My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES FREMONT MARKLEY, one of the prominent and representative citizens of Cumberland county, was born Aug, 29, 1856, in Butler township, Adams county, a son of John C. and Isabella A. (Weaver) Markley.

John C. Markley was born in 1831, in Franklin county, Pa., a son of Daniel and Anna (Cockley) Markley, of Lancaster county. Grandfather Markley removed to Cumberland county and engaged in farming near Slate Hill, in Lower Allen township, a few years afterward removing to Franklin county, where he farmed and owned a sawmill. Later he moved to Idaville in Adams county, and then retired, being advanced in years. John C. Markley received an excellent education, as his parents were in easy circumstances, and was reared to practical farming. He married Isabella A. Weaver, of Adams county, and after his marriage settled on a farm in Adams county which he operated until he engaged in the manufacture of windmills, of which he was a patentee. At a later date he resumed farming, in Butler township, Adams county. He became one of the most prominent and respected men of that locality, and for twenty-two years served as a justice of the peace. His father, Daniel Markley, was also a justice of the peace for many years, and his brother, Daniel H., served as such at York Springs, for thirty years. John C. Markley died in November, 1894, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at the U. B. Church at Center Mills, Adams county. His widow still survives. Children as follows were born to John C. Markley and his wife: Urith died young; Florence married John Brame, of Butler township, Adams county; Charles Fremont is mentioned below; Ruth Ann died young; Harry is a resident of Lemoyne; Georgia married Adam Hotz, of Harrisburg; Grace married Howard Newcomer, of Lemoyne; William, of Harrisburg, married Kitty Yoder.

Charles F. Markley attended the district schools in Butler township until he was fifteen years of age and remained on the home farm until he reached maturity. At the age of fifteen he began to learn the milling business, which he followed for fourteen years. In 1883 he left Adams county and located at Oyster’s Mill, on the Yellow Breeches creek, near Jacksonville, Cumberland county, remaining there for the best part of three years, operating the mill for Elias Oyster. He then operated the Henry Brechbill mill, near Mt. Holly, for one year, and then the Craighead mill, at Craighead Station, for four years. Mr. Markley then removed to Harrisburg for two years and was in the employ of the Reading Railroad Co., in the freight department, for about six years. In 1895 he came to Lemoyne. With Clarence Crow, and later with Robert Byers, he formed what was known as the Lemoyne Cigar Box Mfg. Co., an enterprise which was continued for three years. Since then Mr. Markley has followed contract plastering. In 1900 he was elected to the office for which the members of this family seem, by nature, to be especially fitted, that of justice of the peace. His term of office continues until 1905, and doubtless he will fill the responsible position for many more years.

Mr. Markley was married, in 1878, in Adams county, to Alice G. Frazier, a daughter of Stephen S. Frazier, formerly a carpenter at York Springs, where he was born. Mr. Frazier followed carpenter work and cabinetmaking until he enlisted for service in the Civil war, in 1862 entering Company I. 165th P. V. I., and he died in the hospital at Norfolk, Va., in 1863. At a later date the members of his Company, by whom he was much beloved, had his body embalmed and reburied at York Springs, and in a body followed the remains to their last resting place. He was a Republican in his political attitude, having been a Whig in earlier life, and in religion he was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. After an interval of fourteen years Mrs. Frazier was married to Philip Beamer, who died in December, 1892. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Frazier were as follows: Ellen married Eli LaRue, of York Springs; Florence married Levi Smith, of Kansas City; Alice G. became Mrs. Markley; Stephen, of York Springs, married Alice Mengas. The Frazier family was established in the United States by John Frazier, the grandfather of Mrs. Markley, who was probably born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage. He came to America in young manhood, married (first) Polly Proctor, and (second) Hannah Smith, and died at York Springs, of which he was one of the founders. The children of his first marriage were: Stephen S.; Elizabeth, Mrs. Jacob Tanger, of Adams county; Proctor, who died young; and of his second union: Emily, Mrs. Simon Musselman, of Dayton; Eliza, Mrs. Samuel Greer, of Tadmor, Ohio; and Ellen, Mrs. Milton Singer, of Dayton, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Markley are members of the U. B. Church at Wormleysburg, in which both are active, Mr. Markley being one of the teachers in the Sunday-school. They have two children, Clarence and Helen. Politically, he is a Republican, and fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen.