George H. Markell

George H. Markell M V R C P K Y Photo: Photocopy received 24 January 2006.[2546] Scanned. Need to contact the magazine for scan of magazine page, sans curved paper, and contact info for Smiths. “George Markell”, 1890 Reunion Photo. Hardcopy is in Source Binder. Not Scanned. Born: 25 November 1831,[2547] in Alexandria .[2548] Married: Also on marker is E[lizabeth[2549]] Ellen Spillman, wife of George H. Markell; born November 8, 1830; died July 23, 1861; and Maria L. Spilman, wife of Geo. H. Markell, 1842–1916.[2550] See other family heading for more. He wed Ellen (Spilman) in Alexandria on 3 April 1854. She died unexpectedly of illness at the very beginning of the war. George entered the Confederate Army, during which time Ellen’s sister, Maria Louisa (Spilman), cared for Ellen’s and George’s four very young children. They came to regard her as their mother; after the war, his wedding to Louisa “was an ideal solution for everyone.” They wed on 21 September 1865. Ellen and Louisa’s parents were Adeline Green Allan and Alexander H. Spilman. Their father was postmaster at Warrenton.[2551] Died: 11 February 1895,[2552] in Warrenton;[2553] buried in Warrenton cemetery.[2554] C. S. A. marker. His pillar inscription: “Watch thy broken (illegible)/ finish what we here begin/ (illegible) will the mysteries (illegible)/ (illegible) then we’ll understand.”[2555] Obituary: Children: With his first wife, he had four children: Henry Hamilton Markell (10 July 1855–26 June 1927), wed Margaret T. (Anderson) on 29 October 1879 in Hannibal, Missouri. Idaline Spilman Markell (17 September 1857–20 January 1949), born at Snickersville, wed Ebben McDonald on 17 March 1883 in Palmyra, Missouri. Theodosia Ellen Markell (23 November 1858–1949), born at Warrenton, never married, buried at Warrenton. Annie Patterson Markell (9 August 1860–8 January 1931), born at Warrenton, wed William Nichols Bates on 22 May 1884 at Palmyra, Missouri. With his second wife, he had six children: George Green Markell (20 July 1866–12 December 1910), never married. William Bradshaw Markell (5 November 1868–17 September 1934), wed Jane (Eastman). Louise Field Markell (6 August 1871–11 November 1948), wed D. Tucker Olinger, both buried at Warrenton. Milton Ward Markell (12 October 1877–28 April 1941), never married, fought in the Spanish-American War, buried at Warrenton. Alexina Decatur Markell (26 January 1879–24 February 1953), wed William Herbert Burke on 17 September 1904, died “in a Washington, D. C., hospital.” Robert Spilman Markell (30 April 1883–23 February 1915).[2556]

[NOTE:following is incorrect in some facts, but gives nicknames of children] The obituary of his son gives family information. George’s wife was Ellen Elizabeth Spilman. They had seven children: Henry Hamilton Markell, died July 17, 1927; Mrs. Idaline McDonald, Palmyra, Mo.; Miss Theodosia Markell, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Nannie Bates, Chicago; Mrs. Lulu Olinger, Washington, D.C. ; Mrs. Decatur Burke, New Jersey; William B. Markell, Chicago, and Milton W. Markell, Warrenton.[2557] Parents and Siblings: His father was George H. Markell, Sr.[2558] Theodosia Beach and George Henry Markell. “[H]e is known to have operated a tannery at Alexandria…. [N]othing is known about their family except that they had a son named for the father.”[2559] Other Family: The family plot at Warrenton Cemetery contains six stones beside a cedar tree. The most prominent stone is a four-sided pillar. One side, facing the graves, is carved “Markell”. Each of the other three sides gives names, dates and an inscription for the cavalryman and both of his wives; three small headstones give their initials, M. L. M., G. H. M., E. E. M. In addition to these four stones, two others read: George Green (illegible) Markell/ Born/ July 20, 1866/ Died Dec 11, 1910/ “after life’s (illegible) fervor/ he sleeps well” and Milton W. Markell/ Co. B./(rest of inscription in ground).[2560] Stories, Letters & Biographies: “[H]e was giving the Yankees a shot about every ten seconds … .”[2561] See Stories Chapter. CSR: 6’0”, light complexion, light hair, blue eyes; enlisted 1 March 1862 Bealeton; detailed to Provost Guard April 1864; horse killed September 1864 Winchester; paid $2, 200; paroled 20 April 1865 Millwood. Additional Information: Private.[2562] Warrenton.[2563] Listed as “J. L. Markell.” [2564] “A tanner at Millwood near Warrenton, George Markell enlisted at twenty in the Black Horse cavalry some time after July 23, 1861. … George Markell was never wounded and never taken prisoner.”[2565]