Robert PRINGLE. Among the well known men of Scottish birth,
who have done much in developing the various industries of
Marshall county, especially its farming interests, must be
classed the subject of this sketch, who for more than forty
years has resided on section 27, La Prairie township, where,
with the help of his sons, he operates one of the best farms in
this section. He was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, October
10, 1821, and is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (PRINGLE)
PRINGLE, the former a native of Selkirkshire, and the latter of
Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Although bearing the same name they
were not relatives. Andrew PRINGLE, who was by occupation a
shepherd and laboring man, came to the United States in 18500,
stopping for a time in New York, and in 1853 came to Marshall
county, where he died at the age of seventy-seven years. His
good wife survived him some years, dying in her eighty-eighth
year.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in
Selkirkshire and Roxburghshire, where he received a limited
education, but where he was inured to hard work, commencing at a
very early age upon a farm, and continued in that occupation the
greater part of the time until coming to this country. While
pursuing his farm work his thoughts often turned to the new
world with its greater possibilities, he had learned, for the
poor man. Relatives and friends had crossed the ocean and
written back glowing accounts of the land which was destined to
be his future home.
In 1848, when twenty-six years of
age, Mr. PRINGLE bade farewell to the loved ones at home and set
sail for the United States. Landing in New York city he
proceeded to Ontario county, New York, where he remained about
four years and a half, working at whatever he could find to do,
and carefully saving his money. In December, 1852, he came to
Marshall county, his relatives, the DAVIDSONs, having preceded
him.
While yet residing in Ontario county, New York, Mr.
PRINGLE was united in marriage with Miss Jeannette TURNBULL, a
native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, and a sister of Robert
TURNBULL, who settled temporarily in New York. To them were born
seven children – Beatie, who married John TITUS, and died at the
age of twenty-two; Lizzie, who married Robert SCOON of La
Prairie township. They have four children living – Frank T.,
Clifford, Beatie, Jeanette; John Andrew, who married Lillie
Stewart, who died October 23, 1893, leaving one child Lillian;
Mary, Adam and Jennie at home. Mrs. PRINGLE died August 30,
1873. She was a woman of excellent character, a loving mother
and faithful wife.
It was shortly after his marriage that
Mr. PRINGLE came to Marshall county. On his arrival he purchased
one hundred and sixty acres of land, a part of his present
excellent homestead, for which he paid four dollars per acre. He
had just money enough with which to pay for the land, but
wishing to keep some for present use he only made a small cash
payment. As the land was unimproved, he rented an improved farm,
on which he resided until 1854, when he moved to his own land
and commenced its improvement. A little later he purchased one
hundred and twenty acres of improved land, and his life work was
well begun. In the early days wheat was a sure crop and the soil
yielded largely, making it a profitable cereal, notwithstanding
the difficulty in marketing. As wheat raising became more and
more uncertain, he changed to corn and stock-raising, in which
he was quite successful. For some years he fed cattle, and his
shipments have annually been from one to four car loads. He was
also for a time a breeder of sheep, in which line he continued
until that, too, proved unprofitable, when he abandoned it, but
the industry has lately been taken up by his sons, with some
success, they usually having a flock of some three hundred head
on hand, and annually ship from two to four car loads.
Success has generally crowned the efforts of Mr. PRINGLE in the
new world. To his original purchase of one hundred and sixty
acres he has added from time to time other tracts until his farm
consists of seven hundred acres in one body, all of which is
operated by himself and sons. While confining himself generally
to faming operations, he has occasionally ventured his means in
other channels. On the organization of the Lacon woolen mills he
became a stockholder to the extent of twenty-five shares. While
this has not been as profitable as might be wished, two seasons
of prosperity followed the venture, that during the Crimean war
and near the close of the civil war.
Politically, Mr.
PRINGLE has always been a stanch republican, he becoming an
American citizen about the time of the birth of that party. He
has neither accepted nor sought official position, his tastes
not running in that channel. Like most of his kith and kin, he
is a great admirer of Scotland’s greatest poet, Robert Burns,
and in Scottish sports and festivities always has a lively
interest. A good neighbor, a loyal citizen, he is greatly
esteemed by all with whom he has been brought in contact.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
No
history of Marshall county would be complete without
mention of Robert PRINGLE, one of the most venerable citizens of
La Prairie township, where for more than a half century he has
made his home. Many events which have here occurred and are to
others matters of history were to him matters of actual
experience and he has watched with interest the growth and
development of the county as it has emerged from frontier
conditions to take on all of the evidences of a modern and
progressive civilization.
A native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, he was born on the 10th of
October, 1821, his parents being Andrew and Elizabeth (PRINGLE)
PRINGLE. The father was born in Selkirkshire, Scotland, October
30, 1793, and the mother's birth occurred in Dumfriesshire,
October 15, 1800. Although of the same name, they were not
related. In his native country Andrew PRINGLE was employed as a
shepherd and as a laboring man, but rightly judging that the
business opportunities of the new world would prove more
advantageous he came to the United States in 1850, remaining for
a time in New York. The year 1853, however, witnessed his
arrival in Marshall county, where he spent his remaining days,
passing away December 14, 1870, at the age of seventy-seven
years. His wife survived him and died July 8, 1887, when in her
eighty-eighth year. The members of their family were as follows
: Adam, who was born in October, 1819, and died November 7,
1863; Robert, of this review; Jessie, who was born in April,
1823, and died in July, 1841 ; James, who was born in April,
1826, and died in April, 1892. William and Jane, twins, who were
born in January, 1829, while the former died July 4, 1873, and
the latter April 29, 1883 ; Christina, who was born In 1832 and
died in 1837; John, who was born in 1835 and died in 1836; and
Mrs. Betsy TROBRIDGE, who was born in 1839 and is living in
Phillips county, Colorado, being the only living member of the
family with the exception of our subject.
Robert PRINGLE of this review was reared in Roxburghshire,
Scotland, where he acquired his education. His opportunities in
that direction were somewhat limited, but his training at hard
work was not meager and lessons of industry and economy were
early instilled into his mind and in later years have borne rich
fruit. He heard favorable reports of the new world and its
advantages, which he compared with the business outlook before
him in his native country. This comparison decided him to seek a
home in America and in 1848, when twenty-six years of age, he
bade adieu to friends and native land and took passage on a
westward bound vessel. Landing in New York city, he thence made
his way to Ontario county, New York, where he remained for four
and a half years, during which time he scorned no employment
that would yield him an honest living. He carefully saved his
money, anxious to establish a business of his own, and in
December, 1852, he came to Marshall county, Illinois, where he
had an uncle and aunt living, and his parents and family
followed him in 1853.
While still living in Ontario county, New York, Mr. PRINGLE was
united in marriage to Miss Jeannette TURNBULL, a native of
Roxburghshire, Scotland, and a sister of Robert Turnbull, who is
mentioned elsewhere in this work. They traveled life's journey
happily together for many years, but were separated by the death
of the wife on the 30th of August, 1873. Their children were
seven in number. Beatrice, who was born April 19, 1855, died
March 22, 1877. She was the wife of John TITUS, a farmer of La
Prairie township. Lizzie, born January 8, 1857, is the wife of
Robert SCOON, who is a farmer by occupation and now lives in
Denver, Colorado. They have three children: John, born October
10, 1858, operates the home farm. Andrew, born December 16,
1860, married Lillie Stewart, who died October 23, 1893, leaving
a daughter, Lillian. For his second wife he chose Ida PECK and
they have two children, Robert and Philip, who are living with
them on the farm in La Prairie township, Marshall county. Mary,
born December 8, 1862, is at home. Adam, who was born April 16,
1865, and was a student in Quincy College, died February 4,
1897. Jennie, born October 11, 1867, is at home.
Soon after his marriage Mr. PRINGLE came to Marshall county and
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid
four dollars per acre. This was unimproved and in consequence he
rented an improved farm, on which he resided until 1854, when he
removed to his own land and began its development. A little
later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and he
has added to his property until he now owns a valuable farm of
three hundred and sixty acres on section 27, La Prairie town-
ship. He has also carried on stock-raising, in which he has been
quite successful, shipping large numbers of cattle annually. He
was also at one time a breeder of sheep and on the organization
of the Lacon woolen mills he became one of its stockholders. In
his farming and stock-raising interests, of which he has had
personal control, he has made creditable and gratifying success,
and his life work is an illustration of the fact that the lack
of means at the outset of a business career need prove no bar to
later prosperity, for if one has determination and energy they
can overcome all difficulties and obstacles in the path and
gradually advance to the goal of prosperity. This Mr. PRINGLE
has -done and is now accounted one of the prosperous as well as
venerable and honored citizens of La Prairie township.
In politics he has been a stalwart advocate of republican principles since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has never had occasion to regret the resolution which he formed in early manhood to seek a home in the new world, for here he has found good business opportunities of which he' has taken advantage and has also gained here a comfortable home and won many friends, so that his life in America has been attended with much comfort and happiness. He has now passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey and from his fellowmen he receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one of his years.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
