George Markham was born at Holyoke, Mass., Nov. 9, 1885, and came to Bemidji at the age of 15 with his brother J. L. Markham, who was connected with the Beltrami County News. The brothers made their home with J. M. Markham, their uncle, who, until his death in 1905, operated the Markham hotel.
After leaving the hotel, George became timekeeper and later held a more responsible position in the office of the Crookston Lumber Company. His first venture in business was a partnership with Wm. Schisel under the name Markham Schisel Company conducting a general lumber and fuel business, which continued until his removal to Hibbing in the fall of 1906 to assume the management of the Hotel Miles, and in which he was part owner, being associated with C. H. Miles of this city. This business he carried on successfully until the property, which was the largest hotel in Northern Minnesota was destroyed by fire in November 1907.
After the fire, in which he suffered a heavy loss he attempted to organize a stock company to rebuild the house, but on the account of money stringency was unsuccessful, and in the summer of 1908 went to Culbertson, Montana where he secured a lease on a hotel and was to have taken charge August 1. During the interval he went to Kalispell to visit with the family of Geo. McCrea, who formerly lived here, and was stricken with the disease that claimed his life. Not being of a robust physique, he could not stand the ravages of pneumonia and after partly convalescing suffered a relapse.
The first news of his critical condition was a message to his brother, who left that night but failed to arrive before George Markham died on Aug 28, 1908. He brought the body back to Bemidji for services and burial. .
During his brief career, he took time from business affairs to officiate as secretary of the Bemidji Commercial club, and held same position at Hibbing. At the age of 20 he was
honored by being elected delegate to the republican state convention at Duluth, being 21 years old the day the convention met. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Sept 1, 1908)