James W. Markham

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-81504
• Birth: 19 Apr 1848
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesley Methodist

Notes:

"James W. Markham is the head of a small settlement located about three miles distant from Traverse City, and known as Norris,Ile [Leelanau County]. Here he is engaged in the manufacture of brick on a very extensive scale, and gives employment to form thirty to fifty men.." - Excerpt from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan," published by Record Publishing Company of Chicago, 1895.
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For these hands and their families he has erected a number of neat and substantial houses in the vicinity of his own home. Mr. Markham is a striking example of the self-made men of America. Hardly twenty years ago he was a poor man, with but little more than a few clothes and a shovel. Nevertheless, he possessed those inherited qualities of pluck and energy which compel fortune to smile, and after prospecting for a time he discovered a good bank of clay suitable for brick. He commenced in a small way as a manufacturer, and now sells brick by the million. The father of J. W., James Markham, who is living under his roof, is a native of England, but settled in Canada at an early day and engaged in farming. His wife, Sarah, nee Pipe, lived to be fifty-two years of age, and he is now in his eightieth year. Of their union were born the following children: Mary Ann, who became the wife of John Rogers, of Wiarton, Ontario; David, who is engaged in the brick and lumber business at Osceola, this state; John, who enlisted in the Civil War, and died abo. 1865; Jacob, who died in childhood; James W.; Abraham, now working in the car-shops at Port Huron; Sarah, Mrs. Walter Miller, of Wiarton; Isaac, a teamster of Croswell, this state; Samuel, a resident of Hamilton, Ontario; Isadore, a Canadian farmer; Charles, who died in infancy; and Joseph M., now of Cincinnati. James W. Markham was born in Waterloo, Canada, April 29, 1847, and remained upon his father's homestead until eighteen years of age. His services were needed in the farm management, and as there were no schools convenient, his education was decidedly neglected. When in his nineteenth year he started out for himself and worked on a farm, after which he spent two years learning the brick-making trade. In 1868 he came to this state, and for a time worked in the lumber woods near Croswell. During this time he made some brick, and later put up a machine for the manufacture of this article at Benzonia. After operating the machine for a period, he looked about him for a favorable situation, and settled upon Traverse City as the best for his purposes. Her he made the acquaintance of Perry Hannah...For the first year his retail sales amounted to only about five thousand brick, but now he annually retails over half a million. His works have an annual output of abo. four million. May 12, 1875, Mr. Markham was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Smurthwaite at Port Huron. Her parents, Thomas and Lavinia Smurthwaite, were natives of England and Nova Scotia, respectively, and the former has reached his seventy-third, and the latter her sixty-ninth, year. Their eldest son, William, is deceased. Thomas makes his home in Manistee; Jane is Mrs. Elno E. Parrott, of Illinois; Mary is the wife of William Tucker, of Sand Beach, Mich.; Joseph and James are deceased; and Lavinia is the wife of I. D. Lane, of Sand Beach. In the management of his business, Mr. Markham has been greatly assisted by his wife, who is a companion and helpmate in every sense. She keeps the books of the concerns, makes the financial calculations, and is his private secretary. In politics Mr. Markham is identified with the Republican party, and socially he is a Mason of the Seventh Degree."

Excerpt from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan," published by Record Publishing Company of Chicago, 1895.