Markley is an unincorporated community in Young County, Texas, United States. It lies on at the intersection of State Highway 16 and Farm Road 1769, in the northeast corner of Young County about 21 [1] miles from Graham. As of the 2000 Census, the population was estimated to be 50.
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Markley was founded in 1888 and was originally known as Plum Grove. That year a post office named Manlee was established there with Steve Munderbeck as postmaster. Other early postmasters included: John Wellington, James McDaniel, W.W. Gregg, and Myra Connelly. [2] By 1890 the original name given to the community, Plum Grove, was changed to Markley [3] to honor General A. C. Markley who had settled in Young County. Markley grew slowly until oil was discovered there in the early 1900’s by the 1920’s it possessed several churches, businesses as well as its own school, bank, and church. The community of Markley continues to be an oil producing area and new wells are still being drilled. [4]
The Markley cemetery [5] was begun in 1888 next to the old Plum Grove School. The first burial there was of M.C. Norfleet. After ten years the burial ground was no longer being cared for so in 1890 a group of citizens from the surrounding rural community, including J. C. Calvin, J.W. Cox, R.E. Currie, S.G. Dean, Nelson Owen, M.A. Stewart, Andy and Ike Tinney, J.M. Wallace, and W.M. Watson, organized an annual "Graveyard Working Day".[6] The working day was scheduled for the first Saturday in May. During this time residents from the surrounding area came by wagon and horseback. After cleaning the area, the practice of placing flowers on the graves was performed. In 1925, the observation was changed to the first Sunday in May. Today, there is a cemetery association that provides care for the cemetery yet Decoration Day continues as an annual social event bring dozens of people from far away to pay respect to those buried there. Some of the individuals honored each year include the graves of thirteen Civil War veterans: John F. Bussey, J.C. Butler, Jessie Byrd, R.E. Currie, George J. Lucas, J.D. Mankins, J.L. McDaniel, J.L. Norfleet, Nelson Owen, J.C. Stanley, James Stinnett, Cates Thompson, and David White.
Markley's students are served by the Graham Independent School District.
Handbook of Texas Online Entry for Markley
http://www.forttours.com/pages/hmyoung.asp
http://www.allrelated.com/Nts8.html
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