Mortimer Markham

Mortimer Markham was born in 1837 in Michigan, the son of Asa (1800-1874) and Orpha (Griswold, 1802-1870).

Connecticut native Asa married New York born Orpha in 1826, probably in New York where they soon settled. Between 1830 and 1833 Asa moved his family to Michigan and by 1840 was residing in Augusta, Washtenaw County. By 1850 Mortimer was attending school with his older siblings and living with his family in Augusta where Asa worked a farm. By 1860 Mortimer was teaching school and living with his family on a farm in Vernon, Shiawassee County.

Mortimer was 24 years old and possibly living in Washtenaw or Shiawassee County, Michigan, when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861.

He was killed in action on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and presumably buried among the unknown soldiers at Seven Pines National Cemetery.

In a letter to his own father, Martin Clapper of Company I wrote on June 6, enclosing “a cedar bough. I wish you would give it to Lottie Adams. Tell her that it was taken from a tree that shades Mortimer Markham’s grave. He was an acquaintance of hers & no doubt she will prize it much. He was shot through the breast in the first part of the [present] engagement and died three quarters of an hour after he was shot as near as I can learn & . . . died like a true patriot for his country’s cause. His loss is mourned by his Co & all that knew him.”

No pension seems to be available.

Asa died in Clarksville, Ionia County and Orpha in Gaines, Kent County.