Biography of Stephen David Markham Document Number: 112
Author Group: Various Children of William Don Carlos Markham and Sarah Ann Markham, as compiled by Beth Ann Markham Richmond, fourth child of George Reynolds Markham (ID#98) and Anna I. Anderson (ID#97). Classification: COMPILED: FamilyHistory Location: USA, Utah, Utah, Spanish Fork Biography of MARKHAM, Stephen D. Document Entry Number: 1
Transcription: Stephen David Markham was the fifth child, and first living son of William Don Carlos Markham and Sarah Ann Warner. He was born on March 2, 1885 in the Leland Ward, west of Spanish Fork, Utah. It is recorded, that his family originated in the British Isles and that the name of Markham was taken from the town of Markham England. It was believed to be first given in 1066 AD. The first ancestors came to America in 1665. They settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His grandfather was Stephen Markham, an original Utah pioneer, coming in 1847. He was called to be the first presiding elder in Spanish Fork in 1851. Stephen was only two months old when his father left for a mission to the Southern States. During his father's absence his mother had to work very hard to care for the family, with only the aid of his older sisters. Stephen was blessed May 1, 1885 and baptized July 7, 1894. By the time he was ordained to the priesthood, his father was the Bishop and he ordained Stephen a deacon on July 7, 1897, a teacher June 30, 1899, and a priest November 3, 1901. Stephen learned to work on the farm early in life. He received his early education in public schools. He developed a great love of good books, especially history. He was very alert of mind and had the ability to remember in great detail what he read. In the fall he was needed for the harvest, but he went to Brigham Young Academy two winter quarters. One of the highlights of his life was his mission call to the Netherlands Mission. He was ordained an Elder and set apart for his mission by Rulon S. Wells on April 17, 1905. He had the privilege to travel to the mission field with LeGrand Richards. Both were young men going on first missions. Just prior to leaving on his mission, he received his Patriarchal blessing. He was promised that he would have the power to convince those he taught to listen to his message of the everlasting gospel. He was promised that he would make lifelong friends wherever he went, and he was promised the power to heal the sick and to cast out evil spirits. He served an honorable and successful mission for two years and seven months and returned November 27,1907. When Stephen returned home, he discovered that his father was very ill. His father continued to worsen and died May 9, 1908, just six months after Stephen returned from his mission. His death left Stephen, the oldest son in the family with the responsibility to help his mother rear the younger children. His father was a farmer and so Stephen was to follow in his footsteps. On March 9, 1910 he married Phoebe Isaac in the Salt Lake Temple. She was a childhood friend who had grown up on a neighboring farm. They settled down on a farm just south of the Markham home. They remember their wedding as, the night of the lighting of the brush fire at the Koyle Dream Mine, to notify the community of the finding of gold. Stephen had a dream, along with a missionary friend, to purchase land which had opened up near Twin Falls, Idaho, but when his father died he realized that he needed to remain near home. When he married, his mother gave him an acre on the NE corner of the farm on which he could build a house. Their first children were born while they lived in the first little home. Ben S. was born December 27, 1910, and Lynn Carlos was born on May 26, 1914. It was that same year that they began to build the house that would be home all their married lives, and still remains in the family. About this time, The Utah-Idaho Sugar Company was building a sugar factory in their community and so Stephen hired on as a plumbers helper in order to get extra money to help pay for the house. Phoebe also took on extra work for the same reason. She served a noon meal for the two railroad crews who serviced the sugar factory. No meal was prepared on Sunday, but she served lunch to twelve or fifteen men six days a week. Lynn recalls helping set the table. There was a whistle which blew regularly at noon to signal shift changes and time for lunch. On November 11, 1918 the whistle blew early and never stopped for over an hour. Phoebe could not understand why the whistle blew early, but soon learned that it signaled the end of the war in France. All were filled with joy and gladness that the war was finally over. On March 28, 1919 their lives were blessed with a girl they named Margaret Effie. The sweet spirit was only to stay with them a few weeks and she passed away April 25, 1919 as a result of an influenza epidemic that year. Lynn's first memories are of the new house. When they first moved in they used coal oil lamps to see by. He remembers Stephen gathering the family around the cook stove in the evening and reading about the war from the Deseret News. He remembers the drilling of the artesian well. They had to drill 300 feet before there was sufficient water pressure. It was not too long before Stephen became President of the Leland Electric Light and Telephone Company, and before long they had electric lights. He acted as President of that company for many years. He was interested in all enterprises that would develop the area and improve the quality of life for the people, and he was always willing to contribute his time and energy to their success. Church work was always an important part of Stephen's life. He was called to be a counselor to Bishop Lars P. Larsen August 14, 1914, and was ordained a High Priest at that time. He was chosen to serve as Bishop August 11, 1921. His setting apart was delayed because no general authority was able to be present. He was finally ordained and set apart by Apostle Melvin J. Ballard on Feburary 22, 1922. He served as Bishop for fourteen years, being released July 14, 1935. During his service as Bishop he advocated high ideals, and being true to the faith. He was generous in praise and appreciation of others he demonstrated love and charity at all times, gave without expectation of return, and he practiced humility and tolerance. He was called to be a High Councilman in the Palmyra Stake July 14, 1936 and was set apart by Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith. He served in this calling for nine years. Like Stephen, Phoebe had a great deal of leadership ability. She served as Ward Primary President and as both Ward and Stake Relief Society President. She kept a lovely home and was a fine teacher and example to her family and friends. Stephen was a fine farmer; he took care of all the livestock except for the chickens and Phoebe took on this chore. He grew superior crops before the use of commercial fertilizer. He used barnyard manure, and traded straw for sheep manure from the Isaac's who fattened lambs. He had some of the highest sugar beet yields in the county. He grew green field peas, bush beans, and alfalfa in rotation. The legumes built up the natural fertility in the land. He did much to improve the farmers situation. He was a director of the Utah Poultry Association, now known as The Intermountain Farmers Association. He was a member of the West Field Irrigation Company and served as both vice president and president of that organization. He was the president of the Utah Wasatch Creamery, and was a member of the Challenge Creamery Board of Directors in California. Stephen and Phoebe were privileged to make a trip to California to function in this capacity. Except for his mission it was the only time in his life that he ever left the state of Utah. Though Stephen always seemed slight of stature, he was capable of hard work and long hours. He was willing to suffer any amount of hard work to serve those he was responsible for. He had a close relationship with his sons and shared all the good things in his life with them. He especially loved to share his missionary experiences with them. He never owned a gun or a fishing pole. He allowed the boys to go with their uncles if they wished but Stephen was never a threat to wild things. Stephen was not mechanically inclined. Lynn says he still chuckles as he remembers his frustration when trying to make the grain binder work properly. Stephen did not take the Lord's name in vain, but he would sometimes express himself strongly in the Dutch language on very trying occasions. He bought his first car while Ben was on his mission. It was an Oakland Sedan. He always referred to it as the "Jokeland" since it would stop on him and he could never figure out how to fix it. He often had to drive it to General Conference in Salt Lake City, and they all worried until he returned home again. They felt that it was only his great faith that got him safely home. Perhaps it was not such a big sacrifice to let the boys drive the car back and forth to BYU. They lived frugally in those days and the boys were able to take passengers to help defray expenses. The parents had to walk if they had activities during the day. Nothing brought Stephen more joy than to see the achievements of his sons. Though it was during the depression, he managed to send them to BYU. Ben graduated with a masters degree in Botany, and Lynn graduated with a masters degree in Agronomy. The only thing more important to Stephen was that they fill a mission for the Lord. Ben went first to Australia and because money was tight Lynn continued his schooling. Both graduated in 1936, and that fall Lynn was called on a mission to the Southern States Mission. Stephen was willing to work long and hard to give his sons the blessing of an education and serving a mission. He really believed that 'The Glory of God is intelligence' and that the reward of service is joy and contentment. While Lynn was on his mission, they learned that Ben had diabetes; however he continued to have a full life. He married Ida Mar Redd and they blessed Stephen and Pheobe with two fine grandchildren. Lynn married Phyllis Holt and brought three more fine grandchildren for Stephen and Phoebe to love. In 1945 Phoebe became invalided with arthritis. Stephen sold his livestock and rented his farm so he could be on hand to care for her. His church work had to be curtailed, but he still taught Sunday School and Priesthood classes. Stephen continued in his tender loving care until Phoebe passed away on September 27, 1956. Phoebe left this tribute to her beloved:
He always made the best use of his time and opportunity. He tried to keep his mind pure and his judgement charitable . He always cultivated quietness and non-resistance. His goal was to seek truth and live as Christ would want him to, to work, to love, to pray and serve daily, and to labor cheerfully. These were the rules he lived by.
She loved him and knew him well. His patient and loving devotion to her throughout her long illness was an inspiration to everyone. Stephen barely recovered from Phoebe's passing before Ben became very ill. It was really hard on him to see his eldest worsen and pass away December 12, 1959. His great interest lay in his grandchildren and he continued to teach in the church until the end. Stephen passed away quietly in his sleep in his home in Leland January 23, 1961. All knew him as a man who always gave his all and who lived the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The decedents of Stephen and Phoebe Markham: I-Ben S. m. Ida Mar Redd A-Judith Ann m.George W. Holt a-Stephen David b-Michelle Ann m. Kent J. Larsen c-John Markham d-Daniel George e-Ben William B-Ben Stephen m. Julie Cannon a-David Cannon b-Ben Samual c-Jeffery Collins d-Thomas Stephen e-Sara Corinne 2-Lynn Carlos m. Phillis C. Holt A-Phillip David m. Shirley Owen div. m.2 Margaret Armstrong a-Brian David b-Eric Owen c-Bethany Ann d-Stephen Daniel e-Jared Armstrong f-Sarah Armstrong B-Carolyn m. Steven K. Keene a-David Kendal b-Mathew Steven c-Daniel Markham d-Randall Arthur C-Paul Leon m. Debra L. Pack a-Aaron Paul b-Sarah Lynn c-Nathan D-Mary d.young 3-Margaret Effie d.young