Monroe's ChildrenSamuel & David Markham - Child 13 and 14Samuel 1898-1981David 1898-1898

Samuel David Markham, Sr.

Samuel and David Markham were the first set of twins born to Monroe and his wife Mary. The boys were the couple's 13th and 14th child, the last sons born to them. They were born on 04 Oct 1898 in Caseyville, a rural community in Lincoln County, Mississippi. David died shortly after birth and the couple decided to combine the names of their sons for the surviving son, Samuel David would be his name. The census records show he like the rest of Monroe's children could read and write.

He married Rosanna Thomas, daughter of Alex Thomas and Roxanne Smith, in 1922.

Monroe maintained a relationship with the David Buie family until his death in 1931. David Buie was the Markham's family enslaver. Monroe b. 1852 was given to Prentiss Buie b. 1850 when they were both young children.

Hallie Buie, Prentiss Buie's daughter, shared this> about Samuel in a 1936 letter she wrote to her sister Prential.

The Old Home
July 21, 1936

My Dear Prential,
The box came alright, thank you. I know you are wondering how I get things done. Well, I have found out that is all right for Samuel Markham to come down here, he has a corn field rented from Estelle and comes to get their corn to have ground. I just don’t know what they could do without him. I hope you will not mention this--he has a mailbox and if we need him for anything we drop him a card and he comes right over. He lives on the Adams place. His house is located about a mile from this one. He charges ten cents for bringing things from Mr. Smith’s and twenty cents from Lamar’s, charges for the time and not the size of the package, large or small the same price, he certainly is nice about it. He just happened to come along the day the box came. he said, “Dat box aint hebby.”

Samuel and his wife Rosanna had four children. Their first child, an unnamed daughter, was born prematurely and died one day after her birth in 1923. Jessie Mae was born in 1925, Velma "China" in 1928, and Samuel David Jr., in 1932.

Samuel was a farmer who eventually owned his own land, which remains in his family.

Samuel died on 02 Jul 1981 in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

Monroe's Children Mattie Markham Vaughn Hall ~ Child 12 1894 - abt. 1965

Mattie Markham is the 12th child of Monroe and Mary. She was born in August 1894, in Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS. Mattie married John Vaughn in 1921. Mattie was John's second wife. He was previously married to one of Mattie's first cousins Colar Markham.

Mattie and John had seven children: James Davis, Ralph Edward, Ada Frances, Mary Jeniece, Helen Joanne, Robert, and Helen.

Years after John's death, she married Will Hall. Mattie died about 1965.

Mattie is the one standing

Monroe's ChildrenWillie Markham ~ Child 91888-1971

William "Willie" Louis Markham was the 9th child of Monroe Markham and his wife Mary. He was almost a Christmas baby, born 23 Dec 1887, at home in Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS.

Like many of his siblings, he remained home until marriage when he married Fredonia Culver in an almost Christmas wedding on 30 Dec 1913. He was 26 years old.

The young couple experienced heartache starting their family. They lost 2 boys. Archie Gilchrist born, in 1914, lived almost two months dying of pneumonia. Unnamed male born in 1915 only lived a few days. According to his death certificate, there was "no physican for this child, but think from history was not right when borned."

. The couple had four healthy, thriving children: Joyce Mae born 1918, Willie Mae born 1919, Robert Winfield born 1922, and Arthur Whitfield born 1920. Three of the children moved to California, one remained in Mississippi. All the children are now deceased.

How did Willie provide for his family? In 1920, the census records described his job as a furrier, one who makes, alters, repairs and restyles garments and other articles made of fur. He was working for a wage in 1930, driving a truck for a wholesale grocery. By 1940, he was an operator working his own account, and in 1950 he was a dishwasher at the City Baker. By the time I got to know him, the family described what he did as a gardener.

Willie was a tall, friendly uncle who could read and write. He owned his own home and a few acres of land. He lived next door to his sister Beatrice. My child's mind of Willie's house was that it was a huge wood frame, white washed house with a high roof and steeped steps. The house had a screened in porch where they hung pieces of meat. Uncle Willie owned a piano and from time to time we could hear him playing familiar hymns when we visited his sister Aunt Bea.

Uncle Willie and his family welcome their relatives from rural Mississippi communities who wanted to complete their high school education in the city of Brookhaven. Cousin Allie spoke often about sharing a bed with her two cousins Joyce and Willie Mae.

Willie died in 1971, and his wife Fredonia died in 1977.

Willie's Obituary
Fredonia's Obituary

Monroe's ChildrenLou Ella Markham Howard ~ Child 81885-1966

Lou Ella Markham Howard
Lou Ella was the daughter of Monroe Markham and his wife Mary. Louella was born 16 Aug 1885 during the presidential administration of Grover Cleveland. She was seen in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 federal censuses in the household of her parents with a large number of siblings, living in rural Caseyville, Lincoln County, Mississippi. Lou Ella could read and write and worked as a farm laborer during this time.

She married Elijah Howard 14 May 1924 at the age of 38 years, The couple was missed in the 1930 census but reappeared in the 1940 and 1950 census, living in Brookhaven, Lincoln County, Mississippi, with just the two of them in the household. They lived in the same home in both censuses. The 1940 census shows that Lou Ella did not work any in 1939 but in 1950 she is listed as working as a babysitter.

I remember Lou Ella as a tall, lanky woman who wore thick cotton stockings and an apron with her clothing. She was friendly and gave warm hugs. Her husband Elijah wore a dark suit with a tie. His shirt was white and he wore suspenders. I remember he loved ice cream and when we would visit he would go to the store and get ice cream. He would buy each of us children a small cup of Borden's vanilla ice cream that came with a flat wooden spoon. We would sit on the back porch with our legs dangling over the porch enjoying every spoonful.

Elijah died in 1964.

Aunt Lou Ella moved in with her sister Aunt Bee (Beatrice) who was already taking care of another sister, my grandmother Alice. Lou Ella died May 1966 in Brookhaven.

Lou Ella's Obituary

Monroe's ChildrenMary Jane Markham "Polly" ~ Child 71884-1950

1910 Census of Monroe Markham Household
Mary Jane Markham, the 7th child of Monroe Markham and his wife Mary was born in 1883, Caseyville, Mississippi, the same year Sojourner Truth died. Mary Jane was known as Polly for most of her life. Polly was the name of a character in a school play which Mary Jane was the actress. Because the name was repeated several times during the play, family and neighbors started cally Mary Jane, Polly. The name stuck and she became known as Polly.

Mary was eight years old on the 1892 educable children lists. The 1900 census indicates she was born in Dec 1883. She is 16, single, can read and write, and is the eldest daughter in the household of 12 people. By 1910, she is 25 years old, and the eldest of 9 siblings. The 1920 household has 10 people and at 36 yrs of age, she still reigns as the eldest sibling. The age of Polly decreases in 1930, she is 40, should be about 45-46. She is the only child in the household of her elderly parents. The parents are deceased in 1940. Polly, 52, is living with a younger sister and her husband, Silas and Beatrice Markham Johnson. She is unemployed from her job as farm laborer.

I never met her, Aunt Polly died before I was born.

She was the first Markham sister who did not marry, nor have children. She died in 1950.

Monroe's Children Nellie Markham Coleman - Child 6 1882-1969

I don't think I met Aunt Nellie or any of her's descendants. Through various documents is how I know of them. DNA matching with several of Nellie's descendants has open a door of communication with Nellie's descendants.

Nellie was the 6th child born to Monore and his wife Mary, born 03 Aug 1881, in Caseyville, Lincoln County, Mississippi. The 1892 Educable Children Lists first bears witness to Nellie existence as a 10 year child in the household of her parents. She is next seen in the 1900 census as a 17 year old wife to Clarence Coleman. The young couple married in Feb 1899, and they were living next door to Clarence's parents Richard and Rosalie Coleman in Caseyville. By 1910, the couple had moved to Gallman, a small community in Copiah County, where they would remain in subsquent censuses. Four children were added to the 1910 household. One additional daughter was added in 1920. By 1940, all of Clarence and Nellie's children had left the nest but living with the couple were grandchildren and a great grandson.

Nellie and Clarence's children were:
1) Louella Coleman (1903-1985) who married Green Dock Byrd. The couple had 13 children: Tamzella, Lela Virginia, Eddie Bell, Warren Frank, Eddie Frank, Robert Charles, Ethel Lee, Ella Green, Herbert Charles, Floyd Evans, Esterine, and a set of twin daughters who died shortly after birth.

2) Leola Coleman (1905-1989) married unknown Johnson, no children were born to the union.

3) Samuel David Coleman (1907-2000) married Rosie Belle Louie. Their children were: Hazel, Samuel Jr., Willard Lee, Louie Ellis, Bobby Jean, Charles Ray, Lois Yvonne, Markus, Linda, Larry Ronald, and Vanessa.

4) Jay C Coleman (1908-1973) married Mattie B Wallace and Mae Alice Clay. No known children were born to these unions.

5) May D Coleman (1912-?) married Unknown Williams. No known children were born to this union.

6) Infant Male (1913-1913) stillborn

Nellie's children settled in Indiana, Michigan and Wiscosin.

Nellie died 21 Mar 1869 of natural causes in Hazlehurst, Mississippi.

Nellie's Death Certificate

Monroe's Children Octavius Augustus Markham ~ Child 5 1879-1952

Octavis

Octavius August Markham was the fifth child, the fourth son born to Monroe Markham and his wife Mary. Octavius was born in the year 1879, when milk was first sold in glass bottles, on Feb 2. He was known as the sickly son born with allergies and likely asthmatic. Octavius health conditions prevented him from being as prosperous with farming as his siblings. He managed with the help of his children, his faith, and determination.

Mamie Culver married Octavius on 10 Jun 1903, in Lincoln County, Mississippi.

Mamie and Evie Jane

Octavius encouraged his children to acquire as much education that was available. Octavis' children may have been the first of Monroe's grandchildren to obtain college degrees.

Eva Jane

The couple's first child was Evie Jane, known later as Eva Jane, who was born 10 May 1907. She was a public school teacher. She never married nor had children. Eva died 16 Aug 1993 in Jackson, MS.

Larry David, aka LD, was born on 2 Jul 1909. He was a World War II veteran. When lumber companies came to the Brookhaven area seeking men to work in the lumber industry and willing to relocate to northern California, LD was one of the first to go west. He worked for the Mt. Shasta Kimberly-Clark Corporation Plant. He married Leontine Luceil Bearden Gearing. No children were born to the union. LD died 12 Sep 1962, in Siskiyou County, California.

Mamie and son Larry David

Allie Mae was born 29 Sep 1911. She earned her high school dipolma through a program sponser by a Franklin D Roosevelt program. Allie worked as a domestic, public school teacher and insurance agent. Allie married John Moncrieft and no children were born to the union. Allie died 28 Sep 2016, one day shy of her 105th birthday.

John and Allie Markham Moncrief

Twin daughters Louvella and Louvenia were born on 13 Nov 1914. Their father chose rhyming names for his daughters but in 1899 when he named his twin sisters non-rhyming names, Beatrice and Missouri, his community complained. I suppose Octavius decided to conform to community standards when he named his daughters. Louvella graduated from Alexander High School in Brookhaven, MS. After high school, she attended Alcorn and Jackson State University where she received a B. S. degree in elementary education. She taught children in various schools in the Lincoln County area. Louvella never married nor had children. She died in January 1994.

Louvella

Louvenia graduated from Alexander High School. She received her B. S. degree from Alcorn State University and her master's degree from Tennessee State University in Home Economics. She never married nor had children. She died on 30 May 1996.

Louvenia

Early, a veteran of World War II was born 9 Sep 1917. He followed his brother LD to California to work in the lumber industry. He worked 28 years for the Mt. Shasta Kimberly-Clark Corporation Plant. In 1962, he married Myrtis Smith Hilliard. No children were born to the union. Early died 14 Jul 1998 in Beaverton, Oregon.

Early

The last child of Octavius and Mamie was Marilda Louise who was born on 20 Jun 1920. Marilda was the only child to make Octavius and Mamie grandparents. She married Ely Diggs in 1947. The couple had one son, James. She died 24 Jun 1987 in Jackson, MS.

Marilda

Octavius died in 1952 of kidney disease. His wife Mamie lived several more years and died in 1971. They both died in Lincoln County, MS.

Monroe's ChildrenEudora Markham Coleman - Child 4 1877 - 1948

Henry and Eudora

Finally, Monroe and his wife Mary were blessed with a daughter after three boys. She was born in the winter of January 1877, in the Caseyville village of Lincoln County. Eudora was not seen on the 1880 census but her birth year is consistent in the census and other records. The educable children's lists for 1885 and 1892 has Eudora as 8 years and 14 years, respectfully.

Eudora married Henry Coleman on 16 Dec 1896, in Lincoln County, MS. They were successful farmers on the land they purchased in Copiah County, MS, and were inspirational community leaders. After taking care of her family, Dora would sit in the evenings teaching her husband how to read. Henry's goal was to be able to read God's word. He would become successful in the ministry becoming a pastor at the family's church, Galilee AME Church in Caseyville, MS.

Dora was called Sister Dora by several of her younger siblings. Dora and Henry had 15 children, coming close to the 17 children Dora's mother gave birth to. Dora and her mother would both give birth to children in the same years. Dora died on 27 Sep 1948 in Brookhaven, MS.

Eudora and Henry's Children were:

1)Smylie Arthur (1897-1991) married Joanna Benson.
Children born to this union were: Ada, Ludora, daniel, Dorothy, Dorcas, Jurlean, Roosevelt, Smylie Jr, Elmer, and Willie.

2)Nellie Mae (1899-1978) married Mr Williams

3)Clara Jane (1900-1995) married Samuel Oatis and David Tyler. No children were born to these unions.

4)Emmitt Guster (1901-1976) married Estella Williams.
Their children were Ruby, Hazel,, Booker T, Ethel, Ollie, James, and Ora.

5)Grover Cleveland (1903-1965) married Amanda Brooks and Ollie Justice Bell.
Grover and Amanda's children were: Johnnie Mae, Earnestine, and Margaret.

6)James Edward (1904-1981) married Laura Brooks.

7)Henry Webb (1906-1992) married Mattie Lee Baker and Ethel Myers.
Henry and Mattie's children were: Allie, Edith, Dewitt, Brunetta, Clara, Ina, and Leroy.
Henry and Ethel's child was Ethel.

8)Anderson (1908-?)

9)Albert B 1909-?)

10)Dorcus Ethel(1910-2000) married Ulysses Williams.
Their children were Theodora, Leatha, and Jeanette.

11)Gladys (1912-1981) married Johnny Hughes, Jr.

12)Lewis Larry (1915-1976)

13)Ira Bryant (1916-1956)

14)Stillborn Female (1918-1918)

15)Woodrow Wilson (1919-2010) married Odessa Tucker.
Their children were: Maggie, Woodrow Jr, Degina, Dorothy, Walter, Mattie, Ann, and Delois.

Monroe's ChildrenJoseph Markham - Child 31876 - ?

My great grandparents Monroe and Mary Byrd Markham had a total of 17 children, who were born between 1872 thru 1903. I started this series in 2017 and only completed the 1st of 17 children. Let's see if I can complete this in 2021.

Well, it is another boy for Monroe and his wife Mary. The boy was the 3rd child and the third son born on the same land where his father was enslaved near Caseyville, Mississippi. Keeping with the family tradition of naming their sons after biblical men beginning with the letter "J", the couple named this son Joseph who was born about 1876. Joseph was listed as 4 years on the 1880 Federal census. On the 1880 census, Monroe is listed as 28 yrs old, and his wife Mary is 25 yrs old. This is the only document where Joseph appears and he was unknown to elderly cousins.

The 1885 Educable Children List is a document where Joseph should have been named. This list consisted of all school age children. Joseph would be about nine years old in 1885. His siblings were named but Joseph was not.

Joseph likely died between 1880 and 1885.

Monroe's Children John Markham - Child 21875-1959

My great grandparents Monroe and Mary Byrd Markham had a total of 17 children, who were born between 1872 thru 1903. I started this series in 2017 and only completed the 1st of 17 children. Let's see if I can complete this in 2021.

It's a boy, the second son, and second child for Monroe Markham and his wife Mary. John Markham was born about 1875 in rural Lincoln County, Mississippi. The first Kentucky Derby was held in 1875, an event in which the parents likely had little interest, and several African Americans were killed in terrorist attacks in Vickburg, an event that likely held the attention of John's parents.

On the 1880 census, John was listed as 6 years old. He was in the household with his parents, and brothers James, Joseph, and Buddy (Octavius). He was listed on the 1892 Lincoln County Children's List as 16 years of age, and he could read and write. Relatives said he was good with numbers. He married Ida Blue during the holiday season on 31 Dec 1896. Ida was the daughter of John Blue and Amanda English.

Dysfunctional behavior is common in families. What I am about to share is common knowledge within the family but just in case you meet someone who does not know the story, you can keep this between you, me, and the gatepost.

In 1900, John, his wife Ida, and their two young children Samuel and Arlynch lived with his parents-in-law, along with other relatives. Clara Blue was in that 1900 household as a 9-year-old. She is listed as a niece to the head of the family John Blue. Relatives have said she was the daughter of John Blue. No matter the relationship between Clara and John Blue, John Markham had an illicit relationship with his wife's 13/14-year-old relative. This relationship produced a son and damaged the bridge between John and his parents.

Between 1910 and 1930, John's family with his wife grew with seven children, mostly girls as is common in Markham men households, five daughters, and two sons. His wife Ida died in 1934.

John was a preacher and made his living as a tenant farming, working the land he rented. He was tending his fields one comfortable autumn day in October 1937 when he noticed a funeral processional going toward Galilee AME Church. When he questioned out loud a fellow worker, whose funeral was to be held at the church. The worker told him, "that's your Ma."

John Markham and Ida Blue's Children
Samuel Allis (1897-1973) married Mary Liza Thompson. They settled in Los Angeles
Arylynch (1900-1965) married Lessie Wilson. They settled in Georgia.
Cora Lee (1902-2002) married Daniel Coleman. They remained in Mississippi.
Dora Mae (1907-2001) married J W Johnson.
Manda (1908-?) was only seen on the 1910 census. She likely died in infancy or early childhood.
Ora Lee (1910-2002) married Oscar Lee Henderson and Ernest Johnson. She settled in Los Angeles.
Ada Elnora (1913-1999) married N Z Robinson. They remained in Mississippi.

Ora Lee, Ada Elnora, Cora Lee, and Dora May

John Markham and Clara Blue's Son
Virgil Markham (1905-1983) married Christine Holloway. They remained in Mississippi.

Virgil was not raised by either of his parents. Asiome and Carrie Smith, an aunt and uncle per census records, raised Virgil.

John did not remarry and remained in Lincoln County, Mississippi, where he died 02 Feb 1959, of hypertensive heart disease.

Monroe's Children James Markham - Child 1

My great grandparents Monroe and Mary Byrd Markham had a total of 17 children, who were born between 1872 thru 1903. Here is a sketch of the life of their first child, James Markham

James was born 12 Nov 1872, in Caseyville, Lincoln County, Mississippi. His parents had been free for almost eight years. Reconstruction was nearing an end and Ulysses S. Grant was President. His parents were living on the Prentiss Buie's place, the same land where his father had been enslaved.

Both of the grandfathers were named James, the likely reason for the first born son's name.

He was known as a well to do Negro. He was a farmer and preacher who owned his own land and was self-sufficient. He was described as a tall, dark, slender man.

James was first documented on the 1880 census, first seen as an eight-year-old in the household of his parents Monroe, Mary, and three siblings. He was in school and is named on the 1885 and 1892 educable children lists.

Anna Culver Markham

He married Anna/Annie Culver in 1895 when he was 17 years of age. She was the daughter of Daniel W. Culver and Margaret Ross. Together the couple had 2 sons and 5 daughters. Census records indicate that James, his wife, and children were all literate.

He was last seen in the 1930 census, 50 years old, the only man in a household of women. Anna was 54 years old, and daughters Bessie, Elizabeth, Theodosia, Alberta and granddaughter Earline were in the home. James' son Asirah was deceased. The oldest daughter Mary was living in Chicago with her brother James Monroe. Both had good jobs, James was a Pullman Porter and Mary was a beauty culturist.

James died in 1936 of pernicious anemia. This type of anemia occurs when the body can’t absorb enough vitamin B-12, which is needed to make healthy red blood cells. His wife Anna remained in Caseyville.

By 1940, The widowed Anna was the head of the household which included her daughter Elizabeth, and brother Memphis Humphreys. All the other children were married, living in or near Chicago. Elizabeth would go to be with her siblings after her mother's death in 1952.

James and Anna's children were:

James Monroe Markham, 1897-1985
He married Ida May Thomas and Mildred Weathersby. He lived in Chicago and was a Pullman Porter. He had two children, Earline and Felix James.

Mary 1900-1985
She married Wallace Young and Jay Livey. Mary was a beautician. She did not have children.

Asirah 1905-1923
He died tragically of an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound. He did not have children.

Bessie 1906-1996
Bessie married Earnest L Holloway. Their children were Edith Mae, Annie Pearl and Mary L.

Elizabeth 1908-1989
She did not marry nor had children.

Theodosia 1912-1960
She married Tolson Culver. Their children were Samuel McThay, James Oliver, Patricia Ann, John Douglas, and David M.

Alberta Markham 1913-2006
She married Joseph McCrory. Their children were Mary, Odia, Otis, Osizy, Robert, Olivia, and Lois.