ALEXANDER W. MARKHAM.

The futility of effort is manifest in the business world. It is said that ninety-five per cent of the men in business meet with failure and the cause of this is not so much lack of industry or of close application as of sound business judgment. When labor is directed by keen business discernment it never fails to win prosperity, and a proof of this is found in

the life record of Alexander W. Markham, who came to this county in 1872 in very limited circumstances but is to-day numbered among the men of affluence in his ccmmunity.

Mr. Markham removed to Kansas from Johnson County, Missouri, where he was born January 8, 1842, a son of Charles Markham. His paternal grandfather was a native of Scotland and his grandmother was a native of England, and on coming to America located in Madison County, Kentucky. He had a family of six sons, namely: Hiram, Tira, John T, Reubon, Charles and Elijah. The first two remained in Kentucky but the others removed to Johnson County, Missouri, at an early epoch in its development. Charles Markham was born in the Blue Grass state about 1822 and was a life-long farmer, following his chosen pursuit with good success. During the Civil war he was an advocate of the Union cause, although his brothers sympathized with the South and some of them had sons in the Confederate service. His death occurred in Johnson County, Missouri, July 26, 1877. In early manhood he married Sarah Andrews, who died in the spring of 1900. Their children are Nancy J., who is the widow of Thomas Palmer and resides in Barry County, Missouri; Alexander W.; Henry, of Johnson County, Missouri; George, of Barry County, that state; and Robert who is also living in the same county.

Mr. Markham of this review spent his boyhood and youth in the county of his nativity and obtained a country school education. In February, 1862, he entered the Union army, becoming a member of Battery L, Second Missouri Light Artillery, with which he served for eighteen months, spending the entire time in his native state. On the 4th of January, 1864, he again offered his services to his country and was assigned to Battery L, Second Missouri Volunteers, with which he served in Missouri until the war ended when the company was sent to the Powder River country, in Montana, in order to fight the Indians. There Mr. Markham remained for seven months when the order came to be mustered out, having been a member of the army for four years and six months.

Upon his return home he engaged in farming but was afflicted with rheumatism for a year, having incurred the disease while in the northwest protecting the border against the Red men. Hoping that his rheumatism might be cured in a warmer climate he came to Southern Kansas and has since resided in Woodson County. He arrived on the 15th of April, 1872, and purchased of a Mr. Clark a claim comprising the north half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-two, township twenty-five, range sixteen. He moved his family into a small log cabin in which there was no board floor, and has witnessed all the changes which have occurred in the county during more than twenty-eight years. He has made farming his life work and his diligence, persistence and good management have made him the owner of a valuable property.

Mr. Markham was married in Warrensburg, Missouri, March 27, 1864, to Susan Wade, a daughter of Joseph M. Wade, one of the first settlers of Johnson County, Missouri, who came from Virginia. He wedded Mary Tomblin, formerly of Pennsylvania, and their children were: Mrs. Markham, who was born October 24, 1845; John, deceased; Joseph, of Johnson County, Missouri; Martha, wife of Nicholas Rogers, of Kansas City; Sarah wife of William Eaton, of Oklahoma; James, of Kansas City, Missouri. The father was engaged in the manufacture and laying of brick and did much of the early brick work in Warrensburg, Missouri. He died in 1895, at the age of eighty-one years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Markham has been blessed with nine children: Charles, who died at the age of seventeen years; James R., who passed away at the age of two years; Mary C., wife of Walter J. Cox, of Iola, Kansas, by whom she has two children; Eva and Nona; William L., of Thomas, Oklahoma; John K., Yates Center, Woodson County; George K., who is living in Allen County; Henry E., a telegraph operator in Wilson County, Kansas; Anna and Martha, who are still with their parents.

On attaining his majority Mr. Markham became a stalwart supporter of the Republican party and is recognized as one of the local leaders, although he is not an aspirant for office. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Center Ridge Baptist church, in which he is holding the office of deacon. He is deeply interested in the work of the church and is a citizen whose devotion to the public good is above question and who has ever been found where duty and obligation have called whether fighting for his country or in the walks of business and private life.

William L. Markham was married to Miss Mary Leonard by whom she has twin boys. Freddie and Eddie.

George K. Markham was married to Miss Nellie Kilby.

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