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Below is a family biography included in Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1903.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William Malkim, a prosperous, enterprising farmer of Oakland County, Michigan, residing on his farm of 80 acres in section 16, Pontiac township, was born in the city of Detroit, Michigan, October 9, 1851, and is a son of George and Katherine (Grant) Malkim.

George Malkim was a native of County Cork, Ireland. Enlisting at an early age in the English Army, he served six years and 142 days; he received his discharge while in Africa. Returning to Ireland, he stayed there a short time and then came to America, landing in New York City. He was married in the metropolis to Katherine Grant, a native of County Down, Ireland, and not long after with his wife removed to Detroit, Michigan, where he started a dairy, which he ran for two years. His success in the milk business netted him such profits that he decided to invest in farming property. Thereupon he removed to Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield township, Oakland County, and there purchased a farm which he worked for 42 years. His farming operations having provided him with a competency, he sold his farm and removed to the city of Pontiac, where he lived in practical retirement until his death in 1900. He built quite a number of houses in Pontiac and Detroit, and when he died was the owner of seven houses. He reared four children, namely: Crawford, a contractor and builder of Los Angeles, California; William, our subject; Frank, who resides in Pontiac and is engaged in the life insurance business; and Maggie (White), deceased. George Malkim in his political views was a Republican. He was a pronounced temperance advocate, and in this connection he was a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars. He was an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

William Malkim, our subject, was two years old when his father located at Orchard Lake. He spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the district schools which he finished when 16 years of age. He was then engaged in farm work until he was 24 years old, when he went to Knoxville, Tennessee, in company with Edwin Phelps of Pontiac, and Joe Harger, and O. C. Irish, of West Bloomfield township, with the idea of finding a place where they could raise stock without the necessity of putting up feed to feed the stock in cold weather. Failing in this object, they secured a franchise in Knoxville for a street railroad and built the road, which our subject operated for over three years and then returned to Pontiac. Purchasing a farm at Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield township, Oakland County, he worked it for 13 years, then sold it and bought his present place, consisting of 80 acres in section 16, Pontiac township, which he has worked ever since. He has at present one of the finest and most highly cultivated farms in his section of the county.

On April 14, 1876, Mr. Malkim was married to Elizabeth White, a native of West Bloomfield township, Oakland County, and they are the parents of one son, Carl J., who lives at home. Politically, our subject is a Republican, and is highly respected by his neighbors for his good citizenship and for the efforts he has put forth in assisting to build up and improve the community.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published in 1903. 

View additional Oakland County, Michigan family biographies here: Oakland County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Oakland County, Michigan here: Oakland County Michigan Map

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