In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1877
From History of Henry County, Illinois (1910)
SULLIVAN F. FRANCIS.
Sullivan F. Francis, a well known and prosperous young resident of Kewanee, has been successfully engaged in business as a dealer in horses since starting out in life on his own account. His birth occurred in Kewanee township, this county, on the 6th of December, 1877, his parents being S. R. and Anna I. (Barnes) Francis, who are mentioned at greater length on another page of this work. At the usual age he entered the district schools and after completing the prescribed course he spent one year as a student in the Kewanee high school. On putting aside his text-books he began dealing in horses and has since been continuously identified with that line of activity, now devoting his entire attention thereto. He employs men in Henry and adjoining counties to purchase the stock and gives his personal attention to the retail trade. He is a good judge of horses and their value and always has on hand a number of excellent specimens of the noble steel. The old homestead where he was born now belongs to him and has been in possession of the family for almost seven decades, the father of our subject having taken up his above thereon about 1841. He purchased a residence prior to buying his present home at No. 421 South Vine street, where he has resided since April, 1907.
On the 8th of June, 1904, at Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. Francis was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Dean, a daughter of William Dean of that place. They now have two children: Dean Sullivan, who was born on the 13th of January, 1906; and Gano Elizabeth, whose natal day was August 11, 1909.
Mr. Francis cases his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party but aside from that takes no part in politics, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private affairs. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Kewanee, while fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has remained a resident of Henry county from his birth to the present time and that his life has been honorable and worthy of public regard is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood.
As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.