From the (Sac co. Iowa) Schaller Herald — Wednesday, January 18, 1893:

Mr. Wm. Merkeley, of Canada, and Messrs. Isaac, Levi and M.M. Merkley of this place, and C.R. Merkley of Storm Lake, accompanied by their sisters, Mrs. Catherine Schell and Mrs. Maggie Seek, started last Friday evening for Alamakee county, to assist in the settlement of their father’s estate, which amounts to about $15,000.   F.J. Brown and C.A. Irwin of Storm have been retained as attorneys in the case.

~contributed by Georgia Bruns

Notes added by Allamakee co. coordinator:
Michael F. Markley b. 1808 d. 9/15/1892 buried in Oakland Main cemetery.   The 1880 census gives his birthplace as Canada and he's aged 72 (1808).   On the 1870 U.S. census, his sons Isaac age 28 and Michael age 25 (probably M.M. in the newspaper article) are still living at home working the farm. There is a daughter Martha age 7 (probably Mrs. Maggie Seek) and other children listed.  The date on the newspaper article 'fits' with the death date of Michael F. Markley as this is probably when the estate settlement work would have gotten underway. Researchers should confirm the identity of Mr. Merkeley / Markley with independant sources.