WINSTON BAIRD MARKHAM, M. D., who made a creditable reputation as a member of the medical fraternity of Denison, for the work of which he was well qualified by thorough preparatory training, left behind him an honorable name and the record of excellent professional service. His birth occurred in Princeton, Kentucky, on the 24th of June, 1859, and he passed away on the 12th of February, 1902. His parents were Winston and Ann Mary (Throkmorton) Markham, and in her maidenhood the mother bore the name of Shepherdson. When eleven years of age Winston Markham came with his father to Texas, his mother having died about three years previous. The family home was established first in McKinney, Collin county, where the father followed the occupation of farming for a number of years but now makes his home in Denison, where he is living retired.
Having acquired his elementary education in the public schools, Dr. Markham became a student in Vanderbilt College in Tennessee and was graduated from the medical department with the class of 1878. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Nashville, where he remained for a year, when he opened an office in Decatur, Texas, spending nine years in that city. In 1884 he pursued a post-graduate course at New Orleans, Louisiana, and in 1898 he again did post-graduate work in surgery in Chicago medical universities. Thus he kept in touch with the progress of the profession, and reading and original investigation also added to his knowledge. In 1890 he came to Denison, where he opened an office and practiced with success up to the time of his death. During the last two years of his life he was also associated with the late Dr. J. L. Jones in the conduct of a drug store on West Main street in addition to his regular practice.
Dr. Markham was married twice. In 1882 he wedded Nannie Wootters, at Crockett, Texas, and there were by that marriage two children, of whom one is living, John W., whose birth occurred in Decatur, Texas. The wife and mother died in December, 1885, and in 1886 Dr. Markham was married to Miss Ada Hockett, of San Antonio, Texas, a daughter of David and Mary F. (Howater) Hockett, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia. By the second marriage there were three children: Baird H., who was born in Decatur, Texas, in 1887; Edith Marie, whose birth occurred in Decatur in 1889; and Lois Lowrance, who was born in Denison in 1897.
Dr. Markham was a member of the board of health of Denison and for three years prior to his death served as a member of the school board of the city. In politics he was a Democrat and was ever interested in the welfare of Denison, co-operating in many progressive movements. He was conscientious in the performance of all of his professional duties, realizing fully the obligations that devolved upon him in this connection, and in his home was a devoted husband and father, while among his friends he was known as a man who could be relied upon in time of need. He displayed many sterling traits of character that won him the regard and warm friendship of all with whom he was associated. As a diagnostician his skill as unusual, and in consultation and in operative work he took a high place among the surgeons and physicians of his section of Texas.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas. (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. I, p. 640.
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