Robert Marion Markham

HON. ROBERT MARION MARKHAM, M. D., mayor of Scammon, an eminent physician and one of the most prominent men of Cherokee County, was born in 1862 in Illinois, and is a son of Dr. Wesley and Ann (Minier) Markham.

Dr. Wesley Markham was born in Kentucky, came to Cherokee County in 1870, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession at Lawton, Missouri. He married Ann Minier, a native of Tennessee, who died at Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1899. They had four children: Ella, born in Illinois, who married R. S. Gilfillan and has three children,—Dessie, Alvin and Pearl; Robert Marion, our subject; Charles C., born in Illinois, who married Jessie Newberry; and Effie, born at Columbus, Kansas, who married Andrew J. Davis, and has three children,—Opal, Erma and John.

Robert Marion Markham came to Cherokee County with his parents and received his primary education in the common schools, in early manhood beginning the study of medicine. He was graduated at a medical college of Kansas City, Missouri, receiving his degree in 1892, although he had done some practicing at Scammon as early as 1890. He has been in active practice ever since, although he has many outside business interests. In 1896 he opened a drug business, mainly for his own accommodation but its scope so expanded that in 1901 he incorporated the Markham Drug Company, of which he is president and his wife, secretary and treasurer.

In 1894 Dr. Markham married Jennie P. Mackie, daughter of David Mackie, Sr., an old settler and very influential citizen of Scammon. They have one son, David Wesley, who was born at Scammon.

Dr. Markham is one of Scammon's most prominent and enterprising citizens. He is a stanch Republican and in 1903 was elected on that party's ticket as mayor of Scammon for a term of two years; his administration has been of such a character as to win him still greater public esteem than that which he has enjoyed for a long period. He has been very active in promoting the commercial interests of the town and has found time to take part in much of its pleasant social life. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the State Bank of Scammon; owns a half interest in the Famous Dry Goods Company: is vice-president of the Peacock Mining Company of Kansas; and is treasurer and a director of the Eisenhart Mining Company.

The Cherokee County Medical Society, the Southeastern Kansas Medical Association, and the Kansas State Medical Society all claim Dr. Markham as a valued member, and he is medical examiner at Scammon for the New York Life Insurance Company, the Equitable Insurance Company of Iowa and various Kansas benevolent associations.

The Doctor's fraternal connections include the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he is serving in the office of president of the Scammon Commercial Club, an organization having on its membership rolls the leading business men of the place.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 6-27-97