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Below is a family biography included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd 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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SHORT, WILLIAM S. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 7, P.O. Greenfield, was born Sept. 16, 1832. His father, Thomas J. Short, was born Sept. 27, 1805, in Tennessee; was married to Catherine Overby, who was born in 1807. They emigrated to Greene County, Ill., in 1829, and rented land of Mr. Hubbard; remained there for five years, then borrowed money from Samuel Thomas to enter 80 acres of land, paying 25 per cent, for said money, and cut cord wood at twenty-five cents per cord to pay said interest. As he accumulated wealth he entered land, and bought from others, till he owned 1,000 acres at his death, which was valued at $35,000. He died in 1876, at the age of seventy. His wife died in 1849, at the age of forty-three. Having sixteen children by his first marriage, was married the second time to Rebecca Whittle; have two children by this marriage. The subject of this sketch is the sixth child; was married 1854 to Elizabeth M., who was born in 1830, in South Carolina; have thirteen children: Amanda E., Rosa A., Louis S., Martha J. Thomas J., Eliza B., infant son, Dickey, Elizabeth M., William S., Catherine, Samuel J., Mary A., and adopted son, James H. Mr. Short owns 357 acres of land.

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This family biography is one of 744 biographies included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of Greene County, Illinois

View additional Greene County, Illinois family biographies here: Greene County, Illinois Biographies

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