History of Oregon City, (Clackamas County) Oregon United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Oregon City, (Clackamas County) Oregon, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Edwin Markham - A Biography

Edwin Markham, poet, was born in Oregon City, Ore., April 23, 1852; son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Winchell) Markham; grandson of Judge Robert Winchell and of Israel Markham, and a descendant of early setters in Pennsylvania and New England and of English or Welsh ancestry. His father took the family to Oregon, crossing the plains from Michigan, but died while the poet was in boyhood. His mother removed to near Suisun City, Cal., with her sons, and with the help of Edwin carried on a wheat ranch and cattle range. He attended the State Normal school, San Jose, Cal., for several years, and was graduated in 1872. After this he took a classical course in Christian college, San Rosa. He took a course in law, but never practised, entering soon after upon educational work, as superintendent and principal of public schools, and in 1898 was head-master of the University Observation school in Oakland, California. In 1899 he made a lecturing tour under the auspices of the S.S. McClure lecture bureau. He was married, June 18, 1897, to Anna Catherine Murphy, of the family of Father Prout, author of "Shandon Bells." Mr. Markham devoted his leisure time to literature, and contributed verse to the eastern magazines. His poem, "The Man with the Hoe," written after seeing Millet's painting made him famous, but in the published opinion of many critics, his poems on "Lincoln," and on "The Muse of Brotherhood," are superior to this. Mr. Markham is the author of: The Man with the Hoe, and Other Poems (1899); The Man with the Hoe, with Notes by the Author (1900); Lincoln and Other Poems (1901).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor