Grant and Mary Lyons Markham b. 1868

Grant Markham 1868-1947
Son of James Markham and Marilda Whitney

Mary Lyons 1868-1940
Daughter of John Lyons and Fannie

The couple's children were:
Addie, Susie, Lillie, Clara, Lucile, Rosa, Ora, Olian(Otis), and Bertrand.

How does the couple connect to my family?
Grant Markham was a brother to my great grandfather,
Monroe Markham.

Photograph Courtesy of Otis Markham, Jr
Direct Descendant of the Couple

Mary, Mary

Mary Markham
Daughter of James and Anna Markham
My 1st cousin once removed
The name Mary was ranked the number one name for infant girls born between 1900-1959 and it was popular in the 1800s. The Hebrew meaning of the name is rebellion. The full name Mary Markham is common on my tree. When the name Mary Markham comes up in conversation, we refer to them as Monroe's Mary or James' daughter. We distinguish them by their husband or father.

Born with the Name
Mary Ann Markham born 1850 - Daughter of James and Marilda Whitney Markham
Mary Viola Markham born 1868- Daughter of James and Jane McCray Markham
Mary I Markham born 1871 - Daughter of Alexander and Sally Smiley Markham
Mary Markham born 1882 - Daughter of Melvin Wooley and Alice Markham
Mary Jane Markham born 1884 - Daughter of Monroe and Mary Byrd Markham
Mary Markham born 1900 - Daughter of James and Anna Culver Markham
Mary Markham b about 1950 - Daughter of Samuel David Markham, Jr

Mary Jane Byrd Markham
1855-1937
My Great Grandmother
Married Name
Mary Jane Byrd born 1855 - Wife of Monroe Markham
Mary Lyons born 1868 - Wife of Grant Markham
Mary Howard born 1870 - Wife of William Markham
Mary L Thompson born 1901 - Wife of Samuel Markham
Mary White born about 1920 - Wife of Willie Markham
Mary Jacobs born 1922 - Wife of Robert Winfield Markham, Sr

Photographs courtesy of Allie Mae Markham Moncrief and the late Jessie Mae Markham.
Yeah Baby

Double and Quadruple Cousins

Many people from small town USA with a long history in an area discover they are related on more than one branch of their family trees, which is the way it is with many of my cousins from Caseyville, MS. The Coleman, Markham, Scott and Thomas families intermarried.

Jessie Mae Markham and Nathaniel Thomas are double related. They are half 1st cousins and half second cousins once removed.

They share a common grandfather, Alex Thomas born about 1872, which makes them half first cousins. Alex had two wives; Louizer Coleman who is Nate's grandmother, and Roxanne Smith who is Jessie Mae's grandmother.

James Markham b. 1831, is Jessie Mae's great grandfather, and he is Nathaniel's 2nd great grandfather. James' wife Marilda Whitney is Jessie Mae's great grandmother; James' wife Jane McCray is Nathaniel's 2nd great grandmother. This connection makes them half second cousins once removed.

Felix James Markham is double related to Jessie Mae through their Markham and Thomas lines. Felix is a half 1st cousin and a 1st cousin once removed.

Nathaniel is quadruple related to Felix through their Coleman (twice), Markham and Thomas lines. Felix is a half 1st cousin, half 3rd cousin, 3rd cousin once removed, and half 4th cousin to Nathaniel.

Whew! Thank you familytreemaker.

Amanuensis Monday - Jane McLaurin Buie's Letter 1858

Jane McLaurin Buie (pictured) writes to her only daughter Missouri about every day life on the farm. According to my family's oral history, Jane and her husband David Buie were the last slave owners of my 2nd great grandmother Marilda Whitney Markham, born about 1829. I believe the Rilday mentioned in Jane's letter is my ancestor.

October the 25, 1858

Dear Daughter,

I received your letter of the 12 and was glad to hear that you were well. I was sorry to hear that Julia was not well. We are all well except som of the negroes that had the chill and fever. They relaps every weak or two. Rilday has bin quit sick. She is getting well. People are generally well. I am very sorry to hear that the typhus fever is in the colledge Your grandmother says for you not to youse snuff. I hope you will not get in such bad habits. Ophelia has gon to school to Fayett. Board is $15 a month with out washing. I have not heard how she likes the school. Naomi has another daughter. Mr. Morgan died week before last of typhus fever. It has bin very dry here. We had a fine rain today. My garden has done well doing to the wet wether in the spring and drouth of summer. we had more wet than could youse. We had fine cabage. We had a fine turnip patch. I cannot tell you how many chickens I raised. I have some fall chickens that look nice. I have raised about 16 turkeys. If hading bin for the redbugs I would have raised a grait meney more. I had bad luck your ducks there was only a few hatch and the hogs eat them up. Our cattle have not takin the blacktoung yet and I hope they will not. Your papa had to attend court last weak as grand juror and has to go back next weak. Your Uncle Milton had a good deal of sickness among the negroes. The children have bin a little sick. He lost one little negro. Your Aunt Betty says you are doing just rite to go off to school. The last time I saw Nancy she said she was going to write to you. I don't know why she has not wrote. David William talks of writing to you. They seam to be slow about it. Philip is as lively as ever. He is bothering me. You arbreviter is going fine. Prentice is learning very well. I cannot tell you what type of an examation dress to get but hope you will get one that will be of servis to you. I want to be careful and not dress thinly and not messy but with what you will be taking care of while you are in the care of Mrs. Johnston and Dr. McLain. We received a letter from Mrs. Johnston reflecting your progress in learning. We were well pleased. Mary Ann wanted her name put down and said howdy to you. Loucindy and Harriet and Mat howdy to you. Newton can walk with out his cruch. He can get along rite fast. He is healthy. Nothing more at present to write to you.

Remain your affectionate mother,
Jane Buie

Jane McLaurin was born December 21, 1821 in Waynesboro, MS, to Daniel McLaurin and Mary McLaurin and died February 23, 1906 in Copiah County, MS. She married David Buie May 28, 1840 in Mississippi, son of Neil Buie and Dorothy Mercer. David Buie was born February 07, 1807 in Georgia, and died October 19, 1871 in Copiah County, MS. This couple resided in Caseyville, MS. Their children were Joseph, Missouri, William, Prentiss, and Phillip.

Missouri Ann Buie was born 15 Jan 1844, Copiah Co., MS; died 04 Jun 1927.

Sources: Letter and photograph from Buie Family Papers - Z/1115.000/S
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Buie Homepage