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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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RILEY, ZALE, farmer; Sec. 25; P. O. Payson. The subject of this sketch (a son of John and Elizabeth Riley) was born June 10, 1839, in Mineral county, W. Va. He was educated in the schools of his native State, and in August, 1867, was married to Miss Rachel Ann Culp, who died in September, 1868, leaving one child, now dead. In January, 1868, he moved west, and settled in Adams county, Ill., where, on the 18th of September, 1870, he married his second, and present, wife, who was Miss Caroline Wickencamp, daughter of Henry Wickencamp, of Payson township, born Aug. 23, 1848. They have one child, Albert, born Sept. 18, 1875. He owns eighty acres of land, in a high state of cultivation, well improved and very valuable. He is Democratic in politics.

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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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