Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 119

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568


USA > Connecticut > New London County > Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families > Part 119


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On . 24, 1884, Mr. Loring was married to s Lill 30, illian 1 Avery, who was born in Preston, Conn., $59, daughter of Ulysses and Lucy Ann Avery. They have had children as DWS : i in 1 Nellie Avery; Frederick William, who eleventh year ; Sarah Lillian ; Lucy Wil- is ; all Ruth Lester. Mr. Loring is a Republi- in p tical faith. With his family he attends Park Congregational Church.


PAR ER. For more than a century and a half ' has held high and prominent place fan ng well-known people of Norwich. By riagot ts representatives have become connected 1 suc toted families as those bearing the names


of Lester, Fitch, Huntington, Cook and Roath. Captain Timothy Parker was a hero of the Revolu- tion ; his son Capt. John Parker was a commodore in the Mexican navy, and the latter's son, Ebenezer Fitch Parker, was well known in commercial life. Three of the sons of Ebenezer Fitch Parker are yet residing in Norwich, in the persons of Henry Lester, Robert Bottum and John Ford Parker. The lineage of the family is traced as follows :


(I) Robert Parker, of Barnstable, Mass., sup- posed to be a son of William, married first on Jan. 28, 1657, Sarah James, and to them came: Mary, born April 1, 1658; Samuel, born June 30, 1660; Alice, born Jan. 20, 1662, and James, born in March, 1664. He married (second) in August, 1667, Pa- tience, daughter of Henry Cobb, and to them came : Thomas, born Aug. 24, 1669; Daniel, born April 18, 1670; Joseph, born in February, 1672; Benja- min, born March 15, 1674; Hannah, born in April, 1676; Sarah, born June, 1678; Elisha, born April, 1680; and Alice, born Sept. 15, 1681.


(II) Thomas and Joseph Parker, sons of Rob- ert (mentioned above), were ancestors of the Fal- mouth, Mass., Parkers. Falmouth, Mass., is a town in the southern part of the peninsula of Cape Cod, and was incorporated as a town in 1686. Thomas Parker was an original member of the church there in 1707, and was ordained a deacon, March 6, 1745. He married Dec. 5, 1693, Mary Jenkins.


(II) Joseph Parker, from whom the Norwich branch of the family descend, was born in February, 1672, and was also an original member of the Fal- mouth Church. He married, June 30, 1697-8, Mercy Whiston, sometimes incorrectly written as Whetstone and Whiton. Joseph Parker died in 1732, and his children were: Joseph, 1699; John, 1700; Timothy, 1703 ; Seth, 1705; Sylvanus, 1707; and Mary, 1709.


(III) John Parker, son of Joseph Parker, re- moved to Norwich, Conn., about 1745. He was admitted to the church at Falmouth, Mass., in No- vember, 1741. In 1734, he married Elizabeth Smith, and their children were: Timothy, born May 17, 1735 ; Mary, born Jan. 15, 1737 ; John and Elizabeth (twins), born March 27, 1739.


(IV) Capt. Timothy Parker, born May 17, 1735, in Falmouth, Mass., was about ten years of age when the family removed to Norwich. Previous to the Revolutionary war, Timothy Parker was a naval commander, and the breaking out of the war found him in that position. He remained in the merchant service after the beginning of hostilities, and in 1776, when returning from a voyage to the West Indics, he was captured and taken to New York. There for a long time he suffered the hard- ships that fell to those who became prisoners of war. He was finally released, and in September, 1777, was commissioned as lieutenant on the "Oliver Cromwell," the largest of the State cruisers of Con- necticut. On the promotion of Captain Parker, he was given command of the "Oliver Cromwell" and


522


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


in her made several successful cruises, fighting a severe battle on April 13, 1778, with the "Admiral Keppel" and "Cygnus," the "Defense" another Connecticut State cruiser being in company. The British ships were captured, and several other armed vessels of the enemy fell as prizes to the skill and enterprise of Captain Parker. In June, 1778, the "Oliver Cromwell" met the British frigate "Daphne," and was obliged to surrender to a su- perior force. The action reflected great credit upon Captain Parker. He was again confined in one of the British prison ships, from which he escaped by way of Long Island, and thus reached his home in Norwich. Captain Parker was later in command of privateers, the last with which his name is associated being the "Scourge," a twenty-gun ship. After the war, he resumed service in the merchant marine. Captain Parker died May 27, 1797. On March 23, 1769, he married Deborah Lester, and their children were as follows: Ann, born Dec. 25, 1769; John, born March 10, 1772; Elizabeth, born Aug. 28, 1774, died Aug. 30, 1797; Timothy, born Feb. 14, 1778; Henry, born May 29, 1780, died Aug. 24, 1796, in Charleston, South Carolina.


(V) John Parker, son of Capt. Timothy, was born March 10, 1772. On April 25, 1802, he was married to Sarah Fitch, born Aug. 10, 1771, daugh- ter of Ebenezer and Mary (Huntington) Fitch. Ebenezer Fitch was a son of Daniel and Anne (Cook) Fitch, and grandson of Rev. James Fitch, the first minister at Norwich, whose wife was Alice, granddaughter of Governor William Bradford, of the "Mayflower." Ebenezer Fitch and Mary Hunt- ington were wedded Sept. 3, 1750. John Parker became a sea captain, and continued as such until after the War of 1812, when business in his line had become temporarily paralyzed, and he went to Mexico, and entered the Mexican navy, at a time when that country was at war. He later was com- missioned commodore, and was in command of the brig "Congress," but he died of a fever aboard his vessel in the Bay of Honduras, and was buried ashore, May 27, 1819. For his services in that war, Commodore Parker was given grants of land by the Mexican government, but they were never claimed by the family. The children of John Parker and wife were: Elizabeth Ann, born May 28, 1803, died unmarried, April 16, 1879, in Norwich ; Timo- thy, born Dec. 15, 1804, died in 1832; John Henry, born Feb. 26, 1807, resided in Norwich, and there died ; Mary Ellsworth, born March 31, 1809, died March 19, 1810; Ebenezer Fitch, born Dec. 25, 1812. Sarah Fitch Parker survived her husband, and died Nov. 14, 1847.


(VI) EBENEZER FITCH PARKER was born in Norwich, and was about seven years old when his father died. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn the trade of cabinetmaker, under Deacon Horace Colton, and remained there two years. He then accepted a position as clerk with Lester & Co., who had a grocery and drug store on Water street,


and remained there until he became of age. ffle then engaged with Dr. William P. Eaton, wheat that time had a lumber yard at Norwich. Iar. for a short time he was a clerk on the ste yer "General Jackson," that plied between Norwich id New York, under Capt. W. W. Coit. Still lat fie engaged in the grocery business with Samu B. Phillips, Jr., under the firm name of Philli Parker. After the firm dissolved, Mr. Parker tinued the business alone for several years, fad when he disposed of it, he was engaged by fle & Hall, then prominent merchants of Nor h. About 1840 Mr. Parker entered the employ che Norwich & Worcester railroad, was conductc for a week, and then was made master of trans ta- tion, serving in that capacity for thirty-seven yes. until his resignation in 1877. Later he wa gc- countant for the Reade Paper Company, unde the late Edwin S. Ely, and continued there unt the company went out of business. For several Ers Mr. Parker then devoted his attention to the afrs of the New London County Mutual Fire Insu Ice Company, of which he had served as presider for over thirty-five years. He resigned this offic pe- cause of poor health, and for about three years for to his death, was not engaged in any business. [Ir. Parker died Sept. 21, 1897, and was buried in [.n- tic cemetery. He retained all his faculties unt |he last. Politically he was a Democrat, and sted as a member of the city council when Judge Frey was mayor.


Governor Jewell appointed Mr. Parker hbor master, which office he held until his death. He was a regular attendant at the Second Cong ga- tional Church. "Mr. Parker was one of thejest known residents of the city, and he had a wic ac- quaintance with railroad men throughout New S- land. Personally, he had a cheerful disposition nd was always a delightful person to meet. Hewas well read, and could talk interestingly of No ch and its people of sixty years ago. In every wayhe was a worthy citizen, and passed away esteem by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance."


On Nov. 9, 1836, Ebenezer Fitch Parkervas married to Susan Cross Clark, a native of Sto.lig- ton, Conn., daughter of James Clark, and she lied Jan. 1, 1879, aged fifty-eight years. (1) 'he following children came to this union : Henry Lester, born Aug. 21, 1837, is Jen- tioned below. (2) Walter Farnsworth, prn Aug. 3, 1839, married Dec. 22, 1861, Sa- rah Catherine Hartt, of Long Island, and eir children were: Ella Crane, widow of Cl les P. B. Beck, of New York; Carrie H., deceed; Marco Smith, who married Miriam Hoyt, an. re- sides in New York ; Walter F., who resides in ew York, where he is president of The Peck }less. (3) Robert Bottum, born Oct. 21, 1842, m: ied Sept. 19, 1877, Annie Cornelia Kelley, who ied May 13, 1879. He was for a number of ars ticket agent at Norwich, for the Norwich & or-


523


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Raipad, later he engaged in a mercantile ess, b is now living retired. He is a thirty- d dege Mason. (4) John Ford, was born 2, I. 5. (5) Ebenezer Fitch born Oct. 21, is nl ried and resides in New York. (6) re Bryster, born Aug. 7, 1857, is unmarried eside n New York. (7) Frank Clark, born 8, I& , died Sept. 5, 1861.


/II) and Is, un ston dwic ENRY LESTER PARKER was born in Nor- eived a sound education in the public the age of fifteen years, when he went d accepted a position with the Boston Glass Company, manufacturers and im- 's ofglassware. He remained there some and 1 und en returned to Norwich, and was em- his father on the Norwich & Wor- Rail ad. Later he went to Chicago, and en- the ploy of the Illinois Central Railroad ight in tl g to y of any, erk, afterward accepting a position as Howard House at New York. Re- orwich, he soon thereafter entered the Norwich & New York Transportation d was advanced to the position of sec- , and ter to that of treasurer, he holding the officesfor about twenty years. In 1877 he tnership with his brother, John F., in : business, the firm being known as


da F suraı r Bi . Two years later, in 1879, the siness of Thomas H. Perkins was


nce idate and the firm became Perkins & ntere


r Br ., and continued until 1883, when of Mr. Perkins was purchased,


he fil again became Parker Bros. It so


ued til 1886, when because of failing


Mr


Henry L. Parker disposed of his in-


and 's since lived in retired on this account. . Pa


er is a Democrat, and has served in Immo council. In addition to other interests, ser 1 as secretary, treasurer and director Noch Water Power Company, and was he board of water commissioners for ber diyears. When a young man he united rinit Episcopal Church, and for years was its r t active members. In it he has served ryma senior warden; superintendent of the School, and for years was parish treasurer. mily became members of the same church. itern Y, Mr. Parker is a member of Somer- lge, 1


34, A. F. & A. M., having been made er M on in that lodge in 1859. He also be- 0 F1 klin Chapter, No. 4; Franklin Coun- . 3; nd Columbian Commandery, No. 4, s Te lar, and has held almost every office in diffe it branches. On May 18, 1865, he and Jud: C. W. Carter were appointed mem- the upreme Council of Sovereign Grand ors neral of the thirty-third and last de- or th Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Stat


Mr. Parker is one of the two oldest hird gree Masons in the State.


Dec


0, 1857, Mr. Parker was married to


Ann Meech Roath, born Aug. 17, 1836, in Norwich, daughter of Col. Asa and Elizabeth ( Allyn) Roath. She died Oct. 22, 1894. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parker were: (1) Susan May, born May 7, 1859, was married, July 2, 1883, to Martin E. Jensen, city treasurer at Norwich, and they have one son, Gerard Edward, born March IO, 1884, who was graduated from the Norwich Free Academy in 1902, and is now a student at Yale. Mrs. Jensen is. a member of Faith Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R. (2) Elizabeth Roath, born May 27, 1861, married, Sept. 12, 1883, Henry A. Norton, of Norwich. (3) Ger- ard Lester, born Sept. 4, 1866, received his education in the public schools at Norwich, and is connected with the firm of the J. A. Fay & Egan Co., at Cincinnati, Ohio. On Dec. 8, 1897, he married Fannie Arnold Carpenter, and they have one daugh- ter, Annette. (4) Anne Meech, born Aug. 26, 1868, married, Oct. 14, 1891, Henry Halsey Walker, and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he is a whole- sale coffee importer. (5) Henry Fitch, born Oct. 9, 1874, received his education in the public schools. at Norwich. In April, 1892, he entered the employ of N. S. Gilbert & Sons as a clerk at Norwich, and remained there until he resigned in January, 1904. He is a leading member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and for the past three years has been the parish treasurer. Since 1896, he has been a mem- ber of the Sons of American Revolution, and is the youngest member of that organization in the city.


(VII) JOHN FORD PARKER, son of Ebenezer Fitch and Susan Cross (Clark) Parker, was born in Norwich, and attended the graded schools and the Norwich Free Academy. In 1863 he accepted a position in the office of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad with his father, and there remained until June, 1865, when he accepted a position as clerk in the insurance office of the late Thomas H. Perkins. There he remained until 1877, when he formed a. partnership with his brother Henry L. Parker, as described above. Since 1886, when Henry L. Parker retired from the firm, John F. Parker has continued the business alone, and he has one of the best lines of agencies in the city.


On Feb. 18, 1869, John F. Parker was married in New London, Conn., to Miss Fannie T. Fitch, daughter of Harris T. Fitch of that city. One daughter, Myra Fitch, was born to this union. Miss Parker is a graduate of the Free academy, and also of the normal department of the same school. She is a successful school teacher, and a very accomplished lady.


In former years Mr. Parker was a Democrat, but he is now an independent, and he- supported the candidacy of William McKinley in both cam- paigns. During his residence in the Central School District. Fraternally Mr. Parker is a member of the board of education, and he is now serving his third year as a member of the board in the Falls District. Fraternally Mr. Parker is a member of St. James Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M., Franklin


5


524


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Chapter ; Franklin Council; Columbia Commandery, K. T., No. 4; and Sphinx Temple, Mystic Shrine. Mrs. Parker and her daughters are members of Faith Trumbull Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution. The family attend the Park Congre- gational Church.


CHARLES HENRY CONE, one of the leading men of Niantic, Conn., was born in the town of East Lyme, Aug. 13, 1852, son of William Horace Brockway Cone.


William H. B. Cone was a native of East Had- dam, but he passed the greater portion of his life in East Lyme, where he died in 1875. He married Sarah C. Spencer, daughter of Isaac Spencer, of Durham, Conn. She died Oct. 10, 1886. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Daniel, who died in infancy ; Mary Ida, wife of Capt. Rich- ard K. Miner, of New London; Esther Ann, de- ceased wife of Edwin Howard, of East Lyme ; Phebe Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Boynton, of Lyme; Eunice Matilda, wife of Jason Chapman, of New London; Charles Henry; Miss Ellen Eliza, resid- ing in Brooklyn, N. Y .; and William Harrison, who died at the age of five years.


Charles Henry Cone spent his boyhood days in East Lyme until he was fourteen years old, attend- ing school in Niantic and Old Lyme. At that age he entered the employ of Nicholas L. Smith, a lead- ing grocer of New London, and was a member of his family four years. He was then with Mr. J. W. Morgan, general mercantile dealer, for two years, and at the age of twenty became a partner in the business with him, remaining as such about one year.


On Jan. 1, 1875, Mr. Cone went to New York to engage in the wholesale fish business, and was a bookkeeper at Fulton Market for seven years, in the employ of Chappell & Storer. In 1882, he estab- lished himself in business in Fulton Market under the firm name of C. H. Cone & Co., and this busi- ness was a great success from the start. In 1892 he sold to his partner, Percy M. Comstock, and organized the New York Fish Company, at No. 107 South street, Fulton Market, and in 1899 he sold out this business to John Dais. In all his busi- ness enterprises Mr. Cone has been very successful.


In 1899, Mr. Cone returned to Niantic, Conn., and engaged in an ice business, under the firm name of Niantic Ice Company, C. H. Cone, president and manager, and he also embarked in a very successful real estate business. He built the post office and the Lake View cottages at Niantic, Conn., and he also deals in timber and wool.


Fraternally Mr. Cone is a member of Fraternity Council, Royal Arcanum, of Brooklyn, New York.


Mr. Cone has been twice married. In New Lon- don he wedded his first wife, Lillian E. Chappell, and they had one child,-Marion C., born in 1886. At Brooklyn, N. Y., he was married (second) to Addie V. Dunn, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. No


children have been born of this union. In his iti- cal belief Mr. Cone is a Republican, but cares pth- ing for the honors of official position, preferi . to devote his time to his business interests. Hand his wife are both members of the Washington .ve- nue Baptist Church, at Brooklyn, N. Y. Prog five and energetic, Mr. Cone commands the rest of all who know him.


JEROME J. COLLINS is one of Newton- don's enterprising business men, being one the leading grocers of that place, and also a suc fsful coal dealer.


Mr. Collins was born Dec. 18, 1859, in tfinty Cork, Ireland. His grandfather, Jerome (fins, was a distiller, and successfully conducted thatusi- ness up to the time of his death, which odrred when he was about sixty years of age in his tive land, Ireland.


James Collins, father of Jerome J., was lần in Ireland and was employed in the distillery w & his father, and he worked at that business unti (862, when he came to America with his family. 15 set- tled in New York, where he learned the tie of iron-rail straightener, and continued to follc that line until the steel rail took the place of tlfiron rail, when he abandoned that work, and sin that time he has been employed in an iron fourty in New York City, that metropolis being still his pme. He was married in Ireland to Mary Toohe who died in New York in September, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. James Collins were born children fol- lows: (I) Jerome J., who is mentioned belo (2) Mary, who is the wife of D. E. Powers, and sides in New York; (3) James, Jr., who is an iron polder by trade, and resides in New York; (4) Maaret, who is the wife of Patrick Marron, and rerles in New York; (5) John C., who is engaged the plumbing business in Yonkers, N. Y. ; and (( Ann, residing with her father.


Jerome J. Collins was scarcely three years age when he came with his parents to America, iling from Queenstown in the "City of Edinburg "and arriving in New York in April, 1862. In Ne York he received his schooling, which was rather mited owing to the illness of his father, who for a mber of years was an invalid suffering from sciati hen- matism. Young Collins worked as he foun work for his young hands to do, and as an oppounity presented itself he went to school, determinedlo get as much of an education as was possible un'r the circumstances. He finally became apprent d to the trade of steel molder, and after master g the details of that trade continued to work at sai until 1886. The work, however, proved too hard : him, and was undermining his health, so, in I 7, he embarked in the grocery business, in New York City, at the corner of Macomb and Broadway where he continued successfully for about three ye :. At the end of that time he sold out and came | New London, Conn., in 1890 opening a grocery Isiness


b. H.Leme


525


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ast N' London, in a small one-story building le coper of Harrison and Winthrop streets. e he is enjoyed success from the start, and a stelily growing trade, all the result of ghtfo ard upright business principles. In he 1 lt his present block, which is a three- , bric and frame building. In the spring of ollins established the coal business in Mr


ection vith his grocery, handling all sizes of racite al, and he has been as well patronized is lin is in the other. He has shown himself prog ssive and enterprising in every respect, though he has been established here a com- tively


ort time he has won a substantial place ig theprosperous merchants of the city. His [ ideas are thoroughly up-to-date, and ods a ener tic and successful in putting them into ution. That he is a selfmade man is one more , to h credit.


ociall Mr. Collins is a member of Seaside acil, . 17, Knights of Columbus, of New


lon, c which organization he is a past grand he is now serving as State Advocate of He is also a member of St. John's Liter-


cht, al rder. Societ of New London, of which organization esident. Mr. Collins and his family are


past ted nbers of St. Mary's Star of the Sea an holic Church. In political faith he is depe: ent Democrat.


Ir. Cd ns was married, Dec. 29, 1885, to Mary anno daughter of Patrick Hannon, of New on, al to them have been born children as VS : May C., who graduated from the Wil- Me rial Institute of New London, and is a stuc t at the State Normal School, New Ha-


(2) : lla C., who is a student in the Williams orial stitute; (3) Charles H., who is a senior nt atie Bulkeley High School; (4) Bessie, is att ding the Winthrop school.


DWA et ga


D C. KENYON, one of the leading eners of Waterford, and a highly re- ed cit


n of that town, was born Feb. 15, 1834, igston, R. I., and is a descendant of an


uth I y of the Southern part of the State. In


nt fail ricar Ancestry" it is stated, in the lineage of escendants of John Kenyon, of Rhode the latter descended from the Kenyons


of the 1, tha :el, L caster, England.


lyon, born in 1657, who died in 1732, of Kigston and Westerly, R. I., and had hn, James, Enoch, Joseph, David and


nyon was also an early settler of Kings- terly, R. I. His wife's Christian name id their children were : James, Thomas, ghn, Peter, Sarah and Ruth. The par-


father in 1724, and the mother in 1720. nyon and his wife Mary (Ray) were ants of New Shoreham, R. I., and had born Jan. 25, 1685.


These three Kenyons, it is assumed, were broth- ers, and it is also assumed that their father was John, who is named by various members of the Rhode Island Kenyon family as its founder. Nothing definite seems to be known of the first settler.


David Kenyon, Jr., undoubtedly a scion of this branch of the Kenyon family, was married in Rich- mond, R. I., April 21, 1751, to Mary Potter. This David Kenyon seems to have been previously mar- ried, his wife's Christian name being Lydia, and they had a child, Martha, born Oct. II, 1746. His children by Mary (second wife) were: Lydia, born Aug. 17, 1752 ; Mary, July 26, 1755; William, April I, 1758; Deborah, March 27, 1763; and Potter, March 25, 1768. Of these,


William Kenyon, born April 1, 1758, is evidently identical with the William Kenyon recorded as the grandfather of Edward Clark Kenyon, whose name introduces this sketch, and with the William Ken- yon, who, in 1840, was a pensioner for service in the Revolution, eighty-four years of age, then resid- ing with a William Kenyon in Richmond. This would make him born in 1756, instead of 1758. On the pension roll in 1835 is the name of William Kenyon, seaman, Washington county, R. I., as of the Rhode Island Continental Line and Militia, placed on the roll Nov. 25, 1834, aged seventy- eight. These entries undoubtedly refer to the same William Kenyon, grandfather of Edward C., as he is known to have been a lieutenant in the Revolu- tionary war. He was a farmer by occupation. His wife's maiden name was Austin.


Jeremiah Austin Kenyon, father of Edward C., was born May 5, 1796, in Charlestown, R. I., and died at that place, Jan. 12, 1843. He was a carpen- ter and cabinetmaker, "a jack of all trades," in fact, and also followed farming. He was a man of rugged constitution, his death which was quite sud- den, occurring after a twelve days' illness from ty- phoid-pneumonia. On Feb. 26, 1818, he married Asenath Green, of Charlestown, who was born Aug. 27, 1799, and died Dec. 4, 1879, in Montville, Conn. Children as follows blessed this union: (I) Ann Mariah, born Feb. 24, 1820, was scalded to death at the age of four years. (2) Asahel N., born April 26, 1822, was a carpenter by trade, and he died at Carolina Mills, Richmondtown, R. I. He married Lydia Hoxie. (3) Jeremiah A., Jr., born Jan. 31, 1825, served in the war of the Rebellion, and died in Plantsville, Conn. He was a carpenter by trade, and was engaged in the undertaking and upholstering business in Southington. He married (first) Julia Holloway and (second) Emma Irwin. (4) William H. G., born Dec. 1, 1829, went to Cali- fornia, during the gold fever, and lived there forty years, dying there. He engaged in farming in that State, also followed the water, and was known as "Captain." He married in California and had five children. (5) George Washington, born Sept. 29, 1831, followed the water, and died, in Port-au- Prince, West Indies, of yellow fever. He never




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