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Below is a family biography included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. 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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JACOB AMSTAD, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Downs; born in Underwelt, Switzerland, February, 1826, where he attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he engaged in freighting, driving a six-horse team until he emigrated to California, in 1856; here he followed mining six years. He then came to McLean Co., Ill., and located upon Sec. 35, in Old Town Township, where he has since continued to live; he owns 163 acres of land mostly under a good state of cultivation, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He was married Sept. 1, 1862, to Catherine Plemsear; she was born in Switzerland May 19, 1840. They have six children by this union — Bettie, born Dec. 5, 1864; Harmon, born April 12, 1867; Agnes, born Nov. 26, 1868; Adeline, born Oct. 2, 1870; Anna M., born May 11, 1874; Jacob, born Feb. 20, 1876, and one who died in infancy.
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This family biography is one of 1257 biographies included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879. View the complete description here: The History of McLean County, Illinois
View additional McLean County, Illinois family biographies here: McLean County, Illinois Biographies
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