USA > Texas > Henderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101
USA > Texas > Freestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101
USA > Texas > Leon County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101
USA > Texas > Anderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101
USA > Texas > Limestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101
USA > Texas > Navarro County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 101
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Our subject was born in 1858, in Ar- kansas, and removed with his parents to Texas in 1861. He continued to live with them until 1879, when he began for him- self. Until that time he had worked on the farm in the summer and attended school in the winter at the district school and the Central Institute. When he was twenty he began working a part of his father's farm on shares, and continued to engage under these conditions for two years. When he began work he had only a horse and saddle, but now he is the owner of 500 acres of land, 110 under a fine state of cultivation. On this farm he has fifty head of cattle and twenty-five horses, also mules and other stock. He owns town property, and a gin valued at $2,500.
In 1880 he was married to Miss Tabi- tha Strothers, a native of Alabama, who removed to Hunt county, Texas, in 1870 and while there she was married. She is the daughter of Wilfred D. and Martha J. (Beamen) Strothers, natives of Georgia and Alabama, respectively. The former served in Company G, Infantry, Confeder- ate army. He was captured and imprisoned at Holly Springs, where he died in 1864, from a wound which he received in the
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battle of Manassas. There were only two children in Mrs. Sanders' family, herself and a brother, Wilfred D., who died at the age of twenty-eight.
Mrs. Sanders has borne her husband three children, namely: Zada J., at home; one who died in infancy; and Mattie T., who died at the age of two. In politics our subject is a Democrat, like his father before him. He has not been ambitious to acquire political distinction yet he prides himself on being a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are highly respected citizens of their section of country.
N. BROWN, the only physician and druggist of Richland, Navarro county, was born in Mississippi, in 1860, a son of Arthur F. Brown, a native of Alabama. The latter was a son of Arthur Brown, of Irish or Scotch parentage. A. F. Brown was taken to Mississippi when small, and, after arriving at years of ma- turity, was employed as a farmer and merchant. He served two years in the late war, participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and he was wounded and died just twenty-four hours before the sur- render of that place, in 1863. His wife, Elizabetlı J. Harvey, was a daughter of John Harvey, a member of an old family of Mississippi, who were prominent in political matters in Lauderdale county, tliat State. John Harvey came direct from Ireland to Mississippi. He had sev- eral sons and one daughter. One son, A.
T. Harvey, served one term as Tax Col- lector, and on the day of his re-election was shot and killed by a negro. His brother James then announced himself for the office, and was elected. John Harvey was a soldier in the war with Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of four children: Mollie, wife of George Blood, of Richland, Texas; Matilda A., now Mrs. Robert P. Clowers, of Titus county; A. N., our subject; and Rebecca B., wife of E. R. Green. After the death of the father, the mother, in 1865, married C. W. Edgar, a planter of Mississippi. To that union were born nine children, seven now living: Nelion, wife of James Bush of that county; James L., at home; Flor- ence, wife of A. Bush; Leslie, James H., Mazella A. and Willie. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar came to Texas in 1870, settling in Titus county.
A: N. Brown, our subject, attended the grammar and common schools of that county, where he was also engaged in teaching. He came to this county in 1875, where he worked on a farm and attended school until nineteen years of age, and was then a student in a graded school until his twentieth year. Mr. Brown then began the study of medicine under Dr. A. P. Boston, later under Dr. Blackburn, and in 1882 entered the Missouri Medical School at St. Louis, graduating in the class of 1883. He then returned home and formed a partnership with his old preceptor, Dr. Blackburn; in 1886 again entered a med- ical college, and the following year began his chosen profession in this city, where he has built up a large and extensive practice. After his graduation Mr. Brown had only
51
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,
25 cents in cash, and now, in addition to his large practice, he has a fine drug busi- ness, a good residence, a small farm, and other property, all of which he has accu- mulated since 1887. He is considered one of the most successful young business men in the city, bothi as a physician and financier. He takes but little interest in politics, voting with the Democratic party, and socially is a member of the Farmers' Alliance.
The Doctor was married, in 1889, to Miss Millie Patrick, a native of this city and a daughter of J. T. and P. J. Patrick. The father was first married, in 1869, to Miss Sallie Moss, a daughter of Samuel R. and Liddie (McKnight) Moss, and they had one child, Sarah, wife of John Ellison. The mother died in 1870, and in 1872 Mr. Patrick married Miss Prudy Ander- son. To that union was born the follow- ing children: Millie, wife of Dr. Brown; Walter, James, and one deceased. Mrs. Patrick is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. Mr. Patrick has held the office of Justice of the Peace for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children, Elizabeth J. and Willie P. Mrs. Brown is also a member of the Protestant Methodist Church.
ACHARY DAY, Sheriff of Ander- son county, Texas, was born in Clark county, Alabama, in 1848, and was the fourth child in a family of seven chil- dren born to the union of G. R. and Eliz- abeth (Anderson) Day, early settlers of Alabama. The Anderson family came to
America previous to the Revolutionary war, and two brothers served in the Colo- nial army. Of the early history of the Day family we have few authentic records.
The father of our subject served in the Indian war of 1836, and moved to Texas in 1850, settling in this county, where he engaged in farming and dealing in real estate. He accumulated much property, became a man of wealth, and died at the age of forty-five, in 1857. Of the seven children born to him the following is the family record: John F., deceased; James E., deceased, and both of these died in the Confederate army while in service; Aun E., first married Joli T. Bailey, and after his death married James Jolley; our subject; Gilbert B. and Marion F. live in this county, and one died in infancy.
After the death of Mr. Day, his wife married Jaines Rogers, and two children were born of this marriage: Mary P., the wife of Levi Delp; and Thomas L., of this county. Mrs. Rogers is still living in this county, and is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South.
Zachary Day was reared to farm life, and received a' common-school education. At the age of seventeen years he com- menced life for himself by joining Com- pany E, in A. W. Terrell's regiment of Texas cavalry, and served in the Trans- Mississippi Department until the close of the war. About this time he was married to Miss M. A. Saddler, of this county, a daughter of Captain W. S. Saddler. The Captain came to Texas from Georgia in 1836, and settled in what is now Anderson county, engaging in farming soon after coming to the State. He was in the wars
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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.
with the Indians, and participated in the battles of Kickapoo and Fort Houston, to- gether with the Indian campaigns. He was a man of considerable note as early as 1840. After peace was established with the Indians and this section of the State began to fill with settlers, Captain Saddler was one of the most prominent men. When he settled here he was married to his first wife, and during the progress of the battle of Kickapoo, a small squad of In- dians inade a descent upon the women and children who were in a block house only guarded by a few of the old men. The latter became scared and ran off, leaving the women and children, and almost all were killed, Mrs. Saddler among the nuill- ber.
In 1848 Captain Saddler raised a com- pany and went into the Mexican war, par- ticipating in several of the battles, tlie most serious one being the battle of San Jacinto. After this war was over and Cap- tain Saddler had his business under control and the country was settled, a new county was desired. The people of Anderson and Houston elected Captain Saddler to repre- sent them in the first Legislature assem- bled, and during his term he obtained the severance of this county from Houston county, and thus was the first organization of Anderson county, and he was re-elected from this county. After his return from the Legislature, full of honors, he retired to his farm. He could feel that he had performed his whole duty, and the people still honor his memory.
Captain Saddler died at the age of eighty-seven years. He had suffered the loss of his second wife in a cyclone, which
blew down the house and instantly killed Mrs. Saddler. The family consisted of seven children, as follows: N. F., Houston county; Martha, wife of Thomas Ken- nedy, of this county; Mary A., wife of our subject; W. R., deceased; Elizabeth, wife of G. R. Day, of this county; Laura P .; and Celestia L., the wife of L. C. Forster, of this county.
After marriage, Mr. Day immediately engaged in farming on his own land, and continued there for twenty-one years, when he was called upon by his fellow-citizens to become Sheriff of the county, being elected in 1888 and re-elected in 1890. He is a large land-owner at present, having since his marriage acquired 510 acres of fertile land in the county, 100 of which is im- proved; owns a nice residence and pos- sesses city property. The four children of Mr. Day are: James F., Deputy Sheriff; W. B., a farmer of the connty, who married Miss Jocie R. Chambers, a daughter of B. F. Chambers; Lulu F., the wife of Samuel Quarles, of this county; and Miss Cora.
Mrs. Day is a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Day is a member of A. F. & A. M., Pales- tine Lodge, and also of the K. of H., of Palestine.
R. A. P. THORNTON, of Thornton, Limestone county, was born in Geor- gia in 1855, a son of N. M. and A. H. (Kidd) Thornton, natives of Georgia and Alabama. The family came originally from England, and settled in North and
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,
South Carolina. N. M. Thornton was an extensive slave-owner and planter, and also a speculator in vast real estate. About 1850 he purchased the land on which the town of Thornton is now located, but at the building of the Houston & Texas Cen- tral Railroad he sold a portion of the land to the company at very low figures. His death occurred in Georgia in 1889, while on a visit to his children at Atlanta. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton were the parents of seven children, viz .: H. J., of Columbus, Georgia; Charles W., who was Major on General Mccullough's staff, and was killed near Springfield, Missouri, in 1862, hav- ing just received his commission as Major of an artillery company; Julia E., widow of A. W. Watson, of Atlanta, Georgia; Edward, deceased; Emma R., wife of Dave W. Appler: A. P., our subject; and A. H., wife of Captain W. E. Linamn, of Fort Griffin, Texas. Edward was killed at the age of twenty years, while leading the Nineteenth Alabama at the charge of Jonesboro, Georgia. At the commence- ment of the war, in his cigliteenth year, he assisted in raising a company of which he was elected First Lieutenant. This company did not wish to enter the field at once, and young Edward, impatient for war, joined Company E, of the Nineteenth, as a private, and in six months was elected its Captain. Should he have lived one month longer he would have been its Colonel.
A. P. Thornton, our subject, received his literary education in the schools of Gadsden, Alabama, and at the age of eigli- teen entered the mercantile business at that city, continuing three years. He then
followed the same occupation at Atlanta two years, and in 1879 began the drug business in Thornton, Limestone county. About this time he also began the study of medicine under Dr. Thomas Harper, and in the fall of 1881 entered the At- lanta (Georgia) Medical College, in the class of 1882. He received third honors in a class of twenty-five. Returning to this village, Mr. Thornton at once entered upon the successful practice to which he is justly entitled. In addition to his pro- fession and drug interest, he is also largely engaged in farming, owning considerable real estate in the village, as well as farm- ing land in the county.
He was married in 1889 to Miss Mamie F. Price, of Leon county, Texas, and a daughter of Dr. Henry and Carrie P. (Kidd) Price, natives of Alabama. Dr. Price moved to Leon county soon after the late war, and his death occurred in this county, in 1880. Dr. Thornton and wife have had one child, now deceased. Our subject is a director of the K. of H., No. 2,315, and is a member of the Baptist Church. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
ILLIAM D. KNOX, one of the prominent and enterprising farm- ers of Freestone county, is the son of Samuel Knox, born in Sonth Carolina in 1812. He remained in his native State until reaching the years of maturity, when he removed to Alabama and made that State his home until 1870, when he re- inoved to Arkansas. He is the son of
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Martin and Polly Knox, natives of Ire- land. By occupation Mr. Knox followed the vocation of farming and was very suc- cessful in it. The Christian Church finds in him a faithful member. During the late Rebellion, the Southern cause found in Mr. Knox a most ardent supporter; he en- listed in 1862 and served until the surren- der. Since that time he has upheld the principles of Democracy. Mr. Knox mar- ried, in 1839, Miss Sally Jordan, daughter of Elijah Jordan, a native of Alabama, Fourteen children were born to them, namely: Henry, a farmer and teacher, died in Grayson county, Texas, in 1880; John T. now resides in Arkansas, where he carries on farming; one died in in- fancy; Joe Martin is in Arkansas; Sarah Jane, wife of John Moore, resides in Ar- kansas; Samuel is in Arkansas; the sub- ject of this sketch; Marion B., in Arkan- sas; Andrew J., also in Arkansas; Joseph- ine, wife of Spencer Moore, of the same State; Minerva Ann, wife of David Bar- nett, of Arkansas; Franklin Pierce, born in Alabama, a farmer, died in Logan county, Arkansas, in 1888; Hugh, a farmer, lives in Arkansas; and the youngest, who died in infancy.
Our subject was born in 1850 in Ala- bama, where he continued to reside until 1870, when he removed to Arkansas and resided there seven years, when he re- moved to Texas, locating in Freestone county, one mile west of his present home, and made that place his home until 1883, when he removed to his present place of residence.
Mr. Knox was married in 1869 to Mar- garet Hancock, a native of Alabama,
where they were inarried. Mrs. Knox is daughter of Hiram and Nancy (Waters) Hancock, natives of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. Mr. Hancock was a blacksmith by occupation and at one time held the office of Justice of the Peace. He died in the hospital at Corinth while in the service of the Confederate army. Our subject and wife were parents of five children, as follows: Emma, Hi- ram and Henry, deceased; Samuel Polk, at home; Parralee. Our subject began life for himself when nineteen years of age, with $50 in money and two hogs. He now is the owner of 237 acres, 160 of which is under a good state of cultivation, thirty-five head of cattle and six horses and mules. In politics he is a member of the third party and is president of the subordinate Alliance, Lodge No. 1123, and was also a member of the Grange. Mrs. Knox is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, while Mr. Knox inclines in that direction.
C. McGILVARY, one of Limestone county's thrifty and progressive farmers, was born in Montgomery county, Texas, in 1847, a son of J. M. McGilvary, who was born in North Caro- lina November 12, 1812. In his younger days the latter was engaged as an over- seer, which he followed until the outbreak of the late war, and then began operating a farm for himself. He first beheld Texas soil in 1846, when he located in Mont- gomery county. Seventeen years later he moved to Navarro county, where he died
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,
May 19, 1877. In 1833 Mr. McGilvary married Miss Ellen, a daughter of John Mckeever, a native of North Carolina, and they had the following children: Will- iam Thomas, deceased; Mary Catherine, deceased; Elizabetli, wife of Thomas Ban- ner, of Freestone county; Alexander, who was killed at Franklin, Tennessee; J. C., our subject; A. T., of Navarro county; Theodora, wife of Jack Reaves, of that county; Eller, wife of G. W. Hodges, of Wheeler county. The mother died in 1852. The grandfather of our subject, Malcolm McGilvary, came from Scotland to Moore county, North Carolina, locating in the old Scotch Presbyterian neighbor- hood, and attending Buffalo church. He participated in the war of 1812, in Jack- son. An uncle of our subject, Daniel McGilvary, has been a missionary to Siam since 1852.
J. C. McGilvary began life on a farm in Navarro county, where he worked with various degrees of success until 1878, and in that yoar purchased 170 acres of land in Limestone county. He now owns a tract of 900 acres, 200 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation, and where he raises a sufficiency for his stock of horses. He also fattens a carload or soof cattle each year. His farm is located two miles northeast of Mexia, beautifully situated on a small stream, and all fenced. He was married November 14, 1875, to Miss An- nita, a daughter of William H. Spillers, a pioneer of 1836. He accumulated a large fortune, and died April 29, 1890, leaving his property to his children. He located in Montgomery county, Texas, from Illi- nois, and was a soldier with Lincoln and
Davis in the Black Hawk war. Mr. and Mrs. McGilvary have had seven children : John William (deceased), Leto Pearl, Er- nest, Roy (deceased), Angus, Martin E. and Jennie IIelen. Our subject is a Pres- byterian in his religious views, and lias served in the capacity of a delegate to the Presbytery.
R. JOHN WEBB DOUGLAS, a physician and surgeon of Palestine, Texas, is a son of Dr. John C. and Rachel (Lipscomb) Douglas. He was born May 19, 1852, in Orange county, North Carolina. His parents moving to Texas in 1860, he was reared in Walker and Houston counties, this State; educated in the local schools, finishing with a nine- months course at Cherokee high school. After this he read medicine at Rush, under his father, attending lectures at Washing- ton University, Baltimore, Maryland, from which he graduated in 1873, and began his practice at Augusta, Houston county, this State, remaining here and at Coltharp's, Cherokee county, until Angust, 1876, when he removed to Palestine. In 1883, he took a special course in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, under Profs. Bryant and Janeway. Dr. Douglas has been in active practice since his gradna- tion and is a man who never neglects any opportunity to enlarge his already extended fund of knowledge. While residing in Rush he was a member of the District Medical Society and is now connected with the Anderson Connty Medical Society. He is. also the efficient Secretary of the
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District Board of Medical Examiners of the Third Judicial District, and has been for the past eight years.
Dr. Douglas is a member of the Ma- sonic order, being connected with the lodges in the several places in which he has lived. He is Past Master of Palestine Lodge, No. 31; Past High Priest of Pal- estine Chapter, No. 10, and is now Captain General of the Palestine Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar. The Doctor is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, in which order he is Past Chan- cellor of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 15, and is a member of the Knights of Honor. Dr. Douglas was married October 21, 1879, to Miss Dora M. Swanson, a daughter of H. C. Swanson, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Palestine. Dr. and Mrs. Douglas have had one child.
A. WRIGHT, one of Limestone county's most progressive and pros- perous farmers, was born in Benton county, Alabama, in 1844, a son of George C. Wright, who was born in South Caro- lina in 1809. He married Mary, a daugh- ter of Samuel Mcclurkin, a lady just five years his junior. They were the parents of eight children, seven now living, viz .: William D., Mrs. Maggie A. Staples, J. A., Z. T., George C., John D. and David. The grandfather of our subject was born in 1786, and died in 1866. His wife, Rebecca Allabrook, was born in South Carolina, and they reared seven children.
J. A. Wright received only a fair En- glish education, and that within the walls
of a country school a few months each year. At eighteen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Thirty- first Alabama Infantry, under Colonel Hundly, and was first brought under fire at Tazewell, Tennessee, then at Cumber- land Gap, next at Fort Gibson, and last at the siege and surrender of Champion Hill. Mr. Wright was then paroled and returned to Alabama, but soon afterward rejoined the army at Demopolis, that State, and was in the engagement at Dalton, Georgia, and the Atlanta campaign. At Kenesaw mountain lie was taken prisoner, and, being an officer, a Second Lieutenant, he was confined on Johnson's Island, Ohio, until June, 1865. In order to be released he took oath of allegiance and returned to his dilapidated home. He at once began repairing the damage, hopeful that he would soon have the semblance of a home. But the country was so changed, as well as the social condition. that life in old Alabama became almost a burden to Mr. Wright, and he resolved to cast his for- tunes with the West. Accordingly, and as soon as he had accumulated sufficient to make the journey, he came to Texas, set- tling in the vicinity in which he now resides. The third year he bought a tract of 400 acres of raw land, which he still owns, 220 acres of which is now under a fine state of cultivation.
Mr. Wright has found some time to devote to public matters in his county, having been called to serve the third pre- cinct as County Commissioner one term, and during his service bids of the court- house and jail were acted upon, and the first iron bridge was built in the county.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,
He has been Justice of the Peace of his precinct twelve years, is a hearty supporter of public education, and has served on the district board many times. Onr subject was married December 23, 1869, to Mattie, a daughter of Thomas F. Waller, a pioneer Texan, having come from Mississippi to Limestone county in 1852. He had a family of seven children, five now living. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are the parents of twelve children, as follows: William Waller, Oscar C., Thomas E., Ernest (deceased), Samuel T., George D., Herbert and Helen (twins), Lilburn, Earl, Nellie and Prudie. The family have been identified with the Missionary Baptist Church for many years, and Mr. Wright is Church Clerk and Moderator of the Association.
OHN T. FLOYD, a farmer and stock- raiser of Navarro county, was born in Virginia in 1810, and his death oc- curred in that State in 1864. He was a graduate of William and Mary College, Virginia, affiliated with the Democratic party, and entered public life at an early age. He represented Essex county in the Legislature when twenty-one years of age, where he served two terms, and immedi- ately afterward was appointed by the Gov- ernor to fill a vacancy caused by the death of one of the supreme judges. Fourteen years prior to his death lie represented the Seventh Congressional district in the United States Congress. Mr. Floyd was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and was a man of good habits. He was a son of John M. and Rachel (Pope) Floyd, natives
of Virginia. The father, a wealthy planter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his father was the first of the family to come to America. By an act of the Legislature liis name was changed from McFloyd to Floyd. Our subject's mother, formerly Rachel Taylor, was born in Vir- ginia, a daughter of LeRoy Taylor, natives also of that State. She was well educated, and her death occurred in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd were married in 1831, and were the parents of four children: Martha, deceased, was the wife of J. H. Mensing, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run; Beverly, who graduated at the University of Virginia, and afterward went to Europe: Sarah, deceased; and John T., our subject.
The latter was born in Virginia in 1844, and remained with his parents until their death in 1865. Up to that time his life was principally spent at school and in the Confederate service. After taking his preparatory course at Amelia Academy, he entered the University of Virginia at the age of thirteen years, where he graduated four years later. He then entered the Confederate service as First Lieutenant of Company A, Seventeenth Virginia Infan- try, passed through the various promo- tions, and at the close of the war was Colonel of his regiment. His uncle, John B. Floyd, was Secretary of War of the Confederacy. The Seventeenth Virginia Infantry was captured at the battle of Gettysburg, was taken to Fort Delaware and soon exchanged, and our subject then returned to his home in Virginia. In 1870 he came by rail to Millican, Texas, then bought a horse and explored the country, and finally settled at Rural Shade,
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