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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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BRADSHAW, WILLIAM M., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 27, P.O. White Hall, the subject of this sketch, is worthy of more than a passing notice. He was the fifth child of Charles and Mary Ann Bradshaw, who settled, on first arrival in Illinois, in Morgan, near the present city of Jacksonville, where they remained until the settlement in Greene County in 1831, locating on what is now familiarly known as Lorton’s Prairie. An improved claim was purchased on which stood a log cabin, and here the family lived for years, during the winter season often suffering severely from the cold. In these pioneer days the house-wife made the best of her hard lot, while the husband, to provide shoes for his growing family, tanned the leather in a rough trough. Charles Bradshaw was a man of no ordinary energy, who penetrated the forests of Illinois, or traversed its prairies as an assistant surveyor, in the laying out of many of its towns and villages, a man of noble impulses. His death, which occurred in 1869, was universally regretted. Mrs. Bradshaw is still living. William, from whom this sketch is obtained, married, in 1847, Miss Susan P. Lorton, who died the following year; one child born of this marriage. In 1850, Mr. Bradshaw was married to Miss Elizabeth Chipman, by whom he had three children. Mrs. Bradshaw departed this life in 1855. In 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Baker, by whom he had one child. The third wife of Mr. B. died April 5th, 1857, and in 1861 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Stewart by whom he had eight children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Bradshaw is a prominent farmer, owning 260 acres of valuable land.

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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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