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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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SMYTH, WILLIAM, farmer; Sec. 5; P. O. Quincy. The subject of this sketch was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in the vicinity of Londonderry, Aug. 12, 1825. He was educated in the schools of his native country, and, in 1840, emigrated to this country, and settled in Melrose township. In 1864 he was married to Miss Barbara Wray, a native of the same county as her husband, and born May 13, 1842. They have five children: Emily A., born Aug. 16, 1867; Lizzie B., born Jan. 28, 1869; Alice C., born March 9, 1873; Wm. J., born Jan. 25, 1875, and Edith, born April 20, 1878. He has been school director and road commissioner each, for several terms. He owns 275 acres of land, in a high state of cultivation, which, for fertile soil and improvement, will compare with any in the county. He is Democratic in politics, and one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the county, notwithstanding he began life poor.
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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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