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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Atlas Map of Fulton County, Illinois, 
Andreas, Lyter, and Co., Davenport, Iowa. 1871
(page 50)

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William Miner.--- John Miner was the father of William Miner, and he was born July 4th, 1777, in Pennsylvania; lived there for many years, when he moved with his family to Kentuckey[sic], and lived there until the year 1815, when he moved to Indiana, and settled on the Ohio River, when Ohio was yet a territory, and lived there until the year 1827, and then moved to Illinois in 1858[sic 1828?], and settled near Danville, and lived there until the spring of 1830, when he moved to Fulton county, near Canton, and lived there until the year 1835,when he moved to Farmers' township, and settled on section 16, and died on the same place in 1838. 
    
Mr. Miner had connected himself to the Baptist Church, when quite young, and devoted his time to the ministry of his Church, from the year 1810 until his death, which was mourned by many warm friends. He died as he lived -- a devoted Christian and a happy man; loved by all and despised by none. 
    
He was the father of eleven children; five sons and six daughters -- ten lived to the years of maturity; one died in infancy; seven yet living -- all have families and are doing well. 
    
Wm. Miner was born in Kentucky on the4th day of September, 1810, and lived with his father until he was 21 years old, when he went to work for himself, and labored through the country, wherever he could get work; got $8 per month, and thought it good wages. In 1831 he volunteered to his country's call, and served in the Black Hawk war until it closed, and was honorably discharged; he afterwards got his land-warrant and all pay that was coming to him. 
    
On the 4th day of April, 1833,he married Miss Phoebe Ward, from Pennsylvania, and settled in Buckheart township, Fulton county, and built the first cabin that was ever built on section 12, in that township. In 1836 he moved and settled on section 16, in Farmers' township, and lived there until 1854, when he bought and moved on section 17, in the same township, where he still lives. On the tenth day of April, 1849, Mr. Miner's wife departed this life; leaving him nine children; and on the 5th day of February, 1850, he again married Miss Nancy Andrus, who has borne him six children, two sons and four daughters; he is the father of fifteen children, in all. He sent four sons to his country's call, in the late war -- two in the 84th, and two in the 118th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers; one fell in battle at Stone River; one died at New Orleans in 1864, the other two served their time, and got their honorable discharge, and returned home; one is now in Bushnel, McDonough county, the other in Iowa, farming; both are doing well. Of his six children that are married, four are settled in his own vicinity, and doing well. 
    
Mr. Miner has seen many hard times, and has had several reverses; but, through his untiring energy and hard laboring, he has succeeded until he is one of the heavy land holders of this county. He has always been engaged in farming and raising stock, and has been very successful since 1852. He has distributed much of his lands and property among his children, but still holds large bodies of valuable land in Fulton, McDonough, and other counties. Mr. Miner has always taken an active part in agricultural improvements in his county, and is an active member of the Fulton County Agricultural Society, and is looked upon as a superior judge of both stock and grain.