Present day Markey Township was established on April 21, 1887, when it was divided from Gerrish Township by an act of the Michigan Legislature.

Markey Township was founded as a sawmill settlement by William Markey.

The first annual meeting of the Township was held the first Monday in May 1887, at the home of Benjamin Foster.

The Township established its own post office in 1905. In later years mail was delivered from Roscommon. The mail carrier was Otto Meinzen. During the winter months he would hire Earl Schicker to deliver mail by sleigh.

In 1890 the population in the township was 28 persons. In 2000 the census county was 2,424.

Electric service came to Markey Township in 1932.

Truman Gardner served as Markey Township Supervisor for 54 years and Treasurer for 1 year. Gardner left office in 1988 at the age of 80. At the time of his retirement he was the longest serving Supervisor in the State of Michigan.