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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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JOHN DAWSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 7: P. O. Lexington; born in Madison Co., Ohio, Dec. 4, 1820, but removed, when about 12 years of age, with his father’s family to Illinois, locating in what is now Lexington Township, this county, in September, 1832; his father, James R. Dawson, was a native of Bourbon Co., Ky., and among the first settlers of this vicinity. The subject of this sketch was in Chicago in 1833, when Gen. Scott’s troops were there and remembers asking his father to buy land in that city, and the request being promptly answered by, “I don’t, want any land in this pond.” Mr. D. has followed farming and stock-raising for many years, and, in 1858, he also engaged in shipping cattle, which he followed for about ten years. In 1875, on account of failing health, he removed to California and there engaged in raising fine cattle; in April, 1879, he returned to his present home. He was married in 1844, to Miss Arminta Adams, who was born in Boone Co., Ky.; eight children by this union, two of whom are living — Thomas A. and Orlando F. Mr. Dawson owns 742 acres of farm lands in this county.
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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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