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300  with temperance organizations from childhood. She is a modest, affable, benevolent, Christian lady, whose hand of charity is never closed. She is an ardent lover of her race, and entertains high hopes for its future glory, for the achievement of which she is a persistent laborer.

Nancy Jones was born January 28, 1860, on a farm near Hopkinsville, Christian county, Kentucky. She was the slave of Jack Edmonds and of purely African descent. About the close of the war of the rebellion Nancy and her mother drifted to Memphis, Tennessee, where the American Missionary Association early organized schools for the freedmen. The mother had two ambitions: to buy a home and educate her daughter. By industry, frugality and patience she accomplished both objects. She was familiar with all forms of domestic work, but excelled as a laundress, and for years took in large washings. Sometimes Nancy helped her mother, who assigned her certain pieces as her share of the work and pay. Sometimes she hired out to white families nights and mornings. In this way she attended school at Le Moyne Normal Institute for several years. During one of the revival meetings at this school she was converted and united with the Beal Street Baptist Church.