History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 99

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320


USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 99


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The present structure is built of brick and furnished in a substantial manner. The church is fifty-five feet long by thirty-four feet wide. Samuel Jones, of Raw- linsville, Martic township, was contractor. The names of the building committee were as follows : John A. Alexander, Rev. B. K. Hambleton, James Clark.


The following-named gentlemen constitute the present board of trustees: John Crawford, presi- dent; James Clark, secretary; J. A. Alexander, treasurer ; F. Young, B. K. Hambleton, Rolandus Brubaker, William Armstrong, I. N. Massey, Samuel Alexander. Present membership, forty-four.


Bethesda Methodist Episcopal Church .- The deed of the land upon which this church is erected was obtained from John Creamer and wife. The deed was made to the following-named persons, who constituted the first board of trustees : William May- berry, Ilenry Hart, John Wentz, Isaac S. Wentz, . Lewis Wilkinson, Daniel Swift, and Harrison Potts. It is built of stone, and was built by subscription in 1843. James Hahn, the first preacher in charge at this place, who was a carpenter by trade, was the builder. William MeLaughlin did the carpenter work until the church was under roof. It was fin- ished by Christian Creamer and Lewis Wilkinson. The present board of trustees consists of the following persons : Thomas Wentz, Jesse Ilarner, J. O. Dunkle,


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MARTIC TOWNSHIP.


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ter, Hugh Armstrong, William H. Wentz, James Ecklan. Present membership, ninety.


Rawlinsville Methodist Episcopal Church .- This is a frame structure, erected in 1875. The land was obtained from B. F. Miller, and deeded by him to the following-named gentlemen, who constituted the first board of trustees : John Monteith, Elias Aument, John Hart, Jacob Hart, II. L. Thompson, Abraham Creamer, Samuel Drumm, Lewis Volrath, Washing- ton Drumm. Contractor and builder, Samuel Jones, of Rawlinsville. The present number of communi- cants is thirty-two. The Methodist Circuit, of which Martie forms a part, was formerly called the Fulton Circuit. It was subsequently divided, the western part taking the name of the Mount Nebo Circuit. From its division to the present time (1883) the fol- lowing-named persons officiated in the churches in a ministerial capacity : Joseph Magee, - Mauger, H. H. Bodine, N. W. Bennum, G. L. Schaeffer, Jo- seph Gregg, Samuel Harwell, W. W. McMichael, Frederick Ilman, F. M. Collins, Thomas Montgom- ery, and Robert C. Wood.


Marticville Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first Methodist congregation in the northern part of the township was organized at Martieville in 1836. The congregation held their meetings in private houses, and occasionally in the public school-house until the year 1863, when they held meetings at a place known as Huber's Hall. The meetings were held in this place from 1863 to 1874, when the first Methodist Church was erected in Martieville. The land upon which the church is erected was purchased


Samuel Bookman, Matthias Myers, Henry Charles, Abraham Charles, and John D. Sensenig, the first board of trustees. The church is built of stone, and was completed and dedicated to the worship of God in 1874. The members of the present board of trus- tees are Henry Brooks, David S. McElhaney, Gabriel Spence, David Fehl, and James Creamer. The per- sons who officiated at this church in a ministerial capacity, from its erection, in 1874, till the present time (1883) are Rev. John Herr, Rev. Frederick Brady, Rev. John W. Harkins, and Rev. J. A. Am- ther, the present incumbent. The communicants number at the present time forty-two. This church is in the Safe IFarber Circuit.


Mount Nebo Presbyterian Church .- This place of worship is chartered under the name of the Pres- byterian Congregation of Mount Nebo. It is located at what is commonly known as Clark's graveyard, an old burial ground of the forefathers of the present gene- ration. When the first interment took place we have no means of knowing. The oldest tombstone in the yard bears this inscription, "William Neil,1 Feb. S,


1814," although, as is well known, it was used as a burial ground long before that time. The charter was granted April 23, 1854 (D. W. Patterson, attorney), to John Bear, York County, Maris Hoopes, John J. Porter, Thomas Stewart, and George Campbell, who composed the first board of trustees. This board held their first meeting May 15, 1854. The church was dedicated in October, 1855. Rev. Alfred Nevin preached the dedicatory sermon, assisted by Rev. Lindley C. Rutter. The church was supplied with preaching by Rev. L. C. Rutter, of Chestnut Level ; Rev. Mr. Farquhar, of Chanceford, York Co .; by Rev. Mr. Gamble ( Farquhar's successor), and occasion- ally by others until the installation ot the first pastor, Rev. Ezra S. Heany, who was installed in June, 1879. The present board of trustees are George Campbell ( president), Joseph Clark (secretary and treasurer), Joseph Armstrong, A. L. Pegan, Lewis Jenkins, and Isaac Walton.


Graveyards .- The oldest graveyard in this town- ship is the one attached to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Martieville. The date of the first interment is not definitely known, but it antedates the French and Indian war. It was used as a burying-ground by the miners who worked the mines now known as the Pequea Silver Mines, in Pequea township.


The next in point of age is the one attached to the Muddy Run Presbyterian Church, better known as the "Old Log Church." The first interment, accord- ing to the inseription upon the tombstone, is that of William Dunean, whose interment bears date 1744. This is followed by Sarah Rannels interment, bearing from Eli Eshleman, and was deeded to Henry Brooks, ; date 1750; William Leaman, interred in 1760; and Hugh Gray, in 1760.


The old graveyard at the Mount Nebo Presby- terian Church, known as Clark's graveyard, has also been used for a long time as a place of interment, but as the date of the first burial at this place has faded from the recollection of the oldest inhabitants, we have no other data by which we might be able to fix the exact time at which this spot was used as a place of burial for the dead.


There is also a graveyard adjoining the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mount Nebo, which was oeeu- pied as such as early as the building of the first Methodist Church at that place.


Kosciusko Lodge, No 374, I. 0. 0. F .- This lodge was instituted Sept. 29, 1849, and was at that time lo- cated in the village of Mount Nebo. The first officers consisted of the following: N. G., Mifflin Elliott ; V. G., John Hess; See,, George Campbell; Assist. Sec., George MeCombs; Treas., Samuel Harnish. The lodge continued to meet in the hall at Mount Nebo until 1853, when, to secure more commodious quarters, the hall of the Sons of Temperance at Raw- linsville was purchased, and the lodge removed there.


1 William Neil was at this time constable of Martie townslup, and in attempting to arrest llugh Mel'alls, met his death in the following manner. McFalls warned him to stay away or he would shoot bim.


Neil endeavored to arrest him boforo he could load his gun, and as Mu- Falls had not time to put a load of shot In his gun, he turned quickly and shot him with the ramrod.


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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.


Since its removal to Rawlinsville the lodge has en- | W. Shade, John Dufly, F. P. Duffy, II. C. Cloud, B. joyed a degree of prosperity seldom equaled by lodges F. Huber, C. H. Armstrong, Daniel Armstrong, Bay- ard Reinhart, John Drumm. outside the cities. At present the lodge owns its own hall, and has between four thousand and five thou- sand dollars at interest. This lodge is centrally lo- eated, in a good neighborhood, and must continue to prosper in the future as it has done in the past. Below we give the names of those who have filled the chair of Noble Grand from September, 1849, to October, 1883:


Martio Forge .- The oldest industry in Martie township is the iron industry, which commenced in the township' at Martie Forge, prior to the Revolu- tionary war. The records of the first establishment of this place of business are lost, and hence we have no means of arriving at the exact date of the starting of this place. In looking over the records, as far as they have been accessible to us, we find that on March 17, 1737, a warrant was issued to Abram Smith, James Smith, and Thomas Smith. This is probably the first recorded sale of any portion of the property now known as Martie Forge. For the purpose of showing through what changes this property has passed we subjoin the following brief of title :


Sept. 6, 1769. James Webb, E-q., sold furnace and forge and 3404 acres of land in Martie township to Ferguson & Mellvaine, as the property of Thomas Smith & Co.


September 12th. Ferguson & Mellvain sold furnace and forge to Adam Hoopes.


June 2, 1770. Adam Hoopes and wife conveyed Stewart, William K. MeFalls, John H. Carter, C. H. , furnace and forge to Jolin Maleohn, George Monroe, Armstrong, David Ernhart, T. J. Armstrong, B. F. Samuel Patterson, and John McCalmont, to each one- fourth. Jones, Samuel Hart, J. R. Shank. The following- named members have served as secretary for the May 25, 1771. John MeCalmont and others sold the one-eighth part of Martie and 1275 acres of land to Joseph Musgrove. terms set opposite their names : George S. Campbell, one term; W. H. Conway, one term; William A. Crawford, four terms; Franklin Young, one term;


June 22, 1772. John Malcom and others sold the Samuel Allison, one term; John Alexander, one , one-fourth part of Martie Forge to John Fox and term; J. W. Deaver, one term ; Mitllin Elliot, seven terms; George Tangert, four terms; L. D. Taylor, one term; D. M. Dunkle, one term ; William N. Gib- son, one term ; F. Brenneman, one term ; John Con- rad, four terms; Thomas Lebazius, sixteen terms; John Galen, six terms; S. C. Stevenson, seventeen terms. Daniel Longstreth in trust for William Juto, Robert Morris, James Haldane, William Hazelwood, Nieho- las Bernard, Stacy Nepham, Peter Sutter, James Fulton, Alexander Gresham, John -Kidd, Peter Young, Anthony Yeldale, James Berwick, James Longhead, John Clark, Zachariah Neiman, Robert Graves, and the said John Fox and Daniel Long- streth, William Hazelwood, Peter Sutter, and Alex- ander Gresham each to have one thirty-fifth part, the


Treasurers for the same time have been as follows : Samuel Harnish, two terms; John Monteith, thirty- one terms; Richard Donaldson, two terms; Amos, rest to have two thirty-fifths parts each.


Groff, four terms ; Miillin Elliot, one term ; Hugh O'Neal, eleven terms; Thomas Lebazius, six terms; Frank Breneman, four terms; Jacob Reese, six terms. Present membership of this lodge, one hundred and forty-three.


Pliny Lodge, No. 423, Knights of Pythias .- This lodge was organized March 11, 1874. It meets at Rawlinsville in the Odd-Fellows' Hall on Wednes- day evening of each week. It was organized with thirty-six charter members. The lodge is at present in a very prosperous condition, numbering eighty members. The' following persons have filled the chair of Chancellor Commander from its organization, in 1874, to the present date (1883) : Samuel Jones, S. C. Stevenson, S. A. Wright, D. M. Moore, B. F. Arm- strong, J. F. Yost, M.D., L. R. MeC'lune, William II. Wentz, Amos MeFalls, Dauiel Creamer, George


Feb. 18, 1774. John Malcolm and others sold one- fourth part of Martie Forge to William Montgomery and Matthias Wilkins, to each a moiety of the fourth part. John Malcolm and others sold one-eighth part of Martie Forge to Michael Hilligas.


Feb. 23, 1775. John Malcolm and others sold one- eighth part of Martie Forge to Michael Welsh.


Sept. 28, 1777. Matthias Wilkins sold a moiety of one-fourth part of Martie Forge to William Mont- gomery, wbo then sold one-fourth part of the forge and land.


December .8th. William Montgomery sold one- fourth part of the forge and land to Michael Hilligas.


Sept. 5, 1778. Joseph Montgomery and wife sold his one-fourth part of Martie Forge to Michael Hil- ligas.


To the preceding conveyance to Michael Hilligas


-


Mifflin Elliot, John Hess, Samuel Harnish, J. Proudfoot, Thomas Stewart, Benjamin Gontner, Wil- liam Crawford, F. Shoffstall, L. D. Taylor, Hugh O'Neal, Jolin Alexander, John Monteith, Thomas Labezius, J. C. Otto, Frederick Hill, D. M. Dunkle, ; William Ramsay, T. R. Johnson, II. Harmon, F. Brenneman, William N. Gibson, John Conrod, C. T. Soulsby, John MeFalls, W. B. Langert, Elias Au- ment, D. M. Moore, C. A. Derriek, John Galen, S. C. Stevenson, J. B. Laird, David Smith, Henry Shoff- stall, Albert Hagen, Hugh Armstrong, B. F. Arm. strong, J. B. Dunkle, Brice Clark, Henry Brenberger, Amos Grotl; F. S. Hess, George A. Dunkle, William Heaps, Ambrose Singleton, James S. Ewing, Alfred


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977


MARTIC TOWNSHIP.


the one undivided fourth part of Martic, equal to six twenty-fourths, purchased from William Montgomery, the one-eighth part, equal to three twenty-fourths, purchased from Joseph Musgrove, and the one-fourth part, equal to six twenty-fourths, purchased from James Fulton and other-, amounting in the whole to fifteen twenty-fourths parts, were purchased by the said Michael Hilligas, in partnership with Matthias Slough and George Ege, though the deed was in the name of M. Hilligas alone, there are only convey. ances ffor twenty-one thirty-fifth parts of the fourth purchased from James Fulton and others, the remain- ing fourteen thirty-fifths parts being unclaimed or released.


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June 26, 1783. George Ege released his interest, amounting to five twenty-fourths parts, to Matthias Slough, who then held ten twenty-fourths parts.


Sept. 27, 1792. Michael Hilligas conveyed to Rich- ard Footman and others, surviving assignees of Mat- thias Slough, then a bankrupt, the interest which Mat- thias Slough owned in the works, the title to which was in his own name, as well as Mr. Ege's share, which had previously been sold by him to Slough, amounting in the whole to fifteen twenty-fourths parts of the forge, etc.


March 11, 1793. Richard Footman and others, surviving assignees of Matthias Slough, sold his share in the estate ( viz., ten twenty-fourths parts thereof ) to George Ege.


March 13. Michael Hilligas sold to Robert Cole- man and George Ege the one-eighth part, equal to three twenty-fourths, purchased from John Malcolm and others, and his one-third part of lifteen twenty- fourths, equal to five twenty-fourths, which he held in partnership with Matthias Slough and George Ege, the whole amounting to eight twenty-fourths.


Sept. 30, 1793. John Miller, sheriff, sold the one- eighth part of Martie Forge and land to Robert Coleman and George Ege, late the property of John Welsh.


July 8, 1803. George Ege sold to Robert Coleman his one-half of all the Martie lands purchased and held by Robert Coleman and George Ege in com- pany, or granted and conveyed to them in fee as ten- ants in common ; purchase-money two thousand five hundred pounds.


Same day. George Ege sold to Robert Coleman all the share and interest in the Martic property which formerly belonged to Matthias Slough, and which he purchased from the assignees ; consideration money four hundred pounds.


Jan. 30, 1804. Robert Coleman, his one undivided half part of forge and lands to Edward Brien, for six thousand five hundred pounds.


1855. Heirs of James Coleman sold the forge to George Steele.


1858. Assignees of George Steele sold the forge to Robert Potts.


1862. Sheriff of Lancaster County sold Martic Forge to' the firm of Davis & Potts, the present owners (1888).


Robert 8. Potts, the present manager of the Martic Works, is a relative of Isaac Potts, who is mentioned in Weems' "Biography of Washington" as being a man of note during the struggle of the colonies for independence.


What was known as Martic Furnace was not with- in the present limits of Martie township, but was situated in what is now Providence township, near the present site of Breneman's mill. The forge, down to and during the time of Edward Brien, was run mainly by slave labor. The burial-ground of these slaves may still be seen in this township, in a piece of wood on the left-hand side of the public road leading from Martieville to Mount Nebo.


Distilleries .- The next oldest industry of the town- ship were the distilleries. The first distillery was on the road leading from Bethesda to Snaveley's mill, on Muddy Run. The date of its establishment, owing to the lack of records, cannot be ascertained. A second distillery was operated in the neighborhood of Martic Forge. A third stood upon the property now occupied by David Fehl, near Marticville. A fourth was in existence upon the property now owned by John G. Good. Of three of these, namely, the one upon Fehl's property, the one at Martie Forge, and the one upon Good's property, no authentic date of their erection and discontinuance can be given, in consequence of the paucity of the records relating thereto. A fifth distillery was operated upon a piece of land now owned (1883) by the Goods, and known as Good's mill. It was built by a man named Shank, and was called Shank's distillery. This last- named distillery was built in 1793, discontinued as a distillery in 1830, and converted into a flour- and feed-mill, which is carried on at the present date . (1883).


The Hagen Axe-Factory .- A third industry for which this township is noted, and which is peculiarly a child of the township, was the manufacture of the celebrated " Hagen Axe." The exact date at which the manufacture of this instrument was commenced is not definitely known. John Hagen, the grand- father of the present Hagen family in this section, was the first person of the name who manufactured these axes in this township. He died before his oldest son, Joshua, was of age. This son learned the trade and taught it to his two brothers, Davis and Elijah. tinued to work at the business until within a short time of bis death. He taught the art to his five sons, Bascom, John, Albert, Davis, and William. These descendants of the pioneers of this business continue


1825 or 1826. James Coleman inherited Martie | Elijah Hagen discontinued the trade, but Davis con- Forge from his father's estate, and in 1831 he erected a steel furnace. This property.at that time consisted of six thousand four hundred and seventy-four acres, valued at $72,160.


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978


HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.


the manufacture of the Hagen axe in the neighbor- hood of Mount Nebo at the present day.


Brick-Yards .- A fourth industry carried on in this township in the neighborhood of Martieville is the manufacture of brick. This business is carried on upon the spot where the first brick-yard was opened. The first brick made here was made by Isaac Heiney in 1813, but the first brick-yard was opened by D. S. MeElhaney in 1847, and continued by him up to the present day. The clay from which these brick are made is a lacustrian formation covering an area of about ten acres, and the briek made from it are in demand all over the county.


Furniture Manufactory .- A fifth industry is the manufacture of furniture, carried on at Mount Nebo by S. C. Stevenson. At this place are manufactured all kinds of bedroom and kitchen furniture. The proprietor of the furniture warerooms is also engaged in the business of undertaker, and in a period of fifteen years has committed to the earth more than five hundred persons.


Other Trades. - The following-named persons carry on the trades of blacksmith and wheelwright: Mar- tieville, James Creamer, blacksmith ; Albert Guiles, wheelwright. Rawlinsville, wheelwright, Henry Hei- ney ; blacksmith, John Hagen. Bethesda, blacksmith, John W. Sweigart. Drytown, blacksmith, John Miles. Mount Nebo, Albert Hagen, wheelwright; John Brown, blacksmith.


Mills .- Martie township has three mills, sitnated as follows : One near Murtieville, called Good's mill; Snaveley's mill, on Muddy Run, and Wentz's mill, also on Muddy Run, not far from the village of Bethesda.


Hotels .- The first hotel within the limits of Mar- tie township was called the Cob Ilotel, and stood upon the road leading from Mount Nebo to Rawlins- ville, about one mile from the latter place. The ruins of this hotel may still be seen upon the farm of John Seigfreid, near Rawlinsville, and the hill near the site upon which the hotel stood still retains the name of Cob Hill. Though the memory of this, the first hotel, still lingers, the recollection of the date of its building has faded from the memory of man. Another famous hostelry was one in the village of Rawlins- ville, known as Oldfield's Hotel, from the circum- stance of a man named Oldfield having been the pro- prietor for a number of years. The house in which this famous place of entertainment was kept was erected about the beginning of the present century. It still stands in the village of Rawlinsville, and is now used as a horse-stable. It was the first, and for a number of years the only building in the village. We append the following list of hotel licenses granted in Martie township for the years named :


The tavern licenses granted in Martic in 1804 were as follows: Sebastian Sweigart, "Seven Stars," on the road from Lancaster to Martie Forge; James Brown, "Mermaid," on. the road from Lancaster to McCall's Ferry.


In 1805: John MeCanless, "Spread Eagle," on the road from Laneaster to MeCall's Ferry ; Sebastian Sweigart, "Seven Stars." on the road from Columbia to Frogtown ; James Brown, " Mermaid," on the road from Lancaster to MeCall's Ferry.


In 1800: John MeCanless, "Spread Eagle," on the road from Lancaster to MeCall's Ferry ; Henry Herr; Thomas Robinson ; Sebastian Sweigart, "Seven Stars," on the road from Lancaster to Martic Forge.


In 1809: John Sheup, on the road from Lancaster to McCall's Ferry ; Mary Sweigart, "Seven Stars," on the road from Shenk's Mill to Newport ; James Brown, " Mermaid," on the road from MeCall's Ferry to Christiana.


A hotel was opened about the year 1780 upon a property now occupied by Daniel Carrol, about one mile east of MeCall's Ferry. It was opened by Wil- liam Patterson, and sold by him to William Neal in 1810, who discontinued the hotel. A hotel was erected at MeCall's Ferry, on the Susquehanna River, and continues at the present day. The present list of hotels is as follows: F. B. Groff, "Cross-Keys," Martieville; Crispin Taylor, "Exchange Hotel," Rawlinsville ; Amos MeFalls, " Rawlinsville Hotel," Rawlinsville ; Christian Uffleman, " Hotel de Utlleman," McCall's Ferry ; "Fairview," better known as the "Slab."


CHAPTER LXVII.


MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.


Organization and Description .- Manheim was one of the original townships of the county, and as such its boundaries were agreed upon at " a meeting of magistrates and citizens" held June 9, 1729, and confirmed by the Court of Quarter Sessions on the second Tuesday of Angust in the same year. The boundaries were described as follows: "Beginning by Peter's road, at a corner of Donegal and Warwick townships, near the head of Little Conestoga Creek ; thence down the said road by Warwick township to Conestoga Creek ; thence down the said ereek to the Old Doctor's ( Hans Henry Neff's) Ford ; thence westerly by Lancaster township on a direct line to Little Conestoga, at the upper side of Peter Bom- garner's land ; thence up the said creek to the place of begiming."


These boundaries have not been very materially changed, but the extension of the limits of Lancaster City slightly reduced the territory of Manheim, making its southern Jine irregular.


Because of its proximity to Lancaster City, as well as for other reasons, this township is thickly settled, and its lands are very valuable. They have great worth, however, independently of this circumstance, being very fertile and comparatively level, so that they can be farmed to excellent advantage. There


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RESIDENGE OF THE LATE PATRICK MCEVOY, MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER CO., PA.


979


MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.


are few, if any, better agricultural properties to be found in the county than some of those which are to be seen in Manheim, and there are probably none which are more thoroughly or systematically worked. That this is a particularly rich spot in the garden county of the State would be evident even to the . most casual observer from the number of stately dwellings which dot the landscape. Evidences of wealth appear on every hand and in great profusion.


The people of Manheim being so near the city can easily visit it, and they do so frequently. To this reason is doubtless attributable the fact that the township contains very few and small churches, with the exception of those which belong to the Meunon- ites and Dunkers.


The township, as the description of its boundaries already given would indicate, lies between the Big and Little Conestogas ; the former separates it from Upper Leacock and East Lampeter, and the latter from East Hempfield. It is bounded upon the south by the township and city of Lancaster, and its north- ern neighbors are Warwick and Penn.


Settlement .- In the session of the General As- sembly of the province of Pennsylvania beginning on the 14th day of October, 1738, and twelfth year of the reign of George II., an act was passed naturalizing a large number of the inhabitants of Lancaster County. In it are a number of names which are identified as those of Manheim township settlers, among them Ilans Adam Shreiner. The act was printed in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin, and upon the copy seen by the writer, in the possession of Squire Henry Shreiner, one Christian Gressold has written a receipt for #2 2s. received from Hans Adam Shreiner, doubtless in payment for the service of the former in delivering to him the formal and official notice that he was among the persons naturalized.




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