USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 17
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
also studied outside of a lawyer's office, and who was afterward a judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and who is now a Commissioner at Washington, appointed by President Grant in pursuance of the treaty lately negotiated with Great Britain, to settle the differences between that country and the United States.
JOIN PRITCHETT Was born in New Jersey, Nov. 25, 1803, and reared in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he studied medi- cine; and came to Centerville in February, 1826. After a successful practice for many years, he graduated, in 1843, at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. He is at this time the oldest practicing physician in the county, excepting Dr. Pennington, of Milton. He married Emily Talbot, daughter of Samuel Talbot, near Centerville, and had three children : 1. Mary, who resides with the family at Centerville. 2. Gus- tavus, who died in infancy. 3. James M., who resides in Washington City. In 1852, he entered the naval school at Annapolis, Md., and graduated in 1857, and is still in the navy of the United States. He was in active service in the late civil war.
WILLIAM PUGH, a native of South Carolina, settled in Rich- mond, in 1818, and soon after removed to Salisbury, where he studied medicine with Dr. Ithamar Warner, and returned to Richmond, where he was in practice with Dr. Warner until 1824. He then removed to Centerville, and continued the practice of his profession until his decease, in 1829, aged 33. His son, John E. Pugh, is a druggist in Centerville, and is said to be the first person born in town.
JAMES RARIDEN, a native of Kentucky, after a residence of several years in Brookville, and for a time in Salisbury, where he studied law, and was a deputy clerk for David Hoover, came to Centerville in 1820, where he remained in the practice of law until about 1846. He then removed to Cambridge City, where he died in 1856 or 1857. Though illiterate, he was a man of strong mind, a fair lawyer, and an able advocate. He was several times elected to the legisla- ture, and was a representative in Congress from 1837 to 1841.
GEO. RUPE, from Tennessee, came in 1821 to Richmond, and carried on the hatting business for a year. He then removed
John- Highman
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CENTER TOWNSHIP.
to Perry, about three miles west from where Economy now is, and thence, three years afterward, to the present site of that town, where he built a log shop and dwelling-house to- gether. This was one of the first buildings, if not the very first one, within the present limits of the town. HIe here carried on the hatting business about thirty years, attaining a celebrity nearly equal to that of Beard, of North Carolina, to whom allusion has been made. He is spoken of as a good citizen and an honorable man. IIe died in 1859, in Hamilton county, Ind., of cancer.
HENRY B. RUPE, son of George Rupe, was born in Tennes- see, 1821, and came the same year with his father to Wayne county, Indiana. At the age of ten years, he commenced learning the hatter's trade with his father, at Economy, and followed the business until 1858. He was early identified with the antislavery movement ; and on the organization of the Liberty party, was run by that party as a candidate for county treasurer. He has lectured much, throughout the county, upon the subjects of slavery, temperance, and popu- lar education as connected with the common schools. Since about the year 1859, he has been a preacher of the Baptist denomination. Since the beginning of his ministerial labors, he has preached for churches at Concord, at Cambridge City, and at Elkhorn. In the fall of 1862, he was elected Treasurer of Wayne county; and in 1864 was re-elected for a second term. He is now living on his farm a mile and a half south of Centerville.
JOHN STIGLEMAN was born in Virginia, in the year 1787, whence he removed to this county, in 1819, and settled about three miles north of Centerville, and a few years later to the farm now owned and occupied by his son Henry, where he died August 18, 1865, aged 79 years. He was a good and useful citizen, of decided Christian character, and an active member of the Baptist church. IIe held the office of county commissioner for one or two terms.
CHARLES H. TEST came to Centerville in 1838, a lawyer of experience and of good reputation. He had commenced practice, in 1821, at Lawrenceburg ; had practiced also at Brookville and Rushville. From 1830 to 1838, he had been
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
a circuit judge. He removed from Centerville to White county, and subsequently to Indianapolis, where he now re- sides. He has also been judge of Lafayette circuit; has rep- resented several different counties in the legislature ; and has held for a term of two years the office of secretary of state. He is regarded as one of the ablest advocates now in practice in the state.
JESSE WILLIAMS, from Kentucky, in 1815, to Franklin county, and in 1819 to Centerville. He now resides one and a half miles east of town. In 1837, he was elected associate judge to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Asa M. Sher- man ; was re-elected in 1838 for the term of seven years, and again in 1845 for another term of seven years.
JOHN C. KIBBEY, a native of Warren county, Ohio, came to this county about the year 1815, and settled at Salisbury. In about the year 1821 or 1822, he removed to Richmond, where he resided, with the exception of a few years at Centerville, until his death some ten or fifteen years ago. He is said to have been a man of " a mathematical turn of mind, well read in general literature, and an honest man." He was for many years a justice of the peace.
JOHN F. KIBBEY, son of the above, was admitted to practice March 2, 1852. He was elected, in 1864, to succeed Jeremiah Wilson as judge of the Sixth judicial district, and came into office, March, 1865. He was re-elected in 1868, and his term will expire in 1872.
SAMUEL RUSSELL, a native of Virginia, from Ohio in 1818, settled in 1819, where his son Vinnedge resides, about four miles north-east from Centerville, and where he died in 1835, aged 63. His children living are Samuel, Vinnedge, and Ann, wife of John Kem. John H. Rohe, from Germany, in 1838, to Maryland, and after a residence there of eleven years, to Center, where he now resides, two miles east of Centerville. John P. Voss, from North Carolina in 1827, settled a year after near the site of old Salisbury, in Wayne, and two years later on the place where he now resides, two miles east of Center- ville, on the National road. John Atkinson, born in New Jersey, from Ohio at an early day, settled in the north-west part of the township. He died in 1857, where his son Henry
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
now lives, in Clay. William Beall, from Kentucky, in 1816, entered and settled on the land now owned by Oliver T. Jones, south of Lorenzo D. King's; and in 1836, settled where he now resides, in Clay, two miles east of Washington, on land entered by his father, Archibald Beall. His children are Cur- ran, Hannah, Brutus, Amanda, Marion, Susanna.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
Clay township was formed in the year 1832, from several of the townships adjoining, and included three sections which have since been annexed to Jefferson. Lying wholly within the bounds of the Twelve Mile Purchase, few families settled in it before the war of 1812.
James Martindale, from North Carolina, is said to have been the first settler on Green's Fork bottom, within the limits of this township. He settled on the farm on which his grandson, James W. Martindale, a son of John Martin- dale, now resides, half a mile from the town of Washing- ton. His purchase included lands now owned by Branson L. Harris and John Brooks. Jonas Hatfield, Sen., from Kentucky, in 1812, settled, with his sons, where the town of Washington now is, and where his descendants still re- side. Thomas, one of his sons, laid out the town, and died many years ago. Jonas, another son, with several of his children, still resides there. Abel Jenny, about 1812, set- tled where Branson L. Harris now resides, east of and near the town. Jesse Albertson, from North Carolina, after stopping a year or two in Kentucky, settled two miles east of Richmond, and in 1815 removed to the farm on which he now resides, half a mile east of town. His brother Joshua, who came to Richmond a few years later than Jesse, after some years residence there, settled south of his brother, on land bought of Richard Ratcliff, now owned by John Bond, Jun., and Elwood Albertson. In 1813, Wm. Fox set- tled about one mile north of town; land lately owned by John Brooks, now by George W. Davis. Fox removed in 1844 to Jefferson township, where he died in 1860. Joshua
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Benny settled one and a half miles north-west of town; land now owned by Richard and George Faucett, and James T. Nicholson. James Spray, on land now owned by Jacob Wood, afterward half a mile south on the farm since owned by John Brooks.
In the cast part of the township, James Odell, about 1813 or 1814, settled on the farm where Wm. Coffin resides. San- uel and Joseph Evans on land now owned by John Bean, of Green township, son-in-law of Joseph Evans, and Ransom Cheeseman. In 1814, Miles Murphy settled one mile south- east of town. John Baldwin, from North Carolina, in 1825, bought the farm of Murphy, it being that on which his son
Jonathan Baldwin resides.
He had four sons, Jonathan,
Jonathan married Mary Ann, Isaac, David, and Caleb. daughter of Jesse Albertson. James Porter settled early near the Friends' meeting-house. Moses Martindale, brother of James, where Alfred Underhill resides. Wm. Young, land owned by Josiah Clawson. Benj. Angell, on land on the township line, now owned by Alfred Underhill. In 1814, John Pierson settled where Henry Atkinson resides. About 1815, Martin Martindale, son-in-law of Pierson, on land lately owned by E. Harvey, now by David Fowler. Wm. Beall, ad- joining the township line, where he still lives. Joseph Thorn- burg where Daniel Williams lives. Benj. Albertson, on land now owned by John Bond, Jun., one mile south-east of town. Owen Branson, on part of the land now owned by I. McDon- ald and Thomas Adams's heirs.
In the south-east part of the township, Jonathan Cloud set- tled where now his son Joseph Cloud resides. Wm. Pike, on land now owned by the heirs of his son Stephen Pike. Isaiah Frazier, first, and afterward Jonathan Mendenhall, on land now owned by Lewis Bailey and Henry Franklin. John Hunt, after him Israel Gause, on land now owned by Isaac Gause and Mrs. E. Brashure.
In the vicinity of Washington, south and west, were Jesse Bond, who, after a residence of six years near Richmond, set- tled a mile south of town in 1813; lands now owned by his sons Nathan, Wm. C., and the heirs of his son Robert. Benj. Hall, lessee of Henry Stidham, on land now owned by Larkin
Strobridge& Co.Lith. Cin u
Jesse Bond.
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
1
Bond, who bought of John Bailey. John Foland, on a part of the land now owned by Matthias Wisc.
In the south and south-west part of the township, were Ste- phen Horney, who still resides where he settled; Moses Coflin, where Andrew Horney resides ; Absalom Williams, on lands now owned by his sons, HIcury and John Williams; Isaac Mendenhall, on lands lately owned by David Cook, deceased. Henry Hoover settled early on the east side of Green's Fork; lands now owned by the widow of his son Andrew, their son John, and Perry Wilson. Peter Hoover, brother of Henry, bought west and adjoining,; land now owned by the widow of his son Emsley, and their son Owen P. Hoover, and Henry T. Bond. John Fincher settled near where O. P. Hoover now resides. Valentine Foland, in the south-west corner of the township, where he now resides. James Ridge, on lands now owned by Theodore Cook. John Wise, in 1832, on lands now owned by his sons George and Matthias Wise. IIe now re- sides in Jay county. Ephraim Gentry, land purchased of Da- vid Hoover, now owned by Wm. II. Gentry, son of Ephraim.
In the west part of the township, David Peacock settled on land now owned by his son David; Wm. Widows, on land lately sold to John Allen, who owns other lands adjoining. Mason Fithen, about 1817, settled on land now owned by Ja- cob Wright and others; Enos Veal, Sen., and Peter Woolfert, in 1817, on lands now owned and occupied by James T. Nich- olson and Daniel Strickler. Woolfert sold out and removed to section 15. Joseph Davis, on land adjoining the township line, where George G. Hindman resides. James Owen, Sen., on land now owned by Eulas Bunnell. In 1815, John Brockus and Miles Dimet settled on land now owned by Cyrus Osborn and John Bradbury. In 1824, Job Smith, on lands lately owned by Olinda B. Bunnell and William Faucett. Ezekiel Bradbury, about 1825, where Jonas Hatfield, Jun., resides. Jo- nas Hatfield, Sen., father of the present Jonas Hatfield, Sen., bought the lands now owned principally by George Faucett, Cyrus Osborn, and Daniel Bradbury.
In the north-west part of the township, Jonathan Shaw set- tled, in 1815, on land now owned by Daniel Striekler on the township west line. On school section, [16,] first residents
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
were Robert Watkins and Wm. Elliott. Land sold in 1832 to Daniel Bradbury, John Brown, Matthew Holcomb, Enos Veal, Samuel Adamson. Ithamar Lamb, Milo Bailey, and Lewis Strickler live on it. John Bradbury, from Ohio, in 1815, and his brother Josiah settled on Morgan's creek. John, a few years after, removed to the Wabash, and in 1829 to his pres- ent residence a mile west of town. Daniel Bradbury early bought of his brother Josiah, and settled where Milton R. Harris now resides ; and in 1866 at his present residence near town. The land first settled by John Bradbury is now owned by Eulas Bunnell. David Sears, in 1820, settled on land now owned by Edwin F. Ogborn. Enos Veal, Jun., and Elias Ven- niman, on land now owned by Jane Ogborn and John Fowler. About 1828 or 1830, Peter Woolfert, who settled about 1817 in section 27, and Wm. Ball, settled ou lands now owned by E. Merritt Lamb and Jesse W. Brooks. In 1821, Eve, widow of Evan Shoemaker, (since removed to Wabash,) settled on land now owned by Joseph Lamb. James Starling, on the land now owned by Joseph Long. Henry Riggs, on the land Merritt Lamb owns. Wm. Ball and Frederic Dean, on land now owned by John Gilmore and Eli Wiseman.
In the north part of the township, section 14, Wm. Under- hill settled on land now owned by John Ball and Oliver Wil- son. Jesse and Isaac Baldwin, on land now owned by Enos Veal and John Wilson's heirs. Philip and Henry Renberger, about 1819, on land now owned by John Gilmore and John Wilson's heirs. Henry Garrett and Abraham Elliott, as early as 1813 or 1814, on part of section 23; lands now owned by Samuel Cook and Wm. F. Dean. David Young, where Wm. F. Dean resides. Jonathan Ross and John Richter settled where M. Funk now lives.
Absalom Williams, born in North Carolina in 1775, after a residence of seven years near Richmond, entered in Clay town- ship the land where his son Henry resides. He died in 1868, at the age of 93. Wm. Osborn, about 1820, setttled near Washington, and died in 1831, aged 29. Cyrus, his son, re- sides half a mile below town. Daniel Williams, born in North Carolina in 1792, from Pennsylvania in 1833, settled in the
Daniel Bradbury.
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
north-east part of the township, where Allen M. Harris lives; now resides one and a half miles east of Washington.
John Brooks, from North Carolina, in 1831, to this county, settled, in 1844, on the land entered by Wm. Fox, one mile from Washington, and is now living half a mile east of town.
Thomas Cook settled, at an early day, where his son Samuel Cook lives, two miles north from Washington, and where he died in 1824, aged 56. He is supposed to have been the first saddler in Washington. Samuel Ball, born in Virginia, from Tennessee in 1820, settled where Benjamin Thorn lives, and died in 1849, near where his son John Ball resides. John Wilson, from South Carolina, about 1820, settled two miles north-west from Washington, where he died in 1852, aged 36. Joseph Lamb, from North Carolina, settled, in 1829, on land adjoining Perry, where he died in 1855, at the age of 73. His children were, Ezekiel, deceased; Esther, Smith, deceased ; Elias, Mournen, Joseph, Ithamar. John Bailey, a native of Virginia, from Kentucky about 1810 to Richmond, thence, a few years after, to Perry, and next to Clay, in 1859, where his son Milo resides ; died in 1863, aged 72. Wm. Hindman, from Ohio, in 1839, settled two and a half miles west of Washington, and died in 1843, aged 42. George, his son, lives on the west line. Wm. Wright, from Maryland, in 1825, set- tled two miles south-east from town, where he died in 1854, aged 74. Jacob, his son, lives one and a half miles west from town.
Hugh Allen, from Ohio in 1820, settled three miles south- east from Hagerstown, near where he died, aged 66. His son John lives about two miles west of Washington ; Jacob, an- other son, in Jefferson. David Cook, from Virginia, about 1831, settled one mile south of Washington, where he died in 1870, aged 59. Theodore, his son, lives two miles south-west from town. Emsley Hoover, from Ohio, about 1811. settled on Green's Fork, south-west from Washington, where his son Owen P. lives; died in 1865, aged 69. Valentine Foland, born in Virginia in 1789; served in the war of 1812. In 1815 he bought, and in 1821 settled on the land where he now resides, south-west corner of the township.
Henry Garret built the first Grist-mill, a mile and a half
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
above town, about the year 1814. Jonas Hatfield soon after commenced building a saw-mill that year at Washington, but not living to finish it, it was completed the next year by his son Thomas, who four or five years after also built a grist-mill at the same place. Henry Hoover, (not of Richmond,) about the year 1840, built a saw-mill two miles below Washington, and afterward sold it to Samuel Boyd, who, about the year 1855, also built a grist-mill at the same place.
About the year 1825-perhaps later-Thomas Hatfield built a Carding Machine and a Fulling Mill near his other mills, and after running them about a year, he procured of Jesse Bond a site a fourth of a mile below, to which he removed them, and soon after sold them to the Bonds, who removed them further down to near where Nathan Bond resides.
Wm. Underhill and Joshua Benny are said to have been the first Blacksmiths in the township.
Lisbon Basey and John Russell, in partnership, are supposed to have been the first Merchants, in the year 1818 ; next, Allen Osborn and Wm. Bunnell ; and next, John Martindale, son of James, who, in 1830, sold out to Mark E. Reeves, who, with an additional stock, established a store which he continued until 1840, when he removed to Hagerstown, continning an in- terest in the store at Washington in partnership with James W. Scott for about five years. Jonathan & Stephen Coffin com- menced trade in 1843; and the business was continued by Stephen. Present merchants : Dry Goods-Dr. Lorenzo D. Personett and John M. McCown. Grocers-Allen Daugherty, Wm. S. Hatfield.
The first Physician is said to have been a Dr. Howard, who was soon followed by Dr. Johnson. Dr. William Bunnell, who came about the year 1823, is said by some to have been the first "regular," licensed physician. He died, in 1853, of cholera. He was succeeded by his son, Rhodes W. Bunnell. Lorenzo D. Personett came in 1844. The two last-mentioned are the present practicing physicians.
Abraham Elliott is supposed to have been the first Justice of the Peace within what is now Clay township; the next, per- haps, was John Martindale, brother of James.
The Friends formed the first Religious Society; and a log
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
meeting-house was built as early as 1814 or 1815, by Jesse Bond, below the town, near the grave-yard. A frame house was afterward built at or near the same place. After the schism of 1828, those calling themselves "Orthodox" built a house about a mile north-east of town, on land given for that purpose by John Baldwin. The only society in the vicinity now holds its meetings in this house.
A Methodist Church was organized at an early day ; but in what year has not been ascertained. Their meetings were early held at the house of James Porter, in the vicinity of the Friends' meeting-house, north of town. In 1815, Rev. Wm. Hunt was on Whitewater circuit, and is known to have preached in this place. Among the early members were James Porter, James Odell, Wm. Fox, and their wives, and Polly Morgan, whose husband had been killed by Indians at Morgan's Creek. The names of preachers who succeeded Mr. Hunt on Whitewater circuit are given elsewhere.
The church of the United Brethren is said to have existed upward of thirty years. The precise date of its forma- tion is not remembered. The society built a frame meeting- house near the creek, which they occupied until 1870, when their new brick house in town was completed.
The Town of Washington was laid out by Thomas Hatfield, and the description of the original plat, certified by him as proprietor, and Abraham Elliott, surveyor, September 28, 1818, was acknowledged for record November 19, 1818.
A Block-house without a fort was built in war-time on or near Joshua Benny's farm, a mile north of Washington. On John Martindale's land, four miles west of this town, a fort and block-house were built by Martindale and his sons, Elijah and William, Charles Morgan, Reynolds Fielder, Jacob Galion, and Jonathan Shaw.
A Lodge of Free Masons, Acacia, No. 242, was organized under dispensation January 29, 1859, and held its first meeting February 15, 1859. Its charter is dated May 25, 1859. Its officers were Rhodes W. Bunnell, W. M .; Wm. McCafferty, S. W .; Hugh II. Keys, J. W .; Charles Evans, Treasurer ; Daniel D. Rogers, Secretary. Walter Rogers, Sen. Deacon ; Samuel Cook, Deacon.
14
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Green's Fork Lodge, No. 184, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 25, 1857, with the following named persons as the first officers : James W. Scott, N. G .; Calvin Conner, V. G .; Thomas M. Kerr, Secretary ; Joseph F. Reynolds, Treasurer.
Bellis Encampment, No. 71, I. O. O. F., was instituted An- gust 31, 1865. First officers: George W. Ebersol, C. P .; John Bean, H. P .; Joseph Ludlum, S. W .; George W. Davis, J. W .; Lorenzo D. Personett, Seribe; Adam Reinheimer, Treasurer.
Biographical and Genealogical.
JESSE BOND was born in Grayson county, Va., and was mar- ried to Phebe Commons, a daughter of Robert Commons, in North Carolina. In 1807 he emigrated from Virginia to Indiana Territory, and settled on the farm on which the Earlham College buildings stand. In 1813 he removed to a farm near the present town of Washington, where he continued to reside until his decease, April 11, 1862. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a minister from his youth. He was one of the earliest ministers of the Whitewater meeting. The existence of American slavery he deplored most deeply; and had his life been protracted another short year, he would have had the satisfaction of witnessing its overthrow. He is represented as having been exemplary in his deportment, and singularly faith- ful in the discharge of domestic, social, and religious duties. He had eleven children.
1. Nathan, who married Tamar Kenworthy. 2. Robert, who married Rachel Thornburg, and died in 1864. 3. John, who married Mary Barnard, and died in 1867. 4. William C., who married Hannah Locke, danghter of Wm. Locke, an early settler in Perry. 5. Enos, who married Susan Hoover, and removed to Newcastle, where she died in 1869. 6. Isom, who married Dinah Kenworthy, and removed to Miami county, Ind., where he died in 1847. His widow married Jediah Bond ; they live at Louisville, Henry county. 7. Ruth, wife of Will- iam Nicholson, and resides at Newcastle. S. Hannah, wife of John Wilson, who died in 1852. 9. Isaac, who married, first, Catharine Eargood, and resides at Peru; second, Millicent Mendenhall. 10. Jesse, who married, first, Jane Cox; second,
Strobridge & Co. Lith. Cin. O.
VALENTINE FOLAND.
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CLAY TOWNSHIP.
Harriet Hangh, and resides at Peru. 11. Lydia, wife of Oliver Mendenhall, and resides at Newcastle.
DANIEL BRADBURY Was born in Warren county, Ohio, in the North-western Territory, September 22, 1800. He removed to this county in 1819, and settled in what is now Clay town- ship, on Morgan's creek, three miles north-west of Washington. He was married, August 23, 1821, to Mary Elliott, at Jack- sonburg. In 1866 he removed to the farm on which he now resides, half a mile north of the town. He had six children, of whom three died young. Of those who survived them, John died from injuries received from the running away of a team ; his widow and a son died a few years after. Jane married, first, James Wilson, who died about three years after his mar- riage ; second, Edwin F. Ogburn. Matilda married Milton R. Harris. All reside in the neighborhood of Sugar Grove. Mrs. Bradbury died April 4, 1868. Mr. B. married for his second wife, Hannah Buck in 1869. He was in 1839 elected a county commissioner. In 1840 he was elected a representative in the legislature, and in 1841 declined a nomination. He has also served for thirteen years as assessor, principally in four town- ships, and for twelve years as superintendent of the county asylum.
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