USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 149
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HENRY H. JONES, hardware merchant, tinner, and plumber, P. O. Wilkes-Barre, was born at Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales, June 1, 1839, a son of Henry and Betsy (Smith) Jones. He lived in Wales until he reached his majority, and in 1860 came to America, locating at Five. Points, near Pottsville, Pa., where for five years he worked in the mines. He removed, in 1865, to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided, and was employed in the mines until 1890. In 1888 he established the business in which he is now engaged. Mr. Jones was married, in 1865, to Miss Gwennie, daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine (Evans) Griffith, of Schuylkill county, Pa., and has five children: Nathaniel, Henry, Littie, Kate and Benjamin. Mr. Jones and wife are members of the Welsh Baptist Church. Mr. Jones has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1863, and is also an Ivorite, and in politics he is a Republican.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
ISAIAH JONES, Wilkes Barre, is the fifth son of Abram Jones, a native of Slocum, this county. Mr. Jones was born November 5, 1833, in Chester county, and received his early education in the schools of that place. He was united in marriage, Feb- ruary 21, 1857, with Rebecca Arnold, a daughter of Abram Arnold. Nine children have been born to this marriage: Abraham, Joseph, Ella, Anning, Emma, Winfield, Eva, Irvin and Annie. Mr. Jones was employed by Christian Lueder, at Slocum, for twelve years. In 1887 he came to Wilkes-Barre, and entered the employ of the sons of Mr. Lueder, who operate a bus line in the city.
JAMES JONES, agent, Yatesville, was born in Herefordshire, England, February 21, 1842, and is a son of William and Sarah (Jones) Jones, also natives of England. They had a family of seven children (our subject being second in order of birth), all of whom died in early childhood except Henry (who lives in Parsons, Luzerne Co., Pa.) and James. The subject of this sketch emigrated to Canada in 1863, making his first stay in Toronto, Ontario, where he resided some seven months, during which time he was in the employ of Robert Walker & Sons, merchants. In April, 1864, he moved to Scranton, thence to Yatesville, Pa., and was employed as a miner by the Pennsylvania Coal Company until 1873, when he moved to Mill Creek, this county, and went into business as a general merchant. In 1882 he returned to Yatesville, where he has since been engaged as a general agent. In England, and also in Canada, Mr. Jones was a member of the Primitive Methodist Church,' but subsequently united with the M. E. Church; he was licensed to preach, and in 1881 was ordained a local deacon by Bishop E. G. Andrews, at the annual Conference held at Waverly, N. Y. Mr. Jones is one of the most active members of the com- munion in this part of the country, as he holds the positions of superintendent of the Sunday-school and trustee and steward of the Church. On April 16, 1872, he was united in marriage with Jane E., daughter of Francis and Mary (Pratt) Yates, residents of Yatesville, and of English extraction. Politically, our subject is a Republican-Prohibitionist; socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A. at Pittston, and is a member of the Miners' Exchange Committee. In May, 1892, he was appointed director of the poor for three years, for the district embracing Jenkins township, Pittston borough and Pitts- ton township, and in February, 1892, was elected to the school board, also for a a period of three years.
JAMES D. JONES, dealer in general merchandise, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Car-' diganshire, South Wales, April 10, 1840, a son of David and Mary (Alban) Jones. He was reared on a farm in Wales, educated in the public schools, and in 1865 came to America, where he spent two years on a farm at Jackson, Ohio. In 1867 he located in Wilkes-Barre, where he was employed in the mines up to 1889, when he embarked in the merchandise business, in which he has since continued. Mr. Jones was married to Rachel, daughter of David Morgan, of Wales, and by her he had seven children: Mary, Elizabeth, Maggie A., David C., Thomas, Mor- gan and Blanche. He is a member of the Welsh M. E. Church and of the I. O. R. M., and of the Foresters; in politics he is a Republican.
JENKIN J. JONES, fire-boss in the Delaware Colliery, Miners Mills, was born in South Wales, December 29, 1847, and is a son of Jenkin B. and Elizabeth (Parry) Jones, who came to America in 1857, followed in 1858 by the family. The father was engaged in mining, successively, in St. Louis, Mo., six months; Minersville, Ohio, one year; Pittston, Pa., two years; as mine foreman at Hyde Park, two years; at Providence, four years, and in 1868 he removed to Miners Mills, where he died February 8, 1886, at the age of sixty years, being survived by his widow till October 5, 1890. Their family consisted of three children, two of whom are liv- ing, viz .: Jenkin J. and Elizabeth (Mrs. Daniel D. Davis). Our subject received a common-school education, and began working in the mines at the age of seven years, which vocation he has since followed, chiefly in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, including ten years mining and five years as foreman. He built his present residence and removed therein in 1871. In March, 1864, Mr. Jones
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
enlisted, at Scranton, in Company C, Sixteenth P. V. C .; was with the army at Petersburg, participated in many skirmishes and was also on detached service; he was mustered out in August, 1865. Mr. Jones was married, November 11, 1867, to Miss Margaret J., daughter of John M. and Mary (Daniels) Jones, and they have bad born to them seven children, four of whom are living, viz .: Mordecai J., John C., Mair and Morgan M. Mrs. Jones and the children are members of the Welsh Congregational Church. Mr. Jones is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. K. of M. C., K. of H., Ivorites, Improved Order of Red Men, and of the G. A. R. ; he is a Republican in his political views, and has been a member of the borough council.
JENKIN T. JONES, grocer, Plymouth, was born May 29, 1859, in Cardiganshire, South Wales, and is fourth in the family of five children of Thomas and Hannah (Reese) Jones, also natives of Wales. The family came to America in 1869, and located at Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Our subject worked in and around the mines till he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to the Wyoming and Commercial Col- leges, at which latter he graduated in 1884. He then took a position with the Lehigh & Wilkes Barre Coal Company, at Plymouth, and worked there one year, after which he took a similar position with the Delaware & Hudson Canal & Coal Company in the same place. With them he worked two years and then opened for his own account the business he is at present conducting. Mr. Jones was married in February, 1885, to Sarah, daughter of Peter and Mary (Lippete) Richardson, natives of England. Politically, our subject adheres to the Republican party; and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and Knights of the Golden Eagle. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN JONES, engineer at Slope No. 11, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Com- pany. This intelligent and skillful engineer was born in South Wales, October 9,' 1847, and is the sixth in the family of ten children of Evan and Ellen (Wat- kins) Jones, also natives of Wales. Our subject was but a few months old when the family came to America, locating at Summit Hill, Carbon Co., Pa., where the children were educated and reared. Our subject did general outside and inside work about the mines until twenty-three years of age, when he learned engineering at Plymouth, Pa., and he has since followed that vocation. He has been in his present position as hoisting engineer at No. 11 since 1881, and fully merits the confidence imposed in him by his employers. Mr. Jones was united in marriage, December 25, 1875, to Catherine, daughter of Louis and Catherine (Jones) Harris, natives of Wales, and six children have blessed this union, namely: Margaret, Mary, Lewis J., Evan, Henry and Catherine, the latter being now deceased. The mother of these children died August 15, 1888. The family attend the Welsh Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Jones votes the Republican ticket.
JOHN D. JONES, engineer at the Gaylord Colliery. This pleasant and gentle- manly young man was born at Dowlais, Glamorganshire, South Wales, and is a son of John D. and Margaret (Thomas) Jones, also natives of South Wales. The fam- ily came to America in 1866, locating at Coalburgh, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch received his educational training. In 1870 they removed to Plymouth, this county, where John D. received the earliest rudiments in coal mining-picking slate- which he worked at for about two months; then took the different positions inci- dental to coal mining, such as inside door-keeper, loading coal, firing, etc., until 1878, when he was promoted to engineer. He ran pumps at the Gaylord until 1879, when he was given charge of the large hoisting engines at the Gaylord Coll- iery, which he has worked ever since, and which hoist 1,300 tons of coal daily from a depth of 573 feet. He also had charge of the fan-propelling engine. Mr. Jones has not only to keep this great amount of machinery in working order, but also has charge of twenty-eight large boilers and furnaces, which he has to inspect and keep in condition, and it may be added that the position of hoisting engineer is not an enviable one, as the responsibility is very great. Mr. Jones was united in marriage. September 6, 1879, with Miss Kate, daughter of Joseph and Diana (Lewis) Morris, natives of Pennsylvania, and one child, Ralph, was born to this
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
union June 9, 1883. The little voyager, however, was not destined to sail on life's rough seas for long, as he was called to cross the Dark River, December 25, 1889, Mr. Jones is a member of the English Congregational Church; a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of the Mystic Chain. Politically he is a Republican.
JOHN F. JONES, inside foreman of the South Wilkes-Barre Colliery No. 5, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Flintshire, Wales, March 27, 1854, and is a son of Robert and Ann (Evans) Jones. He was reared and edu- cated in his native country, and when twelve years of age began life in the lead mines, where he remained four years; later he engaged in coal and slate mining. He came to America in 1879, locating in Plymouth, where he was engaged in mining fifteen months; in June, 1880, he moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he was in the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company till 1884, when he was employed by the Hillman Vein Company six years-first three years as fire-boss, and the last three years as mine foreman. On December 1, 1890, he left them to fill a position in the South Wilkes-Barre Colliery. In February, 1889, he married Mary, dangh- ter of John and Elizabeth James, of Carmarthenshire, South Wales, where she was born and reared; she came to America in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one son, Robert John. Our subject is a member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church, and of the Ivorites; in politics he is a Republican.
JOHN G. JONES, contractor, and alderman of the Fourteenth Ward, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Denbighshire, North Wales, August 3, 1830, a son of John and Eleanor (Williams) Jones. He was reared and educated in his native country, where he learned the builder's trade, and for thirteen years he worked in the city of Liver- pool, England. In 1866 he was sent by his firm to Merionethshire, North Wales, as superintendent of a lead mine, which position he held four years, and then went. to Carnarvenshire, to superintend a slate quarry, remaining there seven years. In 1880 he came to America, settling in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided, and in the fall of the same year he began work in the Franklin Mine, as a timber-man. In the latter part of 1881 he was appointed fire-boss, and on the death of the assistant superintendent in 1884, was appointed to fill the vacancy, which position he held until 1888, when he retired from the mine. He has since been engaged as a contractor and builder, spending two seasons at Richland, N. J., erecting dwellings, as well as doing business in Wilkes-Barre. On March 11, 1851, Mr. Jones married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Fanny (Jones) Strone, of North Wales, and has three children: John H., Frances (Mrs. Hugh H. Pugh), and Mary E. (Mrs. John T. Morgan). Mr. Jones is a member of the Second Welsh Congre- gational Church, and of the K. of P. and I. O. R. M .; in politics he is a Repub- lican, and was elected alderman of the Fourteenth Ward of Wilkes-Barre in February, 1891, for a term of five years.
JOHN R. JONES, one of the oldest residents of Ashley, was born in Monmouth- shire, South Wales, April 28, 1832, a son of John and Ann (Lewis) Jones. The father, who was a wheelwright, reared a family of sixteen children, of whom our subject is the fourth in number, and the only one living. Mr. Jones was educated in South Wales, and at the age of seven years began working about the mines. In 1851 he came to America, where he has been engaged in mining at Dover, N. J .; Johnstown, Ohio; Coalfield, Va .; Johnstown, Ohio; Holidaysburg, Pa .; Minersville, Pa. ; Scranton, Pa. (eight and a half years); Summit Hill, Pa. ; Dutch Town, Pa. After keeping a saloon in Hazleton, Pa., for nine months, he moved to Ashley, where he followed mining until 1891, when he retired from active life. He has made three visits to Europe since coming to America. He enlisted in both emer- gency calls during the Civil war. December 8, 1851, Mr. Jones married Miss Ann, daughter of Reese and Mary Edwards, of Wales, and by her had one child, George, who is in Wales. In 1857 he was married to Mrs. Ann Harper, daughter of John and Betsy (Fowler) Russell, natives of Wales, and widow of John Harper, by whom she had two children: Sarah (Mrs. William White), and Elizabeth (Mrs. William Richards, Grass Valley, Cal.). Of this union were born four children, viz. : William,
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
who died in Cuba at the age of thirty-one years; John R. ; Ellen (Mrs. Isaac Collborn), and Isaac, brakeman, of West Pittston. Our subject was married, the third time, December 17, 1874, to Mrs. Susanna Harding, daughter of John and Hannah (Blunt) Platt, natives of North Wales, and widow of Robert Harding (by whom she had two children: Hannah (Mrs. Samuel Kindred), and John, machinist, of Altoona, Pa.), and by her had one child, Annie, who died at the age of eight years. Mr. Jones is a steadfast Republican in his political views.
JOHN R. JONES, merchant, Ashley, was born in Hyde Park, Pa., October 17, 1862, and is a son of John R. and Ann (Russell) Jones. He was educated in the public school at Ashley. He worked eight years about the breaker, sixteen months as brakeman on the P. & L. E. R. R., at Pittsburgh; four years and nine months as brakeman on the C. R. R. of New Jersey. He lost his left leg November 6, 1888, and in the following year engaged in his present business. March 18, 1886, Mr. Jones married Miss Matilda, daughter of Edward and Catherine Goff, natives of Ireland, and by her has three children: Annie, Edward, and Matilda. He is a Republican in his political views.
JOHN R. JONES, druggist, Miners Mills, was born in Monmouthshire, England, December 11, 1868, and is a son of William R. (Edwards) Jones. He was educated in the common schools, and embarked in life working about the mines, which he followed five years; he then engaged in the drug business, which he has since followed. In 1890 be engaged in business for himself. Mr. Jones was married, February 19, 1890, to Miss Jennie, daughter of Thomas M. Reese, formerly of Miners Mills; they have one child, Willard. He and wife attend the Baptist Church, at Parsons, of which Mrs. Jones is a member; he is a member of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M., and the Sons of Temperance, and politically he is a Republican.
JOSIAH M. JONES, engineer at Washington Colliery, Plymouth, was born in North- umberland county, Pa., April 20, 1864, and is the eldest in the family of eight children of Abram E. and Mary (Morgans) Jones, also natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject was reared and educated in Luzerne county, and until 1887 did general work about the mines. He then began firing at the Washington Colliery, contin- uing at same until 1891, when he was given charge of a pair of slope engines, which he has since operated. Our subject was united in marriage, June 20, 1887, with Lizzie, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Williams, natives of Pennsylvania. Two children have come to this union: Deborah, born January 13, 1889, and Jacob, born September 12, 1891. The family attend the English Baptist Church. Politically, Mr. Jones is a Republican, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
LEWIS S. JONES, retired, Wilkes Barre, was born iu Cardiganshire, South Wales, February 23, 1827, a son of Stephen and Mary (Jenkins) Jones. He was reared in Monmouthshire, England, was educated in the schools of that place, and there began life in the mines, where he was employed twenty-six years. In 1860 he came to America, and settled at Bellevue, near Scranton, Pa., and worked in the mines of that vicinity nearly four years. He then, in January, 1864, removed to Wilkes- Barre, where he has since resided. He served as inside foreman of the Hollenback and Kidder Slopes for a time, and was then, in 1870, removed to the Empire Shaft, where he served in the same capacity until 1890, in which year he retired. On December 28, 1877, he was badly hurned by an explosion of gas, which laid him up for eight weeks. Mr. Jones has been twice married, his first wife being Margaret Jones, of South Wales, and his second wife was Ann, daughter of Edward and Maria (Morgans) Meredith, of North Wales, by which latter union he has eight children living: Iorweth (engineer of Crystal Spring Water Company), Mary A. (Mrs. David E. Thomas), Hannah M. (Mrs. Samuel Griffiths), Samuel (a druggist), Lizzie J. (a teacher), Margaret, Martha and Meredith. Mr. Jones is a member and deacon of the First Welsh Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre; in politics he is a Republican, and has served as member of city council three terms, a part of which time he was its president.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
MORGAN JONES, roller, or heater, at a rolling-mill, at present helper to moulders, in the Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkes-Barre, is a native of Pontypool, South Wales, born May 3, 1841. His father, Lewis Jones, who was a native of Breconshire, died at Pontypool in 1868. Mr. Jones was married at Pontypool September 20, 1863, to Martha Anthony, of that place, and eleven children have been born to this union, of whom are surviving Lewis, Richard, William, Clarence, George W., Mattie and Edward. Mr. Jones and his wife came to this country August 15, 1869, and after remaining in New York City for a few days, they went to Scranton, where they remained three years, after which period they came to Wilkes-Barre, where they have since lived.
OWEN R. JONES, who is engaged in Company work in the Wyoming Colliery, with residence in Miners Mills, was born in Carnarvonshire, North Wales, April 27, 1838, and is a son of Richard and Grace (Jones) Jones. His father, who was a slate- maker, reared a family of three children, viz .: John R., who was librarian in the British army in East India and Africa for thirteen years (he came to America in 1870, and died in New York City four years later); Owen R., the subject of this sketch; and Jane, who married William Hughes, a sailor of Bangor, North Wales. Our subject came to America in 1869, and located in Poultney, Vt., at which place he followed slate-making five years, and afterward at Slatington, Pa., for ten months. He then removed to Miners Mills and began working about the mines, which he has since followed, including nine years mining; he built his present res- idence in 1882. Mr. Jones was married, January 5, 1864, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Richard and Alice (Jones) Jones, of Wales, the fruit of which union has been nine children, six of whom are living, viz .: Hannah, married to Owen Williams, a miner, of Miners Mills (they have five children, viz .: Owen J., Esther, Catharine, Nellie and Grace); Alice, married to William Morris, who is a miner in the Keystone Mine, and lives with Mr. Jones (he is a member of the I. O. R. M. and the A. O. K. of M. C.); Richard, who is a miner in the Pine Ridge Mine, living with his father (he is a member of the I. O. R. M., K. of P., and the A. O. K. of M. C.); John I., a runner in the Pine Ridge Mine, living with his father (he is a member of the K. of P. and the P. O. S. of A.); Catharine J., living at home; and William, who works in the Pine Ridge Breaker, and lives with his father (he is a member of the Sons of Temperance). Mr. Jones and family are members of the Welsh Congregational Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., and the Sons of Temperance; he is a Republican in his political views, and also advocates the principles of the Prohibition party.
ROWLAND WATKINS JONES, Freeland. This gentleman, who is in the front rank of Freeland's merchant tailors, was born in Anglesea, Wales, in 1854. His father was a shoe dealer at Gwalchmae, North Wales; his family consisted of two children, viz. : Roland W. and Mary, who married David Evans, editor of the Welsh Herald, Caernarvon, Caernarvonshire, North Wales. Our subject received his education in his native town, and at the age of twenty-two was employed as cutter in a mammoth merchant-tailoring establishment in London. He remained there about six months, after which he was employed by one of the leading merchant-tailor houses of Liver- pool, remaining there two years. He then went to Lamberis, near Snowdon, where he engaged in business for himself, and where he still owns property. He remained there twelve years, and in 1887 came to this country, locating at Slatington, where he was also engaged in the merchant-tailoring business for two years, thence coming to Freeland, where he has since enjoyed a large patronage. Mr. Jones was married at the age of twenty five to Miss Margaret Jones, of Lamberis, North Wales. To this union was born one child, Jane, who died at the age of one year. Mrs. Jones is also deceased. Mr. Jones is a member of the Mystic Chain, Knights of Pythias, and in his political views he is a Republican.
STEPHEN S. JONES, assistant mine foreman at No. 11, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Plymouth. This intelligent and experienced gentleman was born at Minersville, Pa., December 24, 1854, and is a son of Stephen and Ann (Hughes)
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
Jones, natives of Wales. The subject of this sketch was educated in Schuylkill county, and commenced life as a clerk for John Wadlinger, of Minersville, Pa., with whom he remained three years. He then took up mining and civil engineering, serving with a corps of engineers at Minersville for three years, afterward taking a position as foreman at the Forrestville Mines, where he was employed two years. Moving to Jeansville at the end of that period, he was engaged as a contractor at sinking slopes and driving tunnels. This he followed for eight years, and then opened up the Silver Brook Coal Mines, being afterward retained as inside foreman by that company for a period of five years. At the end of that time he came to Plymouth, and was given the position of assistant inside foreman at No. 11, where he has since been engaged. Mr. Jones was married, December 11, 1884, to Miss Annie, daughter of Rev. John D. and Ann (Hughes) Jones, natives of Wales. Four children were born to this union: Howard J., John D. (deceased), Stephen and Beulah. Mr. Jones is a Republican, and has held several minor offices of trust. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS D. JONES, superintendent and manager of the Mill Creek Coal Company, with residence at Hazleton. This gentleman has worked his way rapidly and surely from the very first round in life's ladder, and although yet a comparatively young man, has attained a distinction among those interested in coal mining that few of even maturer years have had the privilege of enjoying. He was born in South Wales, January 28, 1842, and is the only child of Daniel and Ann (Vaughn) Jones, also natives of Wales, who came to America in 1850. locating at Nesquehoning, Carbon, Co., Pa., where Thomas D. was reared and educated. At the close of his school life he engaged in mercantile business at Lansford, Pa., during two years. He then became interested in the coal industry, and from 1869 to 1872 held the position of assistant engineer with the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, and from 1872 until 1875 was superintendent of collieries for the same company. In 1875 he had so far and so thoroughly mastered the difficult problems of coal mining that he was appointed to the responsible position of mine inspector for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania. Atthe expiration of his term, in 1881, he was immediately re-appointed, but a short time afterward he resigned to accept a more lucrative position as super- intendent of the extensive system of collieries of the Ebervale Coal Company. This position he held until 1886, when he secured the desirable and responsible position which he now holds. The important incumbencies this gentleman has filled indicates the exceptional ability he possesses as an expert and skillful coal operator. In addition to the possession of great talent in his chosen line of work, Mr. Jones has been a most diligent student of English literature, and he possesses a great fund of information, which in social life makes him one of the most pleasant and enter- taining of men. In his home life he is unusually blessed; his genial nature, seconded by the friendly manners of his wife and the sprightly atmosphere which surrounds a household of interesting children, render this homestead one of the most sunny and inviting spots in the social community. His marriage with Miss Ruth, daughter of John and Mary (Hughes) Byron, occurred January 4, 1870, and the union has been blessed with four children, as follows: J. Elmer, a student at Columbia College, New York City; Anna (deceased), Mary (deceased) and Gladys. Mr. Jones is in strong sympathy with the Republican party, but always votes for the best man, irrespective of politics. He is president of the school board and a member of the select council. Socially he is a prominent member of the Masonic Lodge. The family support the Presbyterian Church.
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