Edwin Markham

Edwin Markham was born in Oregon City, Oregon in 1852.
He was the youngest of 10 children and his parents divorced when he was young.
Markham moved to California with his mother and attended San Jose Normal School.
He taught literature in El Dorado County before becoming superintendent of schools.
Markham is best known for his poem "The Man with the Hoe," which was published in 1899.
The poem became a popular symbol of the working class and Markham became a national figure.
He continued to write poetry and essays throughout his life and died in 1940.