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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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JOHN N. MARSO, dealer in boots, shoes and dry goods, Bloomington; was born in Germany, in May, 1835; emigrated to America when he was a child; came West, and first settled in Wisconsin; his father was Jacob Marso, who died in Wisconsin, leaving the family in very poor circumstances. The son, at 14 years of age, commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, then that of a machinist; then turned his attention toward engineering; he was one of the first firemen on the Illinois Central Railroad; there were only three engines on the road at that time; he then became a steamboat engineer on the Mississippi River; thence to Bloomington, and entered a position in the machine-shop of the Chicago & Alton Railroad; from there, with $3,000 capital, he entered the dry-goods business; today, he owns a stock of dry goods valued at $7,000, and owns the store he occupies. He married Barbara Thomas; they have seven children.

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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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