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Below is a family biography included in The History of Adams County, Illinois published by Murray, Williamson & Phelps in 1879. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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ALEXANDER, M. F., farmer; Sec. 24; P. O. Elm Grove; son of Mary and William Alexander; was born in this county, Jan. 17, 1841; has sixty-five acres of land, valued at $2,600; married Emily Shank, Aug.17, 1871. She was born in Brown county, Ill., March 3, 1857. They have three children: Delia, born Sept. 27, 1873; Oliver W., born April 27, 1875, and William R., born July 26, 1877. Are members of the Presbyterian church. He has held the office of Collector. His father, William Alexander, went from Virginia to Tennessee in 1838; lived there about one year, and then came to this county in 1840; raised a family of thirteen children, who all lived to be men and women. His father came here poor, in an early day, and amassed a good property. The subject of this sketch has lived to see the wild prairies transformed into a fine farming country, and knows what it is to be a pioneer. His father was very poor, and once, when there was a letter in the post-office with charges of twenty-five cents, he had to borrow the money, and it was a year before he could pay it back.
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This family biography is one of 1444 biographies included in The History of Adams County, Illinois published by Murray, Williamson & Phelps in 1879. View the complete description here: The History of Adams County, Illinois
View additional Adams County, Illinois family biographies here: Adams County, Illinois Biographies
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