USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > Grinnell > Early history of Grinnell, Iowa, 1854-1874 : compiled from the files of the Grinnell Herald of Jan., Feb., and March, 1874 > Part 5
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Moines, Maquoketa, Grinnell, Marion, Fort Dodge and Webster City made proposals; also, seven gentlemen owning desirable sites, from 10 to 361/2 acres each, near Davenport, and one owning lands in Adair and Carroll counties. A protest from citizens of Daven- port against removal was received. These proceed- ings were going on at Davenport at the very time that the walls of the seminary, i. e., East College were rising at Grinnell and the first and part of the second story were being finished. A committee of three trustees was appointed to visit the proposed sites "at Anamosa, Maquoketa, Muscatine, Davenport and Grinnell," and a special meeting was called in September to hear their report.
The proposition from Grinnell was accompanied with an argument in its favor, especially as compared with Davenport. The points urged were healthiness, cheapness of living, opportunities for students to ob- tain work and teaching, central position, absence of temptations to squander time and money, together with the presence of a large foreign and Roman Catholic population in Davenport, and the lack of such interest in college education there as, controlled at Grinnell. "The moral sentiment of this place," it was said, "will probably never tolerate the sale of intoxicating drinks, a gambling saloon or a house of ill fame in our midst, and a vigorous religious insti- tution would render the probability little, if any, short of absolute certainty."
The pecuniary inducement presented was the offer of all the assets of the literary fund and those of the university, subject to certain liabilities. The amount of assets was variously estimated at various times, and in the course of the negotiations the funds, sub- scriptions and building were reported by the careful college treasurer, Rev. J. A. Reed, as having suf- fered some depreciation. In August, 1859, he stated the amount pledged at $39,188.10. What was event- ually realized has already been stated in chapter four. The property of the college had also mean- while diminished.
The final consideration pressed upon the trustees
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in the communication from Grinnell was in these words: "We ardently desire that henceforth the interests of these two institutions may be united. So far as we can judge, the voice of our brethren in this state favors it, and the prosperity of the two united in one will be secured by the union. We earnestly hope that the time has fully come when the friends of Congregationalism in Iowa may unite their efforts in building up and sustaining one col- lege, and only one; that one being so located as to be properly a college for the state. To secure this result we have already tendered your honorable body all the property which we have secured, &c. We propose not merely to aid you in the erection of buildings, and in financial affairs, but also to rally around you in the support of good order in society and of proper discipline in the institution. The stu- dents who come among us will find us in the social circle and in public the uniform supporters of your plans and the zealous advocates of your educational measures." This was urged in behalf not of a large majority merely, but of "the citizens of the entire place."
CHAPTER XIII. Iowa College-Continued.
It was voted by the trustees after long discussion, Sept. 27, 1858, "to remove Iowa College to Grinnell at the commencement of the next college year (Autumn, 1860) or as soon thereafter as the inter- ests of the institution will permit, provided, the proposition received from that place is made good, and, provided also, that there is good reason to be- lieve that the M. & M. R. R. will be completed to that point within a reasonable time." In April both the Literary Fund and University Trustees took steps to make over everything to the college. It was also voted to accept the "Seminary site" pro- vided Mr. Grinnell should secure additional ground sufficient to make it twenty acres, and also to close the college exercises at the end of the fall term. At
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an adjourned meeting in August the sale of the col- lege grounds at Davenport to Bishop Lee and others was confirmed, and the articles of incorporation so amended as to make Grinnell the seat of the college. This was the last meeting of trustees at Davenport, the next being held at Grinnell (the annual meeting July, 1860), the surrender of the Grinnell property and the removal being then complete, Hon. Thos. Holyoke and Rev. S. L. Herrick were then elected trustees.
It has been already said, in chapter four, that a nominal organization of a "University" faculty, to be composed of resident gentlemen and ladies, was made. This was at the first meeting of University Trustees, Dec. 26, 1855. In 1856 Rev. E. Cleveland was chosen principal preparatory department, and in March, 1857, a committee on text books was ap- pointed; but nothing further was done toward open- ing the institution.
In August, 1857, a village school house having been built, Mr. L. F. Parker, who was teaching the public school and had become a university trustee "sub- mitted applications to him to take a place in Western College, and inquiring if his services would be need- ed here." The board by resolution pledged him "our influence in securing a place at the head of our graded school, if the new law is adopted, and also as principal preparatory department, of the university or a professorship next year." Mr. Parker's valuable services were continued in the public school; select pupils were carried forward in their studies; and August, 1859, the college trustees voted to "open the preparatory department at Grinnell Sept. 14, and that L. F. Parker, Rev. S. L. Herrick, Q. A. Gilmore, and J. B. Grinnell, be requested to provide instruction for the year without charge to the college;" classes were taught in the school house accordingly. The next year Mr. Parker was chosen principal of the re- established preparatory department, and in 1861 Car- ter Professor Ancient Languages. Three of the Dav- enport faculty, Professors Lane, Sheldon, and Bullen, had resigned in 1858. Professor Ripley, first Carter
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professor, was professor Ancient Languages from the opening of the college in 1848 till Professor Parker's election-thirteen years. In 1852 Rev. J. A. Reed, then treasurer, was requested to act as princi- pal preparatory department. In 1856 Rev. Ray Palm- er, D. D., had been elected president; in 1858, Rev. Blanchard of Knoxville college, had been elected; and in 1860 Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D .- none of whom accepted. In 1861 some correspondence, through a committee, was held with Rev. S. W. S. Dutton, D. D., which resulted in no action. In 1862 Rev. George F. Magoun was elected president, and accepted in 1864, entering upon his duties March 10, 1865, after returning from Europe .- Messrs. Von Coelln and Goodenow carried on the preparatory de- partment till 1864, when Rev. S. J. Buck became act- ing principal, also, Mr. Von Coelln, professor math- ematics, Rev. H. W. Parker, professor chemistry, Rev. C. W. Clapp, professor rhetoric, and Mrs. S. C. Parker, acting lady principal. In 1865 Principal Buck and Mrs. Parker were permanently elected .- More recent accessions and changes in the faculty are within the recollection of all. No place is now filled as it was at the election of the president twelve years ago, or even at his accession nine years ago; Principal Buck being now professor matlı- ematics. Miss Whitcomb, the present lady assistant, entered the old preparatory department as a pupil in the fall of 1865, after the president came.
It is impossible even to mention the names of ben- efactors of the college here and abroad; they are a. noble and increasing company, worthy of everlast- ing honor.
Three college buildings have been erected since the removal here; the Ladies' Boarding House, 1865, West College, 1867, and Central College, 1872. The college has also owned three dwelling houses, on or near the grounds, and a store building on Broad street, below Second avenue, most of them used for students' rooms. The Ladies' Boarding House is - x - feet, with addition - x - feet, and basement room for boarding club-but it is already insuffi-
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cient. West College is 42×80 feet, three stories high, its third story containing all the lodging rooms for young men the college has had since the burning of East College. Central College is 50x95 feet, three stories high, with 10 foot basement, and is entirely occupied by recitation, lecture, laboratory, society, and museum rooms. The new museum containing the remains saved from East College of the former elegant collection, is in the third story, center, 32 feet by 52 and 10 feet high. The unoccupied founda- tion of old East College still stands as the fire left' it, inviting a new erection which is exceedingly needed. -The grounds have been twice enlarged, by the pur- chase of two lots at the southwest corner from Mr. Perkins, now of Meriden, Conn., and of the two half blocks on the south, across Sixth avenue, now in- cluded in the new circular front, Sixth avenue being carried around it instead of across it in a straight line. The grounds are now unusually spacious and handsome, comprising nearly 25 acres.
The admission of young ladies began with the re- port of a committee (Messrs. Magoun, Robbins, and Turner) in its favor in 1857; but while the college department at Davenport was opened freely, the pre- paratory department was only to be opened there "at the discretion of the faculty." In 1860 this also was thrown entirely open at Grinnell, and in 1862 a three years' ladies' course established. But the trustees have never pledged themselves, as Dr. E. H. Clarke asserts in his famous little book "Sex in Education," to any theory of what is called "co-edu- cation," or to any theory at all. They have ever been and are free to make any improvements which wis- dom suggests. They are pledged only to give the best education possible to women. The university incorporation (1856) proposed "a thorough academic and collegiate education for both sexes." Nothing can be said of other improvements inaugurated, which need only money to make them complete; or of buildings. None of these last were in existence when the college moved here, and nothing that was then on the grounds is now in existence. Progress
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has made all things now. The college has now had, besides the president and including acting professors, two professors of Metaphysics, two of Ancient Lan- guage, two of Latin, one of Greek, three of Mathe- maties, four of Chemistry, two of Civil Engineering, one of Modern Languages, two of Rhetoric, and one of Anglo Saxon: also, twelve academy principals, four lady principals, three lady assistants, and nine tutors. The graduates, including those of this year, number 52 gentlemen and 58 ladies-total 110. Be- sides these some three thousand persons have been undor instruction. And its first quarter century, since a freshman class was first formed at Daven- port, will not be complete till 1875, when it is hoped that there will be a grand general gathering of alumni, alumnac, and all connected with it for twenty-five years. The town will then have reached its majority; and the retrospect of twenty-one and twenty-five years severally will be deeply interest- ing and suggestive of gratitude to a kind Providence, perhaps of wonder. It would furnish a fitting occa- sion for a mmunificent Quarter Century Gift, as well as a Quarter Century Celebration.
INCIDENTS OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
In the autumn of 1843, Mr. R. B. Ogden and wife, now living in Montezuma, came west in search of a home, and arriving at a point near where Forest Home now is. located a claim and built them a small cabin, in which they spent the winter, with Indians for neighbors. These with the howling wolves were their only companions during that long, lonely win- ter. There was not another white person in the county, nor within a day's journey in any direction. In March, 1844, two brothers, Daniel and J. W. · Satchel, with their families came and located claims one mile south, and with no tools but an ax and hand-saw commenced at once to put up their little leg cabins with their puncheon floors and without any windows. These brothers were the first to bring
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stoek of any kind into the county. They brought with them cattle, hogs, and sheep. J. W. Satchel brought a pair of full blooded Berkshire pigs, whose blood runs in the viens of some of the best hogs in Union township, to this day. The Ogdens and the Satchels were the only resident white persons in the county for some months, when Richard Cheesman joined the little community, and located about two miles north of the Satchels or one mile north of the present site of Forest Home. He brought with him the first span of horses in the county. By this time other white settlers had located in considerable num- bers in Keokuk and Mahaska counties.
An incident occurred about that time which will be long remembered by those carly settlers. One Sabbath morning the settlement was startled at the news that a little son (nine years old) of Daniel Sat- chel was lost. It shortly reached the nearest settle- ment, to-wit: where Brownsville now is; from there it spread into settlements in Keokuk county that a child was lost. No time was lost in hastening to the rescue. The most intense excitement prevailed, and in a wonderfully short time the timber and prairie seemed alive with horsemen and footmen scouring the country far and wide. The night was spent in the fruitless search. Guns were fired and even hay- stacks burned to attract the attention of the lost child, but to no purpose. The search continued with even increased excitement all the next day till about sundown, when the boy was found on an Indian trail near South Skunk, by his uncle, J. W. Satchel. Two white men who had heard nothing of the event had overtaken him, haggard, footsore, and utterly ex- hausted. The news that the lost child was found was rapidly communicated by signals previously agreed upon. All gathered at the house of the boy's parents to rejoice with them in their great joy. At that time and spot many acquaintances were made. and friendships begun, the influences and issues of which can never be estimated in this world.
With Richard Cheesman came Ezra Palmer and family and William Palmer, who for more than a year
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was the only unmarried white man in the county. About this time, or perhaps a little before, William English, Conrad Swaney and John McDowell settled with their families in what is now Sugar Creek town- ship. They are all living now on the spot where they first settled more than thirty years ago.
In 1845 the original settlement at Forest Home re- ceived large aecessions. Among others was Nicholas Moore with his two boys, John and Stephen. The latter gave his life for his country in the late rebel- lion. The former is our present honored Repre- sentative. Amelia Woodward, now Mrs. John Moore, was the first unmarried young lady to come into the county.
At this time, 1845, the county was still a part of Mahaska county, Poweshick county existing only in name.
The first lawsuit was what was known as the slander case, which the old settlers will never for- get. The defendant was accused of running down the county and speaking ill of the settlers and stir- ring up strife among them. The case was tried at the house of J. W. Satchel, Nicholas Moore and R. B. Ogden prosecuting. The accused was brought into court by a constable manufactured for the occasion. The court was the whole settlement, far and near; a jury was appointed, and the case heard amidst the greatest, excitement. The charges were clearly prov- en. The "jury" were ordered by the prosecuting at- torneys, Moore and Ogden, to retire and consider of their verdict which was that no settler should speak to the defendant or to any of his family, nor hold any intercourse with them whatever, not even to give them shelter from the storm, should they ask it. But there appears to have been three pretty girls in the family thus to be ostracized, and so the "verdict of the jury" was voted down by the young men of the "court." Another "verdict" was rendered including the defendant alone in its penalties, letting the girls, who probably were the real offenders, go scott free .- This suit is said to have had the desired effect. There was peace in that settlement ever afterwards.
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In 1845 settlers in the south part of the county were cheered by news of a settlement near where Brooklyn now is, by one Snooks, from whom the grove where he stopped was afterwards called. The Talbots and Manatts soon afterwards settled in that vicinity-more particular mention of which will be made further on. The Indians were camped at this time on Little Bear Creek and were constantly pass- ing from there to their camps on Skunk River, and were the news carriers of those days as they wand- ered over the prairies and from grove to grove in hunts for game. They were always kind, and would leave their hunting at any time to guide the white man from one settlement to another. Often they would sleep at night with their heads resting upon the same chunk for a pillow and rise in the morning and eat their cold snack out of the same pouch, smoke from the same pipe, often, and take their nip from the same bottle.
About this time a grist-mill at what is now Was- sonville, 45 miles away, was heard of with gladness. An early settler relates how he started for this mill one day with his grist in his wagon, without a single track or trail to guide. He went from what is now Forest Home; was three days going; had to wait three days for his grist, and on the seventh day he started back on his lonely way home. The incessant howling of the wolves all night robbed him of his sleep as he lay under his wagon on English bottom the first night, nor did they leave him as he went on his way up the English the second day. Herds of deer were also constantly in sight, scarcely noticing the presence of the white man. The second night was even more dreary than the first, as he tried to rest with the rain pouring in torrents upon his unpro- tected head. When he "got out of bed" in the morn- ing he found the entire prairie covered with water, except the long double trail which winded up the river bottom, and even this was so overflowed at places as to make it almost impossible for the lonely traveler to continue his journey. On the third morn- ing he came to Wyatt's Ford on Moon Creek, about
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a mile and a half cast of where Brownsville now is, and found the creek bank full. He was only four miles from home and was nearly out of provisions. Ilis only alternative was to stay there and starve, or attempt to head the creek. After floundering in the creeks and sloughs all day he came to a point near where Montezuma now is. Here, while hunting for a ford, he had the misfortune to have his last mouth- ful of provisions grabbed by a thieving wolf. This, with the prospect of at least another day's journey between him and home, made things look blue for a little while; but after a good night's rest he started before breakfast, and after traveling all day on an empty stomach over the roughest region in Powe- shiek county, he took supper in his own little cabin with his wife and little ones, with a joy that none can ever realize who has not endured the privations and hardships of an early settler. Such incidents were by no means rare in those carly days.
The nearest store in those times was at Oskaloosa, and as there were no bridges or roads, going to the store for a pound of tea, a plug of tobacco or a jug of whisky was no fool of a job.
This county was for some time attached to Ma- haska for all official purposes. The settlers were self governed and well governed, too, in those days. All difficulties were easily healed except those aris- ing between the settler and the land speculator, and a little tar and some feathers generally settled the most intricate land cases in an hour's time.
The first election in the county was held at the house of Harvey MeCoy, in Union township, in the summer of 1845. The first sermon was preached by a Methodist minister by the name of Hardy, at the house of Daniel Satchel, subsequently in the same year. The first quarterly meeting was held by Elder Coleman that fall in the same place. The settlers thought nothing of going from ten to fifteen miles to hear preaching, and the opportunities were rare, even at that distance, the first year. The people of those days did not go to meeting to show off or to display
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their good clothes, but to worship and praise their Maker, which was often done in llis "first temples," the groves.
In the winter of 1845-'46 the settlers planned to build a meeting house and a school house combined. It was to be 20 feet square and 20 feet high and to be of hewed logs; but when spring came there was such a disagreement that the plan fell through at that time. It was subsequently built on the spot . where John Herron's dwelling now stands, and now forms a part of that dwelling. Miss Sarah Moore was the first teacher who taught in the county, in > the fall of 1846.
For the first two years, if the settlers wanted a plough sharpened or an open ring made they had to go either to Oskaloosa or to a shop twenty miles away, in Keokuk county; but in the spring of 1846 Wm. H. Barnes came in and set up the first black- smith shop, on the place now owned by Aaron Saun- ders, in Union township, one and one-half miles east of Forest Home. With Barnes came the Dements- Elias, Isaac and Samuel. The last named still lives on the claim he first took up nearly thirty years ago.
The first death of a white person living in the county, so far as known, was that of an infant child -a daughter of Stephen Moore, in the winter of 1845- '16. At that time there was not a sawed board or plank in the county, but a very neat little coffin was made for the dead child by Mr. Barnes, from a couple of puncheons taken from the floor of Mr. J. W. Sat- chel's dwelling house. The child was buried under a spreading oak in the woods, a little southwest of where the first school house was afterwards built. Mr. Elias Dement, Mrs. Farmer, and others, were soon laid to rest by her side. As most of the bodies have been removed to other burial places, the exact location of the first graveyard of the county is known to but few.
These early days were not without their genuine pleasures and solid comforts. The settlers were warm hearted and social, and the long winter even- ings were spent in such visitings and quiltings by
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the old and such rail-splittings and frolickings by the young, as are not even dreamed of by our latter- day saints and settlers. Game of all kinds was in abundance. Deer and turkey were so plenty that the people got tired of the taste of wild meat, so that fat pork and corn dodgers were coveted luxuries.
It may be of interest to state how the turkeys were trapped. A large, covered rail pen was constructed, a short trench was dug under each side, slanting outside and straight up and down inside; shelled corn was scattered in the trench, and corn in the ear placed in the middle of the pen. Mr. Turkey, enticed by the corn in the trench, would lead his harem into it and fly up on the inside where they remained till wanted, for the poor fools had never gumption enough to hop down into the trench, and so go out the way they came in. These same pens constructed with a baited dead-fall on top, were also used for trapping wolves, which were caught by scores in this way' by the settlers. As sure as a wolf came within smelling distance of the bait he was sure to go for it-one spring, and he was in for it. A wolf, when once caught in this manner, makes no attempt to escape, as if convinced of its utter impos- sibility; but accepts the situation with the quiet stoicism of a captured savage.
The first justice of the county was E. J. Williams, elected in 1846. He served faithfully his full term without the trial of a single case. In his second year Mr. B. O. Payne, who had moved into the county, sued J. Schrader on a note of hand, but it was settled before the day for trial. The first wedding in the county was that of Jesse Schrader to Miss Amelia Newsome, in 1847. The ceremony was performed by W. H. Barnes, a Protestant Methodist minister, then a resident of the county. The wedding took place at the residence of the bride's father, on the place now owned and occupied by the widow Beason. Hannah Woodward was the first white child born in the county, in 1845. Her parents, Mahlon and Mary Woodward, now live in Cloud county, Kansas. It is
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thought by some that Kate Wilson, daughter of l. G. Wilson, was the first white child born in the county. The mistake arose from the fact that she was the first child born in Montezuma.
In the winter of 1846-'47 Nicholas Moore and his two sons, John and Stephen, built probably the first hewed log house. It was 20x20 and certainly the largest house in the county at that time. It was on the place now occupied by the widow Davis. During the fall and winter while this house was building the Moores with a family of five and J. W. Satchel with a family of four all lived together in one little 12x15 cabin, and all slept, ate and cooked in a single room at that. There wasn't much room for quarreling in that cabin. A few weeks after the Moores had moved into their new home the old gentleman -went to his home in Heaven, where, just twenty-seven years later, his widow joined him.
As late as 1847 there were scarcely twenty families in the county. During this year the county was sur- voyed and sectionized, when the settlers immediately squared up their claims to the section lines. This was done without interfering or encroaching upon each other, as the claims were far enough apart to give each settler plenty of elbow room so that he could shape his claim pretty much as he pleased, and claim jumping was not a healthy vocation in those days. At the time of the survey the creeks and rivers received their present names, as Bear Creek, Moon Creek, English River, and Deep River. The Skunk had been christened some time before, by the settlers further down that classic stream. About this time Albert Morgan first settled in what is now Deep River township, just east of where Dresden now is. After him came Sargood and Ginther; also Robert Taylor, who still owns and occupies his original claim. John Morgan and Ephraim Cox then came and settled; then Taylor and Albert Morgan. Mr. Cox, in 1848, put up the first steam mill in the coun- ty; but it was an unfortunate speculation, as it had not run long before it blew up, killing one of his sons.
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In the winter of 1847-'48 the enterprising settlers established a debating school. Among other national subjects discussed and settled, the abolition question was the most inflaming, to say the least. Old and young got excited over it. The Whigs generally took up for the slave, and two or three, among whom was John Moore, dared to talk abolition right straight out and throw it in the teeth of the Democrats, who, as a party, looked upon the abolitionist as worse than a horse thief; and many of them honestly thought the nigger had no soul. The question in those days was not a political one, as neither party dared to put forth a single utterance for human freedom. It was discussed from a purely moral and social point of view, and it required nerve and pluck and principle then to even pray in public for the slave. All honor to the brave men who could stand up almost alone in the face of such opposition, and not only pray but plead openly for the oppressed and friendless black man.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I-
The First Visit By Hon. J. B. Grinnell-Compan- ions-Lattimer's and Gardner's Grove-First Land Entered.
CHAPTER II-
The First Cabin At Sugar Creek-First Sawmill -The First Horse-Arrival of First Ladies-The Long Home-The First Store-Snake Bites. CHAPTER III-
The First Houses-Breaking the Sod-The First Fourth of July-The First Marriage-Other Early Settlers-First Postoffice-The Lost Bank Draft. CHAPTER IV-
Land For a University-The Clause Prohibiting Sale of Liquor-East College Built-Iowa College Moved To Grinnell-The First Faculty-First School House Burns-Other Incidents.
CHAPTER V-
First Election-Railroads-First Lawsuit-Amos Bixby Defends His Farm.
CHAPTER VI-
Chester-Rough Experiences-Sod Broken-First Chester Reunion-Many Interesting Experiences. CHAPTER VII-
Underground R. R .- John Brown-Cemetery- Deacons-A Race-Negroes in Grinnell-Many Deacons.
CHAPTER VIII-
The First School-More Arrivals-The Wool In- dustry.
CHAPTER IX-
Spotted Fever-The Draft-Assassination.
CHAPTER X-
Churches-The Congregational-The Baptist - Methodist Episcopal- Universalist-Episcopal. CHAPTER XI- Iowa College.
CHAPTER XII-
Iowa College-Continued.
CHAPTER XIII-
Iowa College-Continued.
INCIDENTS OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
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