Robert Baillie (1846-1928) was born at Fountain Hall, near Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of William and Margaret (Hyslop) Baillie. His three brothers were medical missionaries. When he completed his schooling in Edinburgh he spent a year in the Shetland Islands before going to visit a cousin in Detroit, Michigan. In Detroit he met Jean Barbara Nielson of Hamilton, Ontario, who was visiting her brother Wylie Nielson. In 1872
Robert Baillie and Jean Barbara Nielson were married at her parents' home in Jackson, Michigan. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Nielson who had come from Scotland to Hamilton in 1863. Mr. Baillie and his bride went to Jackson, Michigan where Mr. Baillie and Mr. Wylie Nielson were in partnership in the Jackson Tea store. In 1878 they sold the business and came to Stewart Township, Dakota Territory where they continued the partnership, buying land and building a double house in town and on the farm. They lived in the country in summer and in Valley City in winter. This partnership continued for fifty-seven years.
The Baillies were charter members of the Congregational Church and took an active part in all community affairs. Their six children are:
William (1873) was born in Jackson, Michigan. After high school he worked for the Bell Telephone Co., and was manager at Harvey, North Dakota.
Elizabeth (1875) was born in Jackson, Michigan and came with her parents to Dakota Territory in 1880. She attended public school and Valley City Normal School where she received her teacher's certificate. She taught school for several years and was married to John Strong in 1907. They lived at Courtenay, North Dakota, Jamestown, Valley City and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their children are: Gordon, Jean, Margaret and Helen.
Annie taught at Lincoln School for many years, then she transferred to Junior High School. She resigned to open the "What-Not-Shop" which she operated for many years.
Mae graduated from Valley City High School in 1906 and worked in the Courtenay post office for a short time. In 1909 she began a long period of service at the court house in Valley City. She was clerk in the Treasurer's office, clerk in the Register of Deeds office and in the Auditor's office. She served as deputy County Auditor and as Auditor for thirty-one years. When she retired in 1941 she joined her sister Annie in the "What-Not-Shop".
The Baillie sisters were active in the Congregational Church, the Pioneer Daughters and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Georgie (1886-1945) taught school in Helena, Montana, and after receiving her master's degree from Columbia University, New York, served as supervisor of Primary Education at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, until she retired to Valley City to live with her sisters Annie and Mae.
Robert Baillie served in World War I with the signal corps and before and after the war he worked for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as manager at Carrington, North Dakota, and Ventura, California.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 21