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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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BRIDGEWATER, ELISHA, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 16, P.O. Wrightsville, was born in the town of St. Marys in Hancock County, Ill., on the 26th day of August, 1839. Fifth child of William Bridgewater, a native Kentuckian, born in 1802, a blacksmith by occupation, who married in Kentucky Miss Nancy Pasley; in 1827 or 1828 he moved to Morgan County, where he entered land from the government; subsequently removed to Hancock County, where he followed blacksmithing for several years, when he moved to Scott County and thence to Greene County, where he settled upon sec. 16, in township 11, range 13, where he died. Mrs. Bridgewater is still living, a resident of this township. Elisha, from whom this narrative is obtained, passed his boyhood in Scott County, and removed to Greene County in 1863, where he was married to Miss Sylvia J. Boyrun in 1865, a daughter of Benjamin J. Boyrun, whose ancestry settled in Greene County a full half century ago. In March, 1868, Mr. Bridgewater came into possession of 120 acres of land, part of which was settled by Davis Carter in 1821, and entered from the government by Joseph Harris in 1832. Mr. Bridgewater has always taken a deep interest in county affairs, and at one time officiated as township constable and school trustee, holding this position at the present writing. There were born of the marriage two children: Addie M. and Benjamin F.

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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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