A Story from the life of Stephen Markham.

Written by Rose Ellen Patterson Markham. (From the Family History Book of the Don Carlos Markham Family)


When Grandpa Markham settled in Spanish Fork, he was always kind and good to the Indians. They used to come to him to be doctored.
He was a sort of doctor. One day there was a wagon containing two bad looking Indians who drove up to the gate. Sitting by them was
a little Indian girl. She was very thing and sickly looking. The Indians climbed down off the wagon and told Grandpa they wanted to sell the girl.
Grandpa said, “I’ve got lots of little girls of my own.” They told him that if he didn’t buy her, they would dash her brains out against the tree.
He asked them what they wanted and they said they wanted an oxen. He told them he needed his oxen to plow his land.
They picked the girl up by her heels and swung her toward the tree. Grandpa said, “I’ll will give you a young oxen.” They said “All right, we
will take the young oxen.” Grandpa carried the little girl into the house to Grandma. They had burned her hand and feet trying to get people
to feel sorry for her. Grandma took her and bather her and dressed he wounds. She lived with them until she was a grown woman.