James Kelly Markey

James Kelly Markey

• James Kelly Markey was born circa 1822 in Reynoldstown, County Louth, Ireland.
• James Kelly Markey arrived in the Port of Boston on 17 June 1845.
• James Kelly Markey appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Grimes County, Texas, enumerated in the household of farmer Henry Griggs.
• Henry Griggs and Ann G. Sturdivant appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included James Kelly Markey, John William Griggs, Francis Marion Griggs, Martha Ann Elizabeth Griggs, Joseph B. Thorp, Mary Maxwell Griggs, Joseph Paul Thorp and Henry R. Thorp. Also in the household was Georgia-born farmer A. William Jackson, age 27.
• He was a school teacher, according to the 1850 census.
• He married Mary Maxwell Griggs, daughter of Henry Griggs and Ann G. Sturdivant, on 30 August 1855 in Grimes County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 5 September 1855 in a Texas Baptist newspaper: (Married) On the 30th, at the residence of Henry Griggs, Esq., by the Honorable George M. Patrick, Mr. James K. Markey to Mrs. Mary M. Thorp, all of Grimes County.
• James Kelly Markey and Mary Maxwell Griggs appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Plantersville, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Judith A. Markey, James O. Markey, Mary Markey, Joseph Paul Thorp and Henry R. Thorp. Also in the household were two adolescent schoolboys and laborer George Dennis, apparently a widower, and his five children.
• He was a school teacher, according to the 1860 census.
• On Sunday, 31 August 1862, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Started Eason Willis Wood and Rush Brevard Wood to Mr. James K. Markee,s school, Plantersville, yesterday, 30th."
• On Wedensday, 26 November 1862, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent Bob to Markey's after Rush Wood & other Boys."
• James Kelly Markey and Mary Maxwell Griggs appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Navasota PO, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary Markey and Elizabeth Joseph Markey. Also in the household were two domestic servants. Mother Mary is identified as Matilda Markee, and daughter Elizabeth as Emma.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
• James Kelly Markey died on 17 October 1886 in Grimes County, Texas.
• His wife Mary Maxwell Griggs became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Plantersvulle Cemetery, Grimes County, Texas.
• Research Note: James Kelly Markey's wife Mary Maxwell Griggs, a daughter of Henry Griggs, whose sister Linnah was the wife of Evelina's father's brother Lewis Bryant Barnes. Another brother of Evelina's father William and Lewis Bryant Barnes was Thomas Barnes, whose son James W. Barnes in Grimes County served with the Texas Home Guard as commander of the 5th Texas Brigade District. Also note that the Markey school was established on donated land - 10 acres each by 3 people, one of whom was Dr. James L. Mitchell, father of William Barnes Wood's wife Josie and grandfather of Campbell Wood's wife Nannie.

• Last Edited: 16 Oct 2014