markeyj  
 

Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     JOHN MARKEY is one of the representative citizens of Lincoln county and his labors have been crowned with abundant success.  He resides about six miles south from Wilbur on an estate of eight hundred acres.  The entire place is in a hight state of cultivation, well improved and supplied with commodious buildings and a comfortable residence.  When Mr. Markey first came here his entire capital consisted of but twenty-five dollars.  He selected a homestead, his present location, and filed on it.  Each year he made his pilgrimage to other portions of the state to earn money for food and other expenses and soon had enough of the land under cutivation so that he could give his entire attention to labor on the farm.  His wise management and industry soon brought him abundant returns and he purchased land from time to time until he has the amount stated above.  Mr. Markey has proved himself a thorough and capable farmer and in addition to handling his estate, has operated a first class steam threshing outfit for a number of years.
     John Markey was born in Wisconsin, on February 25, 1862, being the son of Michael and Mariah (Gibbons) Markey, natives of Ireland.  The father came to America when a child and settled in New Jersey.  He gradually journeyed westward, living in various places until he came to Wisconsin.  After that, he went to Minnesota, then to Dakota and in 1888, came to Lincoln county and is now residing at Creston.  Our subject received his education in Wisconsin and Minnesota and labored on the farm with his father until 1888, when he came to Lincoln county, also.
     In 1898, Mr. Markey married Miss Ada M., daughter of William and Alice (Higgs) Allen, natives of Iowa.  Mr. Allen is conducting a fruit farm in western Oregon, while Mrs. Allen is operating a grain farm adjoining our subject's land.  Mr. Markey has one brother, William, an engineer, and one sister, Mrs. Jennie Wood, in Creston.
 


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