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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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PRESTON WOOD, clergyman, Bloomington; was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1825, and is the son of Preston Wood, a tanner and currier. When he was but 14 years of age, he commenced to learn the printer’s trade in Leeds, England, and served as an apprentice for seven years. In 1847, he preached his first sermon in York England, and was taken into the British Conference. In 1852, he came to America, and landed in New York City; here he followed his trade as a printer for one winter. In 1852, he came West, to Illinois, and joined the Illinois Conference in Winchester, Ill., in the fall of 1852. His first appointment was at Hillsborough, Ill., thence to Waverly, Beardstown, Le Roy, Decatur, Atlanta, Clinton, Lincoln, Danville and other places. In 1861 and 1862, he was Chaplain of the 38th 1. V. I. He is the only surviving one of four brothers who enlisted in the army. At the close of the war, he became Presiding Elder of the Danville District for four years; thence to Bloomington four years. He is now finishing his second year as Financial Agent of the Wesleyan University. His son, William T., is a graduate of West Point, and is now Second Lieutenant in the 18th U. S. A.

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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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