Joseph M. Markham was born at Chester, Mass., Jan. 24,1858. He came to Minnesota in 1877 and worked on a farm, subsequently going to the woods for employment. He worked as a woodsman for a number of years, but in 1882 he was elected sheriff of Aitkin county. He served in this capacity for 10 years and was afterwards elected to the state legislature, serving two years as a member of that body. At the conclusion of his term of office, Mr. Markham built the Foley hotel at Aitkin, but at the end of two years he disposed of the establishment and went to St. Hilaire, where he erected the Markham hotel.
On Sept. 15, 1898, he came to Bemidji and established the Hotel Markham in this city. He was married to his present wife in Aitkin in 1883, her maiden name being Miss Belle Brandon of Barron, Wis.
Joseph M. Markham died at Hot Springs, Ark., Saturday, Sept. 23, 1905. Funeral services were held from the city hall. The services were quite simple, but impressive.
Shortly before 2 o’clock the remains were taken from the Hotel Markham, where they had been held since their arrival in Bemidji, to the city hall, and placed at the front end of the hall. The services began immediately with a funeral sermon delivered by Rev. Thomas Broomfield of the First Baptist church. This was followed with a hymn sung by the Bemidji quartette, after which Hon. W. S. McClenahan of Brainerd made a short address. In his speech Judge McClenahan told of the friendship that had existed between himself and the deceased, and expressed deep sorrow at the untimely death of a man who had for years been so prominently identified with the growth and development of northern Minnesota. Another hymn by the quartette and a short prayer by Rev. Broomfield concluded the services. The floral decorations were excellent, and the casket was literally strewn with beautiful and costly flowers.
After those in attendance had been given an opportunity to take a farewell glance at the features of Mr. Markham, the remains were taken to the hearse by the pallbearers, who were: J. W. Irwin, W. A. Gould, J. F. Gibbons, Judge M. A. Spooner, C. M. Bacon and Thos. Bailey, Sr.
The funeral was one of the most largely attended ever held in Bemidji. Long before the services had commenced every seat in the city hall had been taken and before they had ended standing room was at a premium and a large number of people could not gain admittance to the hall.
The funeral procession to Greenwood cemetery was headed by the Bemidji band and hundreds of people in carriages escorted the remains to their last resting place. A short service at the grave concluded the exercises, and the remains were consigned to the tomb. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Oct 2, 1905)
MRS. MARKHAM DEAD
Mrs. Bell Markham, of Virginia, for many years a resident of Bemidji, died at Duluth on August 26, 1914, following an operation for gallstone. Mrs. Markham had been ill for several weeks, but not until last Sunday, when she was taken, from her home to Duluth, did her condition become serious. Mrs. Markham was born in Barron, Wisconsin, October 31, 1860.
Services were conducted at the Presbyterian church for Mrs. Belle Markham. Interment was made in Greenwood cemetery, beside the body of Joseph Markham, her husband.
The pall bearers were P. J. Russell, William McCuaig, Emil Schneider, Clyde Bacon, Al. H. Jester and Senator A. J. Swedback, all friends of Mrs. Markham during her residence in Bemidji. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Aug 27, 1914).