My Genealogy Hound

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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ALVERSON, JAMES, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 23, P.O. Roodhouse. James Alverson is a native of Kentucky, born in 1821, fourth child of Benjamin and Mary Alverson, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Illinois in 1830, settling on the farm now owned by Samuel Hopkins, where the head of the family passed the remainder of life. He was a merchant. Many years afterward, turning his attention to farming, becoming a successful one. Of James it may be said that from boyhood he exhibited a daring disposition, and now concluded to travel, finding his way to far western and southern points, as Mexico California, and Oregon; a miner in California; in Oregon he also prospected for gold. Exposed to climatic changes, he became nearly deprived of sight, and accordingly returned to Greene County. In the far west, under the hands of unskillful physicians, the best surgical aid in Illinois could not prevent a total loss of sight. His first wife was Martha Hawks, to whom he was married in 1827, and by whom he had one child, Hardin. Mrs. Alverson died a quarter of a century ago, and six years ago he was married to Miss Sarah Ann Allen, a daughter of James M. Allen. The homestead property comprises 45 acres.

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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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