My Genealogy Hound

JAMES JONES MARKWITH, retired farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Greenville ; among the early settlers of Darke Co., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch takes a place in the front rank; he was born in Hamilton Co.. Ohio, Oct. 3, 1818; he is a son of John C. Markwith, who was born in Essex Co., N. J. in November, 1774. He was married in New Jersey to Elizabeth Muckridge; she was born in the same State about the year 1786; they came to Ohio in 1810, and located in Hamilton Co., and came to Darke Co. in 1820, and located in what is now Van Buren Township, where he entered land, and where he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 30, 1836. Mrs. Markwith died in 1861. The subject of our sketch came to Darke Co. with his parents in 1820, and is consequently, one of the early pioneers; his education was obtained in an old log schoolhouse with stick and mud chimney, the fireplace extending across the end of the building, and at the same time, his eldest son attended the same school; he remained with his father until the decease of the latter, after which he remained with his mother until April 1, 1838, when he was united in marriage with Sarah Ashley; she was born in Ohio March 1, 1821, and died in Darke Co. Nov. 23, 1846; they were the parents of three children, viz.: Morrison M., born Aug. 29, 1839; Elizabeth, born Nov. 7, 1841, died April 7, 1843; Mary Jane, born Oct. 11, 1844, died April 22, 1847. His marriage with Barbara Brown was celebrated Oct. 24, 1847; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Dec. 26, 1821; seven sons and three daughters were the fruit of this union, all of whom are now living, viz.: Estha, born Aug. 19, 1848; John A., born Dec. 28, 1849; Ira, born Nov. 14, 1851; James W., born Feb. 21, 1853; Samuel M., born April 19, 1854; Andrew L., born April 26, 1856; Aaron F., born Sept. 23, 1858; Martha J., born April 17, 1861; Hannah B., born Nov. 27, 1862; George Abraham Lincoln, born March 6, 1866. Upon the marriage of Mr. Markwith, he commenced for himself upon the old homestead, and after farming one year, then purchased 80 acres of timber in Neave Township, for which he was to pay $651; at this time his capital consisted of $25, and one horse; upon this place he lived some nineteen years, during which time he had cleared some 60 acres, and, in 1857, he disposed of the above farm, purchased 176 acres in Van Buren Township, upon which he moved and lived until 1878, when he settled upon his present place of 26 acres; located within 40 rods of the corporation limits of the city of Greenville. Mr. Markwith commenced life without capital, and has suffered the privations and hardships of frontier life, and has by his own hard labor and correct business habits, secured a good fortune; he has now 276 acres in Van Buren Township and his home residence; he is another of the self-made men of Darke Co. He is a Republican in politics, but has never had any aspiration for office; he has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Christian Church for a period of upward of forty years; his wife also being a member of same church, and seven of the children also being members of different churches. Morrison M., being a preacher of the Gospel in the Methodist belief, is located at Zanesville, Logan Co., Ohio.