Henry Markham

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Henry Harrison Markham
Markham in 1892
18th Governor of California
In office January 8, 1891 – January 11, 1895
Lieutenant	John B. Reddick
Preceded by	Robert Waterman
Succeeded by	James Budd
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 6th district
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	William Vandever
Personal details
Born	(1840-11-16)November 16, 1840 Wilmington, New York, US
Died	October 9, 1923(1923-10-09) (aged 82) Pasadena, California, US
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary A. Dana ​ (m. 1876⁠–⁠1923)​
Children	5
Residence	Pasadena, California
Occupation	Lawyer, soldier and politician
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers Union Army
Years of service	1863–1865
Rank	2nd Lieutenant, USV
Unit	32nd Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Henry Harrison Markham (November 16, 1840 – October 9, 1923) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He was the 18th governor of California (1891–1895), and represented California's 6th congressional district during the 49th United States Congress (1885–1887). Earlier in life, he served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War.

Markham was born in Wilmington, New York, on November 16, 1840.^[1][2] He attended the common schools of his hometown and Wheeler's Academy in Vermont. He moved to Wisconsin in 1861.

During the Civil War, Markham enlisted as a private in Company G, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment; he was promoted to second lieutenant. Markham was part of General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864. He was wounded at the Battle of Rivers' Bridge in 1865, and discharged.

After the war Markham returned to Wisconsin and settled in Milwaukee, where he studied law and passed the bar in 1867. He practiced law in Milwaukee in the state and federal courts. In 1879, Markham moved to Pasadena, California and continued the practice of law.

Markham was elected as a Republican to the 49th Congress in 1884, but declined to seek renomination in 1886.

He was elected governor of California in 1890 and inaugurated in January 1891.^[1] During his term, California's economy suffered badly from the Panic of 1893. Hoping to boost economic recovery, Markham strongly backed the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park; it was a resounding success. Markham declined to seek a second term as governor in 1894.

In Pasadena Markham was on the school board and was one of the founders of the Pasadena public library. He was also part of the Calico Union Mining Company. During his run for governor he was referred to as "the dashing colonel from Pasadena," and he was a longtime member of the Pasadena Republican Club.

On May 17, 1876, Markham married Mary A. Dana in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He purchased a 23-acre ranch in Pasadena, California, and he and his family moved there in 1879. They had five daughters: Marie, Alice, Gertrude, Genevieve, and Hildreth.

On October 9, 1923, Markham died in his Pasadena home at age 82. He was interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena.^[1][2][3][4]

• United States Congress. "Henry Markham (id: M000134)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Treasure from the Painted Hills: A History of Calico, California, 1882–1907, page 18, By Douglas W. Steeples, David O. Whitten

• Media related to Henry Harrison Markham at Wikimedia Commons
• Works by or about Henry Markham at the Internet Archive
• Caltrans houses added to national listing for Markham Place Historic District at pasadenastarnews.com (2013)