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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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DILLON, WILLIAM, physician; residence, Payson; born Jan. 31, 1830, in Virginia; is the oldest of five sons and six daughters of Joshua and Elizabeth S. (Jeffries) Dillon, of that state, and are now living in Stonewall, Col. They removed to a farm ten miles north of Springfield, in Sangamon county, when William was five years old. He read medicine in Sangamon and Coles counties, and attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, O., from which he graduated in 1862. He began the practice of his profession in Coles county, Ill., where he continued two years, then removed to Decatur, where he practiced extensively for sixteen years. He came to Payson in 1868, where he has since been active, making altogether nearly thirty years of professional life. While at Decatur he rode over a circuit of country extending twenty miles from the city, sometimes consuming a whole day in visiting one patient. He married April 14, 1853, to Mary E. Cantrill, daughter of Hon. William Cantrill, of Decatur, a pioneer in that place, and formerly a member of the General Assembly from Macon Co. Her mother was Elizabeth Hall, prior to marriage. Mrs. Dillon was born Sept. 27, 1835. They have had eleven children, nine living: William T., Louis E., Fannie (dead), Frank, Ella M. (dead), George J., Mary E., Robert L. and Annie S. (twins), Parthenia J. and Grace. The Dr. and wife are members of the Christian church. They own a residence and lot in the village.

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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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