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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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S. C. ALLEN, general merchant; Chenoa; was born in York Co., Maine, March 2, 1826; when he was about 10 years old, he went to sea as cabin-boy on board his uncle’s ship, and followed the sea for seven years, during which time he made two voyages around the world and one trip to Africa; he visited China, Sumatra, all of the West India Islands, and all the points on the Atlantic coast from Greenland, to New Orleans. After leaving the sea, he learned the hide and leather trade and settled in Peabody, Mass., and engaged in the manufacture of leather, in which he was very successful; he also afterward entered the wholesale hide and leather business in Boston, and continued that with good success until 1857, when he removed to Illinois; he followed farming in New Rutland for several years, and then built a store in that place and engaged in general merchandising; he came to Chenoa in 1869 and continued merchandising until 1875 when he was obliged to succumb to the pressure of the times, and suspend business; he shortly settled up his affairs, however, and resumed trade, and is now doing a successful business, having one of the largest stocks in town of such goods as suit the demand. He was married March 4, 1856, to Mrs. M. J. Mover, of Kensington, N. H.

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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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