BIOGRAPHIES: Arthur A. MARKHAM, Independence, Trempealeau Co., WI

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Arthur A. Markham, a substantial pioneer of quiet tastes, was born at 
Bagnere de Bigorre, in the Pyrennes, France, June 8, 1840, the fourth son 
of John and Marianne G. D. (Wood) Markham, with whom he came to America in 
1857, and to the present site of Independence in 1867, he and his parents 
having spent the preceding winter at Black River Falls, while his brother 
George H. had located the family estate at Independence.  Arthur A. Markham 
being a younger brother of George H. and of a retiring disposition was not 
so well known in the community.  He had no taste for public life and devoted 
his time almost entirely to the improvement of the large farm.  He did, 
however, act as treasurer of the town of Burnside, being its first 
treasurer, and also acted as secretary of the "Grange," a farmers' 
organization which was quite influential in the early '70s.  (The "Grange" 
obtained supplies from the Montgomery Company, of Chicago, the start of the 
mail order business.)  He belonged to no secret orders, except the Good 
Templars.  He was married June 24, 1874, to Rose C. Bishop, daughter of 
Collins Bishop, the first settler of Arcadia.  They had six children, four 
boys and two girls:  John Albert, born Sept. 6, 1875, and Claron Arthur, 
born Jan. 3, 1878, are practicing attorneys, the first named of 
Independence, and the last named of Beaver Dam, Wis.  Marianne Emily 
Markham, the third child, was born July 21, 1883.  She has not married and 
resides with her parents on the old Markham farm just within the village 
limits.  The fourth child, Frederick Clements, was born June 13, 1885.  He, 
as did his brothers and sisters, completed the course of study at the high 
school of Independence, and at once settled upon the old farm, after taking 
some advanced study at Madison in agriculture.  He married Inez Leonard, of 
Pottersville, Mich., July 4, 1916.  The fifth child, William Hughes, was 
born Dec. 13, 1888.  After his graduation at the home schools he attended 
Appleton College and then completed the law course at the University of 
Minnesota, and is now practicing law at Horicon, Wis.  He married Mae 
Spencer, of St. Charles, Minn., June, 1915, and has one son.  The sixth 
child, Blanche Fannie Markham, was born Feb. 18, 1890, who after completing 
the local high school took special training in music and normal work and 
has taught school several years, at present teaching music and English at 
the Juneau (Wis.) High School.

--From the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 709 - 710.