Henry C. MARKHAM was born in New York City, July 24, 1812; he died at Mount Ayr, Ringgold county, Iowa, May 12, 1901. He was truly a pioneer, having lived in Iowa sixty-five years. His first halt on his western travels was in Ohio, but he came to Montrose, Lee county, Iowa, in 1836. That frontier post was then held by a detachment of United States soldiers. He was first employed as a clerk by an Indian trader. In the organization of Lee county he also took a part. Entering into the politics of the time he became deputy sheriff. While filling this office he participated in two famous "man hunts" — one for the HODGES brothers who murdered two Germans near West Point, and the other for the murderers of Col. DAVENPORT on Rock Island.

He married Miss Hannah REMINGTON, who resided near Montrose, in 1844, and the following spring started to remove overland to Oregon. The outfit consisted of "a prairie schooner" wagon drawn by a yoke of cows and two yokes of oxen. It was winter when they reached Council Bluffs, where he erected a rude log hut and remained until spring. He then determined to abandon the idea of going farther west and returned to Lee county.

He went into the mercantile business at Montrose, but some years afterward settled in Albia. He was appointed postmaster of that town by President Franklin PIERCE, and held the office four years. In 1859-60 he was sheriff of Mouroe county.

At the outbreak of the rebellion [Civil War] he entered the military service as Captain of company I, Eighth Iowa infantry. Suffering from bronchitis he was mustered out of the service, but promptly re-enlisted in "the graybeard regiment," where he became First Lieutenant of company G, from which he was discharged at the close of the war.

He settled at Mount Ayr in 1869, where he served as postmaster under President GRANT. He withdrew from active business in the later seventies, after which time he lived a retired life. That he was a useful man is attested by his services as a soldier, as well as by the positions he had filled in civil life. He was known as "a kindly, reputable and honorable citizen."

NOTE: Henry C. MARKHAM was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Hannah J. (REMINGTON) MARKHAM died on August 23, 1917, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.

SOURCE: Annals of Iowa p. 157. State Historical Society of Iowa. Des Moines. 1903.
WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009