McDonough ILGenWeb

BINNIE, Robert, one of the oldest and most substantial farmers of Scotland Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Falkirk, Scotland (one of the greatest cattle market towns), March 14, 1842. He is a son of Andrew and Agnes (Waddill) Binnie, natives of the same place, his father being born in 1805. Robert Binnie, the paternal grandfather, was also of Scotch origin. On August 19, 1849, Andrew Blnnle arrived with his family at Sharp's Landing, Fulton County, Ill., and thence removed to Astoria, where they remained three months. He then settled on Camp Creek, in Scotland Township, where he purchased the well-known Bird Pyle farm and engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. He died March 1, 1855, his widow surviving him until July 30, 1878. Robert Binnle is one of twins, and is the eldest of a family of seven children. He attended public school in his boyhood, and remained on the paternal farm until he was twenty-one years old, and then applied to farming in this township for two years. At the end of this period he bought a tract of raw prairie land in the southwest quarter of Section 15, Scotland Township, where he has since lived. He has purchased other land in this township and now owns 360 acres, which, with the exception of eighty acres, is all in one tract. Mr. Binnie has witnessed the development of his township from a lonely wilderness to one of the busiest and wealthiest farming communities in the State. On February 25, 1869, Mr. Binnie was married to Margaret J. Watson, who was born and schooled in Scotland Township. Three children resulted from this union, namely: Mary Adeline, born March 13, 1870 (and now Mrs. Fred Knight): William A., born April 21, 1872; and James Robert, born June 19, 1875. Mr. Binnie is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he is an independent — voting for the men and measures he thinks are to the best interests of all the people.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 826, extracted 19 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass.