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- Description is exactly "This is a collection of newspaper clippings relating to Rush Patton's livery stables. Florence historian Lee Freeman notes: "Rush Patton, Sr. (ca. 1837-1907) was a mulatto free person of color before the Civil War whose 1880 census enumeration gave his father’s birthplace as Ireland, and who became one of Florence’s most respected and successful black businessmen. In October of 1865 Rush opened a livery, feed and sale stable in Florence. He was awarded the contract to carry the US Mail between Florence, in Lauderdale County, and South Florence, in Franklin, since 1867 Colbert County. By 1887, during Florence’s industrial boom, Rush had the contract to stable the horses for the Florence Land, Mining & Manufacturing Co. In 1889 he advertised his Bick Livery Stable as located opposite the Exchange Hotel itself located one door south of the court house on Court Street. In 1888 Rush built several rental houses. A 'strict Congregationalist,' Rush was a member of First Congregational Church. He died in September, 1907, at 70 years old. His Florence Times obituary stated of him that 'he was one of the old landmarks of Florence, and was much respected by our people.' His wife Mahala died in February 1910 at seventy years old. They had one son, Rush Patton, Jr. (1864-aft. 1930).""
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