Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 29

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336


USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1 > Part 29


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EDWARD EVERETT HURLBURT, of Hart- ford, Conn., is of the eighth generation in descent from Thomas Hurlbut, his pioneer ancestor in the New World, tracing his line of descent through Joseph O., Luman, Joseph, John, Thomas, and Ste- phen to Thomas Hurlbut. As will be seen, the name was originally Hurlbut, and our subject's fa- ther was the hrst to write it Hurlburt, which spell- ing has since been adopted by all the family.


(1) Thomas Hurlbut, a blacksmith by trade, came to America in 1635, settling first at Saybrook, and after the Pequot war (in which he was a soldier under Lion Gardiner) locating at Wethersfield, Conn. He was a prominent man, both politically and socially, in that town. His wife's name was Sarah.


(II) Stephen Hurlbut, born in Wethersfield, Conn., about 1649, was by trade a mechanic. His wife's name was Dorothy.


(III) Thomas Hurlbut, born in Wethersfield, Conn., Jan. 23, 1680, a farmer by occupation, mar- ried Jan. II, 1705, Rebecca Meekins. He died April IO, 1761.


(IV) Lieut. John Hurlbut, a farmer, born in Wethersfield, Conn., Oct. 1, 1710, settled in Hart- ford, Conn., on the east side of the river. He mar- ried (first) Feb. 2, 1738, Mary Ann Cowles, who died Aug. 31, 1739. He married (second) Oct. I, 1741. Mabel Loomis. He died April 21, 1778.


(V) Joseph Hurlbut, born in Hartford, in May, 1744, married Sarah Roberts, and died Sept. 21, 1796.


(VI) Luman Hurlbut, born Oct. 14, 1788, mar- ried Mary Olmstead, and died May 20, 1865.


(VII) Joseph Olmsted Hurlburt, born July 31, 1822, married Oct. 30, 1844, Amelia Almira, daugh- ter of Horace and Almira Hills, of East Hartford,


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Conn. Issue : (1) Ellen Amelia, born Sept. 13, 1846, married George W. Roberts and had four children-(a) Helen M., born July 31, 1869; (b) George H., born March 25, 1874, who died Feb. 10, 1877; (c) Alfred E., born March 5, 1878; and (d) George W., born Oct. 9, 1886. (2) Henry Win- throp, born Feb. 13, 1851, died June 7, 1884. His children-(a) Anna Louise, born Aug. 21, 1874; (b) Mabel, born in 1875, who died same year; (c) Nellie Mary, born Nov. 2, 1877, who was married April 25, 1900, to Clarence Edgar Whitney; and (d) Florence, born in 1881, who died in 1884. (3) Mary Louise was born March 28, 1857. (4) Kath- arine Maria was born Feb. 5, 1861. (5) Edward Everett, a sketch of whom follows. Joseph O. Hurlburt, the father of this family, received his education in East Hartford, and for several years taught in the old North school, Hartford. During the last twenty years of his life he was principal of the Wethersfield high school, and he died March 18, 1899. He was a member of the County and State Teachers Association.


Edward Everett Hurlburt, whose name opens this sketch, was born July 31, 1863, in Hartford, where he obtained his education. At the age of six- teen years he entered the employ of Botsford & In- graham, beef and provision merchants, Hartford, and with them remained five years, or until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he commenced business on his own account on Spruce street, Hart- ford. In 1899 he removed to Hoadley Place, and in 1900 incorporated the business as "The Connec- ticut Beef Co.," which enjoys a wide and increasing trade.


In 1884 Edward E. Hurlburt was united in mar- riage with Miss Susan Elizabeth Stone, of Hartford, daughter of Charles Stone, of Ashland, Ill., and three children have been born to them : Ruth Ame- lia, Jan. 22, 1886; Marjorie Stone, May 31, 1887 ; and Harry Olmstead, Sept. 25, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Hurlburt are members of the Episcopal Church ; socially he is affiliated with the F. & A. M. and Royal Arcanum ; in politics he is a Republican.


JAMES MONROE GRANT, retired, one of the prominent well-to-do citizens of Hartford, was born at Ashford, Windham Co., Conn., May 27, 1820, and comes of patriotic Revolutionary stock.


Hamilton Grant, his father, was born in Pomfret, Conn., a son of John Grant, who was killed in the Wyoming massacre. Hamilton in early manhood was a school teacher, later in life following agricul- tural pursuits. During the Revolutionary war he enlisted in the patriot army, and fought in the bat- tle of Bunker Hill under Capt. Knowlton, at the con- clusion of the war returning to the paths of peace, and during the rest of his days making his home in Ashford, Conn. He there married Lucy Williams, of Groton, Conn., and by her had nine children, two of whom are yet living : Minerva ( Mrs. Snow), liv- in Willimantic, Conn; and James Monroe, our


subject. The father died in 1823, the mother in 1865.


James M. Grant, whose name opens this sketch, received his education in the schools of Ashford, Mansfield and Willington, all in Connecticut, and worked on farms till he was eighteen years of age, when he engaged in the silk business in Willington, remaining there four years; then was overseer for Storr's Silk Mill, in Gurleyville, Tolland county, two years; after which he was with Cheney Bros., in Manchester for several years, and then was em- ployed as overseer of silk mills in Manchester and Hartford. For over forty-two years he operated a silk mill in company with Mr. Sourby in Northamp- ton, Mass., also one in Bridgeport with Williams & Johnson, but for about the past sixteen years he has lived retired, having secured a competency from his patents on reeling silk and on an equalizer as well as on other devices pertaining to that trade.


Mr. Grant has been twice married, first time, in 1850, in Manchester, Conn., to Julia Inglesby, by whom he had no children. For his second wife he wedded, in 1872, in Springfield, Alice Wheeler, by whom he has two children : (1) James M., Jr., who married Jane Eliza Grant, and has two children, Thelma Viola and Hamilton Monroe ; and (2) Alice Viola, who wedded Frank E. Ray, and has one child, Doris Grant.


In religious faith the family are identified with the Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Grant is a Republican, and, socially, is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and of the Governor's Foot Guard. For a man of his years he is remark- ably well preserved, enjoying good health, with faculties unimpaired, and of late years he has de- voted his time to the improvement of his real-estate koldings. Mr. Grant has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, whose esteem and respect he justly merits.


WILLIAM COTTER (deceased) was one of the well-known business men of Hartford, where he con- ducted a successful livery business for more than a quarter of a century. His stables, known as the Buckingham stables, are still among the largest in the city, and the business is carried on by his sons, Daniel and Thomas, with every prospect of contin- ted prosperity.


Mr. Cotter was born Sept. 22, 1852, in Portland, Conn., and was one of a family of nine children, of whom only one is now living. His father, Thomas Cotter, a farmer by occupation, became blind as a re- sult of overwork, and now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Shay, of East Haddam. Our subject's educational advantages were such as fell to the lot of the poor farmer bov, and he left home and school at an early age. With the well- known Frederick Russell, one of the largest invest- ors in the Portland Brown Stone Co., our subject remained in the capacity of coachman for nearly ten years. At the age of twenty-four years he re-


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moved to Hartford, and engaged in the livery busi- ness on frinity street, opposite the Capitol, continui- ing about fifteen years. In June, 1889, he located at No. 19. Buckingham street, remodeling the barn there. Mr. Cotter was a intense lover of good horses, and one of the best judges of good horse- flesh in the city. For sixteen years he drove Lyman B. Jewell, of the Jewell Belting Co., keeping the horses at his stables, and driving them whenever Mr. Jewell needed him. He had taken Mr. Jewell through every section of the county, while out on hunting trips, and possessed the fullest confidence and appreciation of that gentleman, who, in speak- ing of him, said Mr. Cotter was one of the truest and most upright men whom he had ever known. Mr. Cotter's death occurred Aug. 24, 1899, and his re- mains were interred in Blue Hills cemetery, Hart- ford. The latter months of his illness he was con- fined to the house, although he directed his business almost to the last. He was a quiet man, and at- tended strictly to his business, belonging to no socie- ties. He was of a sociable disposition, however, and made many friends, not a few of whom dropped in upon him in his last illness to brighten his hours of confinement. He never discussed politics, and was not an office seeker ; he with his family was long identified with St. Peter's Catholic Church at Hartford.


On Nov. 14. 1875, Mr. Cotter was married to Miss Mary FitzGibbons, who was born in Ireland. daughter of Daniel and Johanna (Crowley) Fitz- Gibbons. Her father died in Ireland when she was quite young, and she came to America at an early age, locating in Massachusetts. Four children were born to this union: Daniel F., Thomas W., Mazie and Josephine, all at home.


WALTER COLLYER FAXON, assistant secretary of the ÆEtna Life Insurance Co., was born in Hartford July 18, 1856, son of Hiram and Margaret Maria (Collyer) Faxon. His ancestry is traced back to the "Mayflower" Pilgrims, he being a lineal descendant of Gov. William Brad- ford, through the Adams, Collins, Terry and Ol- cott families, and from Richard Warren, through the Church and Olcott families. Other names of noted persons to be found among his ancestry are those of Francis Elliott, John Whitman, Edmund Hobart, Rev. Solomon Stoddard, Rev. John Ware- ham, John Pantry, John Norton, John Stanley. George Stocking, William Sprague, Anthony Eams. Thomas Bunce and Thomas Wells.


After being graduated at the Hartford Public High School, in April, 1874, Mr. Faxon entered the employ of the Travelers Insurance Co., where dur- ing a period of nearly seventeen years he received the training and insight into the accident business which has contributed so materially toward fitting him for the position he now occupies. When the accident department of the Etna Life Insurance Co. was decided upon, Mr. Faxon was selected as the man especially qualified to assist in its organi-


zation, and he entered the employ of that company Jan. 1, 1891, on which date the first accident policy was issued to the president of the company, ex- Gov. Morgan G. Bulkeley. Policy number one is still in force. In the first year the gross premium receipts of the company in its accident department were less than $40,000. In its tenth year, just closed, they exceed $1,100,000, a most remarkable growth for the first ten years of a business of that nature. During the first years of his connection with the Ætna Life Mr. Faxon held a clerical po- sition ; in 1895 the office of assistant secretary in the accident department was created, and he was appointed to it. How successfully he has filled the position is demonstrated by the rapid growth of the business, in which his energies and ambi- tions are all concentrated.


Mr. Faxon is a member of the Order of Found- ers and Patriots of America, and is a councillor general of the General Court of the order, having been elected to that office Nov. 23, 1900.


On May 23, 1877, Walter C. Faxon was mar- ried to Nellie A. White, born in Somers, Conn., June 25, 1857, a daughter of Josiah and Hannah (Pease) White. She is a lineal descendant of Elder John White, and among her early ancestry are to be found the names of Robert Dunbar, John Gardner, Edmund Hobart, Edward Wilder, Samuel Tower, Rev. Thomas Wally. George Rus- sell, Matthew Cushing, Thomas Thaxter, Aaron Cook. Rev. Ephraim Hewitt, Gov. John Webster, John Marsh, John Ells, Robert Pease and John Emery. Among those of Mrs. Faxon's ancestors who served in the Revolutionary war may be men- tioned the following: Stephen Pease, Justin Ash- ley. Corp. Abel Cushing, Joseph Ashley, Thomas Wilder, Col. David Cushing. Josiah Pierce, Eben- ezer White, Robert Garnett and Samuel Church, the honored names appearing in eight different an- cestral lines. Mrs. Faxon has made extensive re- searches in genealogy, holds a life membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, and is also an active member of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution.


(I) Thomas Faxon, the first ancestor of Wal- ter C. Faxon in America, was born in England about 1601, and came to America before 1647, first locating at Dedham. Mass., later settling in Brain- tree, where he died Nov. 23, 1680. A very promi- nent man in his day, he transacted a large amount of public business. IFis wife, Joane, died some time between 1663 and 1670.


(II) Richard Faxon, son of Thomas, the emi- grant, born in England in 1630, died Dec. 20, 1674. He married Elizabeth ( Hubbard ( ?). born 111 1633, who died Aug. 9. 1704, at the age of sev- enty-one.


(III) Thomas Faxon, son of Richard, was born in Braintree, Mass., Aug. 2, 1662, and was a pros- perous farmer. He died in 1690, his remains be- ing interred in Weymouth, Mass. He married Mary Blanchard, born Dec. 1, 1662.


Macron Baxant


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


(IV) Richard Faxon, son of Thomas, was born in Braintree, Mass., Sept. 4, 1686, and died May 5, 1768. On Dec. 29, 1709, he married Ann Brackett, born July 18,. 1687, who died Oct. 16, 1769.


(V) Thomas Faxon, son of Richard, was born in Braintree, Mass., Oct. 29, 1710, and died in 1801. Ile married (first) Sept. 22, 1746, Eliza- beth Hobart, who died April 5, 1752.


(VI) Ebenezer Faxon, son of Thomas, and great-grandfather of Walter C., was born in Braintree, Mass., Dec. 12, 1749, and Jan. 6, 1772, came to West Hartford, where he carried on the manufacture of earthenware, and died Jan. II, 1811. On Feb. 8, 1776, he married Eleanor Whit- man, born in 1755, died Nov. 30, 1827.


(VII) Elihu Faxon, son of Ebenezer, and grandfather of Walter C., was born in West Hart- ford Nov. 6, 1779, and died June 30, 1847. On July 8, 1807, he married Elizabeth Olcott, born April 22, 1784, a daughter of James and Lucy (Terry) Olcott. She died Dec. 21, 1854.


(VIII) Hiram Faxon, son of Elihu, and father of Walter C., was born Aug. II, 1817, in Nassau, N. Y., whence he removed to Buffalo, afterward to Brooklyn, N. Y., and then to Hartford, Conn., where he died Oct. 30, 1883. On March 31, 1842, he married Margaret Maria Collyer, born Oct. 2, 1822, who died Jan. 12, 1860. She was a daugh- ter of William and Margaret (Power) Collyer, of Marblehead, Mass., and granddaughter of Isaac and Sarah (Courtis) Collyer, of Marblehead, the former of whom was a lieutenant in the Revolu- tionary army.


FRANCIS HENRY SPENCER, member of the widely-known firm of George F. Spencer & Co., carmen, Hartford, of which he is also manager, is a native of Connecticut, born Sept. 1, 1870, in Suf- field. He is a member of one of the oldest and most highly honored families of New England, being a lineal descendant of


(1) Thomas Spencer, who with his wife came to Hartford in the company of Thomas Hooker. He was representative to the General Court, and had a grant of land given him for his services.


(II) Samuel Spencer, son of the above, moved to Windham (now Scotland), Connecticut.


(III) John Spencer, son of Samuel, born in Windham, died a violent death during the raising of a church, and is buried in Scotland. He had five sons in the Revolutionary war.


(IV) Jonathan Spencer, son of John, born in Windham, was one of those who "turned out" at the "Lexington Alarm." He married a Miss Brown, of Brooklyn, Connecticut.


(\') Ichabod Spencer, son of the above, born in Scotland, Conn., in July, 1781, passed the greater part of his life there in agricultural pursuits, dying in May, 1853. He was twice married, first to Hen- rietta Babcock, by whom he had children as fol- lows: Lucius, deceased; George D., a sketch of


whom follows; Mary E., wife of Zadock Babcock, of South Windham; and Joseph B., of Windham. To the second marriage came the following : Charles E., of Lebanon, Conn .; and Frederick, deceased.


(VI) George D. Spencer, grandfather of Fran- cis H., was born January 26, 1813, in Lisbon (now Sprague), Conn., and was there reared and edu- cated. For several years he clerked in stores in Lebanon, Norwich and Hartford, after which he went into the grocery business on his own account at Hampton, and later, from 1847 .0 1864, in Leb- anon. He spent the latter years of his life at the home of his son George F., in Deep River, dying in 1885, at the age of seventy-two years. Politically he was first a Whig, afterward a Republican, and in 1854 he represented Lebanon in the Legislature ; was also town clerk and judge of probate for many years, being altogether a very prominent man. He was a member of the Baptist Church, in which he served as trustee and treasurer. In Hampton, Conn., in June, 1839, George D. Spencer married Martha Maria Spalding, of that place, born in De- cember, 1815, who died in May, 1883, a daughter of Francis and Martha (Hilbrook) Spalding, of Can- terbury, Conn. Children as follows were born to this union: George F. (sketch of whom follows) and Dwight S. The latter born in 1851, died March 9, 1883 ; at the time of his decease he was a member of the firm of Spencer Bros., of Deep River .. A short time after his decease the father also died, and three days later the mother, too, was called. from earth.


(VII) George F. Spencer, father of Francis H., was born Jan. 18, 1842, in Hampton, Conn., was reared in Lebanon, and there attended the common schools and Lebanon Academy. For four years he was steward and collector of the Connecticut Lit- erary Institute, at Suffield, Conn. At the age of twenty-three he embarked in a general merchandise business in South Windham, then, after a couple of years, in December, 1875, moved to Deep River, where he bought out the store of Griswold & Smith, and carried same on in company with his brother Dwight until the latter's death. Since then he has been alone in the business, which is widely known. He is also engaged in the coal business. In April, 1896, along with his son Francis H., he commenced the trucking business in Hartford, which will be mentioned more fully farther on.


George FF. Spencer has been twice inarried, first time in 1868, to Martha Champlin, born in Lebanon, a daughter of Robert Champlin, a shipbuilder there, who married Lucretia Bailey and had two children : Martha (Mrs. G. F. Spencer) and Henry (in Chi- cago). The father died at the age of seventy-four, the mother when eighty-four. Two children were born to George F. and Martha Spencer ; Francis H., our subject : and Arthur C., a lawyer in Portland, Oregon, born Oct. 17, 1872. The mother died in Suffield, Conn., in 1872, at the age of thirty-two years, a consistent member of the Baptist Church.


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


On Jan. 1. 1875, for his second wife, George F. Spencer wedded Esther Linsley, daughter of John S. Linsley, of Northford, Conn., and children as follows came to this union : Martha L., born Oct. 28, 1875; George D., Aug. 22, 1878; Benjamin H., Nov. 9. 1885; Charles S., Oct. 26, 1887 ; and Es- ther. Nov. 28, 1889.


In his political preferences George F. Spencer is a Republican, and for sixteen years-from 1880 to 1896-was chairman of the Republican town committee. In 1884 he was a representative of his town in the Legislature, and served on the Buck- ingham Statue ( special) committee ; in 1893 he again represented the town, and was on the com- mittees on Humane Institutions, Judicial Nomina- tions, and Health. For over fifteen years he was a member of the school board, serving much of the time as chairman; since 1893 has been a member of the State Board of Charters; and is a director of the Deep River National Bank, and the Williman- tic Savings Bank. An influential member of the Baptist Church, he is a deacon in same, and, taken all in all, he is one of the most prominent men in Middlesex county.


Francis H. Spencer, the subject proper of thesc line. passed the carlier years of his life in Lebanon and Deep River, from the high school of which lat- ter place he graduated. subsequently attending Ver- mont Academy, at Saxtons River, Vt., from which institution he was graduated in 1890. Subsequent to this he took a special course at Colgate Univer- sity. Hamilton, N. Y., and then for a time took up his residence in Deep River. In 1896 he came to Hartford and joined his father in the trucking busi .. ness, buying out Webb & Shield, the firm being now known as George F. Spencer & Co., Francis H. being manager. The concern is one of the best known and largest in that line in the country, and enjoys a wide patronage.


In 1894, at Brattleboro, Vt., Francis H. Spencer was married to Abbie Fuller, born in Brattleboro, daughter of George W. Fuller, and niece of the late Gov. L. K. Fuller, of Vermont. Her father was superintendent of the Estey Organ Co., and is still living in Vermont. He married Zylphy Phippen, a native of Cambridgeport. \t., and three children were born to them: Walter G., who is in Brattle- boro, Vt .: Albert M., in Minneapolis, Minn. ; and Abbie E. (Mrs. Spencer). To our subject and his wife has been born one son, Walter F. In pol- itics Mr. Spencer is a Republican; in 1889 was elected member of the common council : in 1890 was re-elected, and same year was made president thereof. Socially he is affiliated with the F. & A. M., and the Royal Arcanum. In religious faith he and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church. As a citizen he is wide-awake and pro- gressive, and the circle of his friends is limited only by the circle of his acquaintances, which is very large, while his name is synonymous with honora- ble dealing.


ELISHAMA BRANDEGEE. M. D. On Feb. 17. 1884, there passed away, at his home in Berlin, a well-beloved physician, whose many years of faithful toil in his profession had made his name a household word in that community. Nor had his influence and his efforts been confined to pro- fessional lincs only, for in all the varied activities of our common life he had taken a helpful part as a loval citizen, devoting his abilities to the cause of progress. Dr. Brandegee was a man whose death brought a loss to all classes, and the following brief account of one so esteemed will be read with un- usual interest.


The Doctor was born in the old Brandegee homestead on Berlin street Jan. 14, 1814, and be- longed to an old Connecticut family of English origin. His great-grandfather, Jacob Brandegee, was born at Nine Partners in 1729 : his mother bore the maiden name of Brock. He was engaged in the West India trade, running vessels from Rocky Hill, Conn .. and died at sea March 25, 1765. On Oct. II. 1752, he married Abigail Dunham, of Hartford, who was born in 1737, and died in 1825.


Capt. Elishama Brandegee, the Doctor's grand- father, was born in Christian Lane, Berlin, April 17. 1754. and was a sea captain, also engaged in the West India trade and in merchandising in Ber- lin, where he died Feb. 26, 1832. During the Rev- olutionary war, May 5. 1775. he enlisted in the 2d Company, 2d Connecticut Regiment, under Capt. Wyllys. He was recruited in Middlesex county, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, after which he was detached and joined Capt. Hanchett's company, Sept. 1. 1775. He took part in the assault on


Quebec Dec. 31. 1775, and was with Gens. Arnold and Montgomery at Montreal. After the assault on Quebec lie was taken prisoner. The 2d regiment was organized under Col. Wyllys as a Continental regiment. Capt. Brandegee was mar- ried, March 10, 1778, to Mrs. Lucy ( Plumb) Wes- ton. of Middletown, who died Feb. 1. 1827, and the remains of both were interred in the South bury- ing-ground, Berlin.


Elishama Brandegec. father of our subject, was born in Berlin Nov. 5. 1784. He conducted a store on Berlin street, near where Brandegee Hall now stands, and also engaged in the manufacture of thread. He was a man of excellent ability, and was quite prominent in business affairs. He married Emily Stocking, who was born in Cromwell, Conn .. Nov. 29. 1793. The Stocking family was founded in Massachusetts in 1633, and three years later one of its representatives. George Stocking, came to Hartford with Rev. Thomas Hooker. In 1650 they were among the first settlers of Middletown, Conn., and Samuel Stocking was the first deacon of the first church at that place.


The primary education of Dr. Brandegee was obtained in the Cheshire Academy, and later he was a student in the Simeon Hart Academy, of Farm- ington. He attended Yale College, from which he


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was graduated in 1833; was graduated from the Medical Department of that institution, and subse- ·quently attended lectures at a medical school in Castleton, Vt., from which he was also graduated. For two or three years he was engaged in practice in St. Louis, Mo., but at the end of that time re- turned home on account of his father's ill health, and from 1841 up to within eight weeks of his death he was actively engaged in practice in Berlin. He was one of the ablest representatives of the medical fraternity in that locality, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, which extended throughout Ber- lin, East Berlin, Westfield, Newington, Rocky Hill, New Britain, Beckley and Kensington.




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