His father, Asa Napoleon Binkley, was born in 1812 and died in 1878. He lived, toiled and died on his native mountains in Tennessee. When about fourteen years old, Thomas, with his father and family listened to the roar of cannons at the Battle of Fort Donelson only forty miles away during the Civil War.
His father’s only brother was George Washington Binkley, who settled at a very early day in White Ash north of Marion when the country was practically a wilderness and became one of the leading actors in the affairs of this part of Illinois for many years. He served in the state legislature at Springfield and was equally successful and popular as a man, in politics, or in business. His wife was even more remarkable than himself and reared no less than twelve adopted children, besides two of her own.
Thomas was mostly reared and educated in this county, where his active life had been spent, with a term or two at the academy in his Tennessee home before moving north.
Thomas came to Marion in 1867 and settled on the old Binkley place.
He was married December 23, 1868, to Miss Cynthia Parlee Goddard, the daughter of Wesley Goddard.
In the 1880 census, Thomas was 30 and Cynthia was 26. They were still living in Lake Creek Township near White Ash. Children present were Rowena 10, James 7 and George 10 months old. There was an unknown 10 year old male named James Boyd and a 14 year old girl who was listed as adopted with an occupation indicating domestic servant. I’m not sure who these children were. Thomas was then a farmer.
For thirteen years he followed farming, but in 1882 went into the insurance business and for twenty years has been the leading man in that line in Southern Illinois. Following the usual custom at first, he canvassed this county and the adjoining territory until he has established a reputation that brings his customers to him from miles around.
In 1891, he served as a Marion alderman under Shannon Holland as Mayor and then again in 1895 and 1896 under John H. Burnett as Mayor.
In 1895 he established the Marion Steam Laundry located at 207 S. Granite St. at a cost of $3,000, which he later sold.
His only interest outside of his insurance and real estate, being in his bank, the First National Bank, of which was a director from 1890 to his death, being re-elected annually, and the Christian church, of which he had been a member since 1865.
A fire report dated December 8, 1898 indicates that T.J. Binkley had issued insurance on a number of the occupants of the Goodall House located in the 200 Block of the square who suffered fire damage.
At the turn of the century, Binkley was the leading insurance man in Marion. He was a member of the Marion Board of Underwriters and represented the following companies; The National of Hartford, Conn., the Commercial Union of London, Eng., American Central of St. Louis, New York Underwriters and the Phoenix of Brooklyn, N. J.
In the 1900 census, T.J. is 50 and runs his insurance business while Cynthia is 46 years old. Children living in the home are George Binkley 20, a dry goods clerk; Rome Binkley 15 and Nettie Binkley 13. They have a 22 year old servant named Ella Franklin. It is revealed that Cynthia has given birth to nine children with five living.
In the 1905 history book, written in 1904, the five Binkley children are described as Rowena, who married Eugene Eubank and lives in Johnson City: George W. Binkley, now a clerk for No. 3 mine: Leroy Goddard Binkley, clerk for the Egyptian Powder Mills: Rome Binkley, a conductor on the Electric Coal Belt Line, and Nettie Binkley, the youngest now seventeen years old, living at home.
In the 1906 Marion business directory, Thomas’s business is listed as Binkley and Felts Insurance located at 1201 Public Square and his residence is at 403 S. Madison Street. This same year on November 1st his wife Cynthia dies.
By the 1910 census, T.J. is now widowed and aged 60, but still involved in insurance and real estate. He is in their home on S. Madison Street. He has two sons living at home, Leroy aged 28 and Rome aged 25. Leroy is a manager for Egyptian Powder Mills and Rome works for Watson Coal Company
On March 7, 1915 Thomas J. Binkley passed away at 65 and was buried with his wife at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Sam’s Notes:
Hally D. Binkley, buried with family at Rose Hill, died in 1879, short lived.
James Binkley, born 1871, died 1884.
Rowena Binkley Eubanks, born 1869, married Edward E. Eubanks. Edward was a self-employed pharmacist working and living in Johnston City. They had one child named Leon E. Eubanks born about 1891. In the 1900 and the 1910 census, they were living at 317 Broadway in J.C. and operating a drug store. Their son Leon when old enough was a salesman at the drug store. Between 1910 and 1920, the couple divorced. Leon moved to Port Angeles, Washington and married. His divorced father was living with him but I lost Rowena after the divorce.
George W. Binkley, born July 1879. Married Myrtle in 1901. In the 1910 census, they were living at 307 S. Market Street and had a daughter named Dorothy C. Binkley born in 1903. He was a superintendent at the ice plant. George died in 1928 at 49, burial with family at Rose Hill.
Rome Binkley, born September 3, 1884. After his father’s death he moved to Springfield, Illinois and married Viola. Rome worked as a brake man for the Wabash Railroad. They continued living in Springfield and he died January 2, 1926 at age 41 in Decatur, Illinois. The couple doesn’t appear to have had any children. He was buried with his family at Rose Hill.
Leroy Goddard Binkley, born March 28, 1882. Married Helen Elizabeth Clarke on September 1, 1915 in her native town of Helena, Montana, after his father’s death in March of that year. They moved to Chicago by 1919 where they had their only child, Anna E. Binkley that year. In 1922, they moved to Glencoe, Illinois in Cook County where he worked as a coal mine operator. He died on November 16, 1929 at age 47 in Glencoe and was buried with his family at Rose Hill.
Nettie Binkley Campell, born December 20, 1888. Married Harry E. Campbell in 1909. Harry was a purchasing agent for various coal companies in the Chicago area where they lived after their marriage till her death there at age 54 on January 12, 1943. They don’t appear to have had any children but in the 1920 census they had a 16 year old female named Dorothy Binkley, niece, living with them. Nettie was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Cook County.
(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 06/02/2013)