The area of what is now the city of Markesan had its humble beginnings as early as 1844, when John B. Seward erected the first homestead in what would become a thriving community. In 1849, the area was platted out, and records show the name "Granville" being chosen for the village. However, Wisconsin already had a village named Granville, and the postal service found it challenging sending the mail to the correct Granville. In 1854, a village committee was assembled to decide on a new name. The name selected was submitted by village businessman Henry Wright, who took the name of the newly discovered Marquesas Islands and creatively came up with Markesan. As time went on, the sleepy village of Markesan emerged as a bustling community thriving with farming, granite mining, and railroad activity, propelling it forward as one of the richest communities in the United States.