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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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WIYETT ADAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17; P. O. Downs; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; was born Feb. 1, 1828, in Warren Co., Ky. His father, Jesse Adams, emigrated to Illinois in October, 1830, and entered land in Old Town Township, where he lived until his decease, which occurred in 1843. He was married in Virginia to Elizabeth Goodman; she was born in Tennessee, and died in Iowa in 1865. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom ten are now living. The subject of this sketch remained upon the home farm until 19 years of age, when, upon the 25th of March, 1847, he was married to Charity Bishop; she was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Oct 18, 1826. They have ten children now living, viz.: Mary E., born Jan. 3, 1851, now Mrs. John Holforty; Joseph, a music teacher, born Feb. 9, 1852; Hannah E., May 9, 1853, now Mrs. Wamsley, of Heyworth; Martin L., Oct. 14, 1854; May Dora, Dec. 15, 1855; Harriet L., Jan. 12, 1859, now Mrs. Frank Cowden; Liddie Celia, April 22, 1860; Ichabod M., Jan. 11, 1862; Sarah J., Aug. 30, 1865, and Nettie, Feb. 17, 1870. Upon the marriage of Mr. A., he rented land, upon which he farmed for three years, when he entered ninety acres of his present place; at $1.25 per acre, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 247 acres, which he has secured by his own exertions. He settled upon his present place in 1849, when he had only two neighbors on the prairie, and east it was perfectly wild for five miles, not a house being located within that distance. His milling was done at Mackinaw, a distance of fifty miles, making the trip from four to seven days with oxen; afterwards at Bloomington, a distance of twelve miles. He assisted in organizing the township in 1857. Mr. Adams has held many township and school offices among which we mention Highway Commissioner and School Director. Mrs. Adams is a daughter of Jacob Bishop, who emigrated from Perry Co., Ohio, and located in Randolph Grove in the fall of 1829, where he now lives at the advanced age of 82 years. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were in Bloomington when there was but one dry-goods store in the place, neither mill nor churches.

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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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