Barbara Proffitt | January 28, 2026

A 161-acre tract of land located at 14182 E. 875 Road, northeast of Mound City, was recently named as a Century Farm.

The property, currently owned by the Robert E. Markley Trust, was original purchased by Addison Markley in 

November of 1912 from Charles and Carrie Galt for the price of $44 per acre according to documents.

Addison, who was born in Ohio in in 1871, came to the Mound City area at the age of eight with his parents, and grew up in the community. He married Beatrice Van Dusen on Thanksgiving Day in November of 1897. He served as the Mound City postmaster for eight years and was widely known as a political enthusiast.

For his son, Aaron, who was born in 1898, it was a homestead where he lived from 1913 until his passing in 1971.

Aaron spent his life farming and raising livestock on the land. He married Hallie Bell in 1923 and together they raised four children.

When Aaron left this earth in 1971, the land passed to his son, Robert.

Robert also spent his life farming and raised hogs and cattle on the property. Born on the family farm in 1936, he also grew up in the Mound City community. He was an active participant in many local groups as well as a 4-H parent and grandparent, attending many events for his children and grandchildren.

Before his passing, Robert put in place documents that would pass the family farm into the Robert E. Markley Trust upon his death. That trust still owns and operates the land today and Roberts’ daughters Angela Markley Ragland and Melinda Markley, still farm corn and soybeans and raise cattle there.