USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 61
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 61
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 61
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 61
USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 61
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 61
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J. A. SHORT, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, was born April 25, 1839, and re- ceived his education in the common schools. In 1861 he obeyed his country's call and volunteered to fight her battles. He enlisted in Company H, Twentieth Tennessee Ili- fantry, and was a participant in several battles of note. viz .: Shiloh, Murfreesboro, .Chickamauga and Atlanta, Ga., and also numerous minor engagements. He was wounded three times during the war. and at its close returned home, and is now engaged -in farming and stock raising. He and B. F. Short, his brother, own about 700 acres of land. Our subject's parents were William H. and Juda (Atkinson) Short. The father was a native of Halifax County, Va., and in 1808 he left his native State and immigrated to Williamson County. Tenn., where he engaged in farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred July 28, 1881. The mother was a daughter of the late Elder John Atkinson. of Virginia, who was a noted preacher of his day, and a descendant of one of the first families of Virginia.
WILLIAM H. SMITH was born in Powhattan County, Va., February 6. 1829. sou of Francis S. and Elizabeth C. (Lockett) Smith, who were of English and French descent. and born in 1801 and 1808, respectively, in Virginia. The family removed to Missouri in 1839, and then to Alabama in 1846, after which our subject came to Nashville, Tenn., in 1852. He received his preparatory education in the country schools, and afterward grad- uated from Howard College, Ala. He then took a Latin and Greek course in Franklin College, Nashville, Tenn., and at the breaking out of the war enlisted in the Forty- fourth Tennessee, afterward transferred to the Thirty-fifth Tennessee. Polk's brigade, and was clerk in the quartermaster's department. He was married, January 18, 1854, to Miss Mary E. Moore, of Davidson County, Tenn. Mrs. Smith was born near the Hermit . age November 17, 1830. To them were born seven children, two of whom are dead. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a farmer and nurseryman, and for about twelve years before the war tanght school. Mrs. Smith's parents were John and Mary (Stewart) Moore, born in North Carolina and Ten- nessee in 1795 and 1800, and of Irish Scotch descent, respectively. The father died in 1878, and the mother in 1862. Their family consisted of seven children. Mrs. Smith's grandfather, William Stewart, came from Scotland to America when eighteen years of age, and was elder of the Presbyterian Church at the Hermitage, and died about 1848. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 under Gen. Jackson.
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WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
SAMUEL A. SMITHI was born in this county June 4. 1844, and is the son of William M. and Margaret M. Smith, natives of Tennessee. The father was born in 1809, and died about 1872. The mother was born September 26, 1814, and died November 20, 1857. Our subject's grandfather, John Smith, was born in the last century, and came to Tennessee in 1809 and located on the farm on which our subject is now living. Samuel A. Smith passed his youthful days on the farm, and is now living on the farm of his birth, which. lies in the southeastern portion of the connty, and contains eighty-five acres of land in a good state of cultivation. In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Tennessee Cav- alry, and remained with that company until captured at Middleton, Tenn. After remain- ing a prisoner abont six weeks he was exchanged. In 1864 he, with several others, left the company and went to Mississippi and joined Gen. N. B. Forrest's command, where they remained until the close of the war. He was in the memorable battle of Franklin, and had many narrow escapes, but never received a wound. November 8, 1866, he wed- ded Miss Mary F. Smith, a native of Tennessee, born July 8, 1849, and the daughter of William N. and Martha A. (Giles) Smith. To our subject and wife were born four chil- dren: William N. M. (deceased), born in 1867; Margaret A., born in 1870; Annie, born in 1873, and Jennie P. (deceased), born in 1875. Mrs. Smith died January 9, 1878, and our subject then married Miss Louella Chriesman, in January, 1879. She was born in this State September 11, 1860, and is the daughter of David V. and Lydia A. (Dunlap) Chries- man. By this last union our subject became the father of two children: Samuel D., born in 1880, and Effie M., born in 1882. In 1876 Mr. Smith was elected constable, and held the office for six years. He is at present deputy sheriff. He and wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, as is also his two eldest children. In politics he is a Democrat.
NATHANIEL N. SMITHSON, a respected citizen of Williamson County, was born in this State April 2, 1826. He received his education as the average country boy in the district schools. November 30, 1851, he was married to Miss Margaret K. Johnson, a native of Tennessee, born March 8, 1833, and the daughter of Jesse and Dolly (Smithson) John- son. Our subject and wife were blessed by an interesting family of ten children: James M., born in 1852: Joseph P., born in 1855; Tandy (deceased), born in 1857; Elijah K., born in 1860; Dolly A., born in 1863; Martha P., born in 1865, Permelia (deccased), born in 1867; Mary E., born in 1879; Lydia O., born in 1874, and Jesse W. (deceased), born in 1877. In 1870 our subjeet moved to his present location in the edge of Peytonsville, where he has a fine farm of 190 acres; besides this he has another farm of 400 acres in another part of the county. . He is a Mason, a stanch Democrat and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South. Hiswife is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Smithson is the son of Tandy S. and Ann (Cheatham) Smithson. Her father, a native of Virginia, was born in 1802, and died in 1873, and the mother was born in 1804.
GEORGE W. SMITHSON, of the firm of Smithson, Kenneday, Hodge & Co., is a native of Lunenburg County, Va., his birthday being December 30, 1838, son of William G. and Mary Smithson, whose maiden name was Crenshaw. The parents were born in Virginia, the father in 1819 and the mother in 1820. The family is of English extraction and came to Tennessee about 1840. There the mother of our subject died in 1846 and the father in 1852. Onr subject lived on a farm until he reached the age of thirteen, when he began clerking in the store of Charles W. Smithson at Peytonsville, this county. He continued as clerk until 1859, when he engaged in business for himself at Peytonsville in partnership with John C. Helms, and remained in this business until 1851. He then enlisted in Capt. Ewing's company. First Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry. He was twice wounded, once at Paducah, Ky., and again at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. In 1865 he came to Franklin and engaged in the dry goods business and the same he now continues. From October, 1883, to March, 1885, he was cashier of the Farmers' National Bank, of Franklin. In the spring of 1885 he became a partner of the firm. Smithson, Kenneday, Hodge & Co. This is the most extensive dry goods store in Franklin, and is doing a large t.ade. In 1871 he wedded Miss Sallie M. Henderson, daughter of Dr. Samuel Henderson of this county. To
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Mr. and Mrs. Smithson were born four children: Janey, George H., Mary and Sallie. Mr. Smithson is a first-class citizen, a Democrat, a Royal Arch Mason, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
DR. SETH C. SPARKMAN was born in Williamson County, Tenn., November 27, 1830, son of Seth and Rebecca (Latta) Sparkman, who were of Scotch-Irish descent, and were born in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively, in 1797. After his fourth year the father was a resident of Williamson County. where he died October 18, 1884, and the mother April 20. 1883. Our subject is the fourth of seven children, and received his edu- cation in the best schools of the county, after which he chose the profession of medicine and read with Dr. J. T. Cox. He attended lectures at Macon, Ga., and obtained a diploma. He was married September 27, 1866, to Lucy M. Cummins, daughter of William Cummins. They have two children: Ernest, born March 9, 1868, and Lena, born December 23, 1870. The Doctor has practiced his profession successfully for twenty years. He owns 576 acres of land, and is neutral in politics. He is a Mason and his family belong to the Church "of Christ. John Latta, father of Mrs. Sparkman, was born about 1764, and came to Tennessee from North Carolina in 1813, and died September 15, 1:27. Our subject's father. Seth Sparkman, was reared on a farm in the cane in Williamson County, Tenn. His early education was limited, but with advancing years he acquired a fair education. July 9, 1822, he was married, and followed blacksmithing and fanning through life, and also practiced medicine to some extent. His father was William Sparkman, born in 1764, in North Carolina. He came to Nashville, Tenn., in 1796. He moved to Williamson County, Tenn .. in 1801. He died March 15. 1832.
JAMES T. SPARKMAN, farmer and stock breeder, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., August 16, 1836, son of Seth and Rebecca (Latta) Sparkman, and is of Scotch-Irish descent (for history of ancestors see sketch of Dr. S. C. Sparkman). Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools, and spent the free and happy life of a farmer's boy. He has been twice married. The first time to Miss M. J. Dabney, who bore him four chil- dren: Dabney, born December 30, 1860; Latta, born July 4, 1864: Tabitha C., born Septem- ber 15, 1862. and died June 1, 1863; and Mary P., born September 23, 1867. and died De- cember 16, 1869. Mrs. Sparkman was born March 21, 1842. and died June 4, 1873. Octo- ber 10, 1876, be wedded Miss Laura King, of Williamson County, Tenn., born June 23, 1849. The entire family belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Sparkman owns a farm of 280 acres, which is under good cultivation and which yields fair profits.
THOMAS W. SPARKMAN was born on the same farm where he now resides June 14, 1812. He is a son of William and Rosanna (Williams) Sparkman (see note of father in Dr. S. C. Sparkman's sketch). William Sparkman's family consisted of nine children- four daughters and five sons. Our subject was the youngest, was reared on a farm, and received a common school education, and has made farming his chief business through life. September 23, 1840, he was married to Miss D. Fitzgerald, and for his second wife married Miss Nellie Ann White, March 16, 1843. His first wife died August 11, 1841. His second wife was born November 2, 1822, and died August 21. 1879. She became the mother of twelve children-eight sons and four daughters. Four sons are dead. Mr. Sparkman was in the Home Guard service during the war, being too old for the army, but was represented by both sons and sons-in-law. He and family belong to the Christian Church.
JOHN B. SPROTT was born in this State May 19. 1826. and is the son of Blythe and Rachael Sprott, the father boru in North Carolina December 29, 1792. and died June 15. 1868. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. and took an active part in the Creek and In- dian war. The mother was a native of North Carolina, born in the year 1794, and died April 1, 1840. Our subject was joined in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Crutcher, a native of this county, born June 4, 1831, and the daughter of A. P. and Jane P. (Children) Crutcher. To Mr. and Mrs. Sprott were born ten children: Ophelia Z., born 1851; Absalom B., born 1853; Rachael, born 1855; Mary V., born 1857; Sarah M., born 1861: Emma C., born 1863; John A., born 1865: Thomas P., born 1868; Nora P., born 1971, and James F. P., born
1011
WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
1817. Our subject lived on a farm til! 1845. after which he taught school for several years. He traded considerably in stock in early life, and during the late war was the errand man for the neighborhood. In 1866 he was elected magistrate in this district, which office he held for several years. In 1853 he moved to his farm, which lies in the sontheastern por- tion of the county, and contains 250 acres of good land. He formerly raised considerable stock, but of late years directs his attention chiefly to raising corn, tobacco, and small grain. Hehas a farm of 193 acres in the Eleventh District, and another of seventy acres. He had the misfortune to lose his wife in November, 1878. He is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM H. SPROTT was born March 23, 1835, and is the son of Blythe and Rachael Sprott, natives of North Carolina. Our subject led to the altar, in 1860, Mary S. Foster, a native of Maury County, Teun., born August 7, 1846, and the daughter of Henry and Susan (Stevenson) Foster, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Tennessee. To our subjet and wife were born three children: Rachael J., born March 10, 1866; William H., born July 20, 1869, and Minnie M., born December 16, 1815. Mr. Sprott was reared on a farm and is living in the house of his birth. He has followed farming from early boyhood and has been quite successful. In 1861 he enlisted in the Forty-fifth Tennessee Regiment and remained with his company until captured in Georgia April 17, 1864. wheu he was taken to Indianapolis, Ind., and retained eleven months. He returned unscathed from the war with the exception of a slight wound. His farm lies in the southeastern portion of the county and contains ninety-one acres of land in a good state of cultivation. Politically Mr. Sprott is a Democrat. Ile and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church Sonth.
JAMES P. SPROTT was born in Williamson County, June 19, 1832, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Podgett) Sprott, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Virginia. The father was born January 26, 1791, and came to Tennessee with his father when but a child. He died April 1, 1876. The mother was born about 1802 and died about 1830. Our subject passed bis early life on the farm, and when a young man learned the saddler's trade and also the tailor's trade which he followed for about two years. In 1857 he married Miss Caroline Pratt, a native of Tennessee, born in the year 1842, and to this union was born one child, Caroline G. He had the misfortune to lose his wife Sep- tember 19, 1860, and took for his second wife M. M. Herron, a native of Tennessee, born March 2, 1833, and a daughter of James H., and Maria (Bond) Herron, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Virginia. To this last union one child, Jimmie, was born. Mr. Sprott is at present living in the southeastern part of the county on a farm of 225 acres. In 1861 he enlisted in the army and after remaining there about eighteen months he returned home and resumed his life-long occupation of farming. Mrs. Sprott is a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Sprott is a Democrat.
JAMES W. STEVENS first saw the light of day May 12, 1828, in Williamson County, Tenn., son of Edward and Nancy Stevens, who had born to their union ten children- eight sons and two daughters. Our subject was the ninth child and was educated in the common schools. He began life very poor financially, but by industry and good manage- ment made himself a very good home, and is comfortably situated. In 1870 he purchased 114 acres of land, upon which he has since resided. February 9, 1848, he took for his life companion Nancy Westbrook, who was born June 10. 1832, a daughter of Thornton and Betsy Westbrook, of Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were born these children: Mary E., Adaline, Robert L., Nancy J., Henry, Effie, Ernest, Walter D., James A., Joseph- ine, Beulah, Thomas and Sarah. The family are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, and in politics Mr. Stevens was formerly a Whig, but now declines to side with either party. His ancestors were English.
PARK STREET, farmer, of Williamson County, Tenn., was born August 3, 1806, in Lunenburg, County, Va., son of Anthony and Mary Street, born in the "Old Dominion" and came to Tennessee in 1811. They were married in 1803 and became the parents of four sons: Alexander, James, Park and Anthony G. The father served very conspicu-
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
ously in the Revolutionary war, and was a farmer. He died in 1809 in Virginia. His wife died in Marshall County, Tenn., in 1849. Our subject received a common school ed- ucation in the Marshall County schools, and in 1828 engaged in the grocery and general merchandise business, at Fishing Ford, until 1830. He then purchased a farm near Col- umbia, in Maury County, where he tilled the soil until 1851, and then purchased his present farm. He owns 155 acres of valuable land and is well-to-do financially. July 28, 1829, he married Mary J. Smith, born September 10, 1813, daughter of James and Martha Smith, of Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Street were born eight children: William M., John M., Ann P., James P., Eugene. Mary J., James A. and Grief. Mrs. Street died November 23, 1848, and May 8, 1850, Mr. Street married Christiana Rainey, who was born February 2, 1807, widow of Maj. Jesse G. Rainey and daughter of John and Frances Raines, natives of West Virginia. The second wife died December 19, 1860, and for his third wife Mr. Street took Tennie E. J. Barns, February 5, 1862, born January 27, 1830, daughter of Thomas and Mourning Barns. To them were born one son. Claud P. Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Street is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F. He was justice of the peace in Maury County, and was elected to the same office in this county in 1852, holding the office until 1882, when he declined re-election. The Street family are highly respected citizens and were among the first to- settle in Tennessee.
JAMES J. SAYERS, deceased, was a prosperous farmer of Williamson County, Tenn .; he was born March 14, 1801. His parents, Robert and Nancy Sayers, were born in Virginia and were the parents of six children-four sons and two daughters. The par- ents came to Tennessee the latter part of the eighteenth century. Here our subject was. educated in the best schools of the State and spent several years of his early life as a ped- agogue, and instructed and ruled his pupils with more than ordinary ability. He wedded Ann M. Taliaferro January 29, 1835. She was a daughter of Baldwin and Nancy (Spots- wood) Taliaferro, and was born March 6, 1806. Her parents were born in Virginia, and the Spotswood family were among the F. F. V's. To the above mentioned union were born four children: Robert B., Mary E., Jimmie A. and Sarah J. Our subject settled on the farm where he died, in 1844. He owned 700 acres of good land, and his death, which occurred April 16, 1863, was felt as a universal loss. His wife, Ann M., died April 18, 1886. She was a woman endowed with more than ordinary intellect and was for many years a successful teacher in the county. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the father was a Democrat and a member of the F. & A. M., and the early members of his family figured very conspicuously in the Revolutionary war.
JOHN M. STREET, deceased, was a prominent farmer of Williamson County, Tenn., and was born February 26, 1831, son of Park and Mary J. Street, who were born in Virginia. Our subject's early life was spent in working at the carpenter's trade. February 7. 1858, he wedded Mary J. Vernon, who was born October 16, 1844, and is the daughter of Ashlem and Nancy Vernon, who were natives of North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Street were born ten children: Nancy E., Mary A., Lazinka U., Jennie, James P., William D., Eugene, John A., Moffitt and David A. At the time of his death, Oc- tober 4, 1879, our subject owned 212 acres of good land. Mr. Street was a man of noble impulses and his death was mourned by all who knew him. His widow, Mary Street, married Capt. William T. Ridley December 29, 1882, and to them was born a son named Bunk. The Street family are Inighly respected citizens, have been known in Tennes- see for almost a century and are of English descent. Mr. Street was a Democrat in his. political views and favored the principles of that party.
JOSEPHUS L. SWEENY, blacksmith, was born on the 21st of February, 1842. in Williamson County, Tenn. He is one of seventeen children-eleven sons and six daugh- ters-born to the marriage of Charles P. Sweeny and Sallie Huggins, who are of Irish de- scent, born in Virginia and Tennessee in 1816 and 1818, respectively. Both are yet living. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was reared ou a farm, after which he learned the blacksmith's and wagon-maker's trade. He was a soldier in
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WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
the late war and served in Baxter's artillery for over two years. Since the close of the war he has worked at his trades and has been quite successful. April 19, 1866, he was married to Miss Minerva Jane Gathire, born in Edgefield, Tenn., December 25, 1849. To them were born six children: Lemuel F., born June 10, 1867; Edward L., born August 29, 1869; John L., born July 17, 1875; Bonie L., born August 26, 1878; Charles D., born Feb- ruary 15, 1885, and Annie L., born September 18, 1872. Mr. Sweeny is a Democrat and he and wife belong to the Christian Church.
REV. STEPHEN ALLEN TAYLOR is a son of William Taylor, who was born in North Carolina and was a farmer in Georgia for about eighteen years. In early life, was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Nunn, of North Carolina, and of their twelve chil- dren eleven grew to manhood and womanhood: George, Hiram, Sallie, Mary, John, Nancy, Solomon, Stephen, Martha, James and Margaret. William Taylor died about 1835, and was buried in Georgia. He was a member of the Baptist Church. His wife died in 1853. Our subject was born in the State of Georgia February 15, 1829. . He re- ceived his rudimentary education in the country schools, and in 1850 entered the Univer- sity of Lebanon and graduated in June, 1854. He first followed school-teaching and was licensed to preach the gospel in 1849. In 1854 he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel D. Miller, a native of Tennessee, and five children have been born to them: John M., William A., Christina B., Carrie Bell and Elbridge G. Mr. Taylor's ancestors were of English birth and came to the United States, locating in Virginia or North Carolina. Mr. Taylor has been a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church nearly forty years. He owns the Independence farm of 459 acres of land, and is highly respected by all who know him.
HERBERT R. TEMPLE (deceased) was born May 1, 1815, and passed his early life in assisting his father on the farm and in attending the common schools. Later he went to Texas and engaged in farming, but at the age of thirty-four he left Texas and returned to Tennessee, locating in Williamson County. August 26, 1852, he was married to Miss Susan Brown, and to this union were born four children: William E., Mary F., Roberta L. and Herbert R. Mr. Temple was a member of the Masonic fraternity and at the time of his death, which occurred August 28, 1880, was living at his farm known as "Oakland." Mrs. Herbert Temple is still living at her residence in the Sixth District of Williamson County, and is a worthy member of the Christian Church. Mr. Brown, father of Mrs. Temple, is a native of Virginia and immigrated to Tennessce where he engaged in farm- ing in which he was quite successful. August, 1832, he wedded Miss Fannie Claud, and by her he is the father of these children: Susannah, Catharine, Virginia, Nannie E., Mary F., Coleman and Enoch. Mr. Brown is a member of the Christian Church.
HON. ATHA THOMAS, attorney at law and ex-treasurer of State, was born in Williamson County, October 5, 1829, and is the son of William and Eliza Thomas, both natives of Virginia. In a family of twelve children the subject is the tenth and is of Welsh-English extraction. The father of Mr. Thomas immigrated to Ten- nessee in 1796 and settled in Davidson County, but in 1801 he removed to Williamson County and here he and his wife died. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a liberal education at private schools and at Wirt Academy in Sumner County. In 1851 he began teaching school and about the same time he began reading law. He continued teaching for two years and then entered the Lebanon Law School and graduated from that institution in 1853. In 1851 he took charge of Thompson's Academy in this county where he conducted a most successful school until the beginning of the war. From 1861 to 1864, he had charge of Harpeth Academy in Franklin and was one of the most success- ful teachers the county has ever had. In 1865 he began the practice of law in this and adjoining counties and was, for a number of years, associated in the practice with G. W. Hicks, and was a member of the House of Representatives in 1869-70. In 1883 Mr. Thomas was elected State treasurer of Tennessee, and accepted that office at an inauspicious time, which was during the greatest financial crisis the State has ever experienced. He held the office one term and then resumed the law practice, which he now continues in partner-
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