had two 
daughters, Florence and May, neither of whom married, and the wife and two 
daughters surviving him still are living at Rai-Gate, England.  The second 
son, George Henry Markham, was born Jan. 24, 1837, in Yorkshire, England, 
where he and his brothers received their education under private tutors.  
He came to America with his father, mother and brother, Arthur Augustus 
Markham, leaving their then home on the Island of Guernsey on Aug. 13, 1856, 
and becoming the first settlers at the present site of the village of 
Independence, Trempealeau County, obtaining from the Government and by 
purchase, a large tract of land north and east of the confluence of Elk 
Creek with the Trempealeau River.  This farm became well known far and near, 
due to the residence later built thereon located on a considerable eminence 
at the base of a hill facing the south and east and commanding a magnificent 
view.  This house, commonly known as the Markham castle, was built with 
eight sides, octagonal, and originally comprised four stories, including an 
observatory at the top.  This house was the home of George H. Markham until 
1912, when he sold his half of the old homestead -- his brother Arthur still 
owns and occupies the other half of the farm -- and has since resided in the 
village of Independence.  The third son, Frederick, died in youth.  The 
fourth son, Arthur Augustus Markham, was born at Bagnere de Bignorre in the 
Pyrenees, France, on June 8, 1840.  Here also the last son, Albert Hastings 
Markham, was born Nov. 11, 1841.  He entered the navy prior to his parents 
and brothers coming to America and through rapid promotion finally became 
admiral of the fleet.  His post immediately prior to his reaching the age of 
compulsory retirement was at Sheerness, England.  He made several trips into 
the Arctic Sea in quest of the North Pole and commanded a sledging expedition 
from his ship in 1878, establishing at that time the farthest northern 
record.  He wrote several books on the question of Arctic exploration, and 
also several biographical works, among them "Life of Sir John Franklin" and 
"Life of Sir Clements Markham," which latter work s now just being 
published.  He was knighted by King Edward, with whom he was quite intimate, 
there being a great similarity in the facial appearance of the two men.  His 
wife Dora Jervers, and one daughter, Joy Markham, reside with him in the 
city of London.

--From the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 707 - 708.