USA > Iowa > Benton County > The history of Benton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics > Part 52
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RAILROAD AT LAST.
The people of Vinton had sought for more than fifteen years, and that al- most without ceasing, to obtain a road through the county seat ; but every pro- ject failed of accomplishment until 1865, when an organization was effected at Cedar Rapids, called the Cedar Rapids & St. Paul Company, which promised to build a road through Benton County by way of Vinton for the sum of $75,000, and the further donation of the county's swamp lands, worth some $15,000 more. In 1868, the franchise of the company and the grading that had been done became the property of the Burlington & Cedar Rapids Com- pany, which gave renewed vitality to the enterprise. The officers of the Bur- lington Company at that time were : George Green, President ; Charles Ma- son, Vice President ; R. M. Green, Secretary; J. W. Traer, General Agent. In the hands of these energetic men the road was completed from Cedar Rapids to Cedar Falls about New Year's, 1870.
The first train arrived at Vinton Dec. 12, 1869, and the occasion was cele- brated by a banquet at the Asylum on the 21st. A large number of guests from Cedar Rapids attended.
In 1873, what is now known as the Dakota Divison of this road was begun at Vinton, and constructed to Traer in Tama County. It has since been ex- tended into Grundy County, and during 1878 will cross the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central.
The Burlington system of roads has thus placed Vinton in position to thrive for many years ; and the coming of the locomotive has produced a marked change in the appearance of the town. Rows of brick buildings, filled with goods and thronged with customers, daily bear witness of the happy emancipation of the town from the irregular movements of little steamboats, the insufficiency of stage coaches and freight wagons.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
HOTELS.
The first hotel in Vinton was a small frame building opposite the Court House, followed by the "Black Bear." The next in order was the Howard House ; then the Shields House, built by Catlin, who kept it about two years, when J. H. Shields bought the property. and remained as its landlord till 1868, when he was succeeded by Mr. Starkweather.
In 1856, Jones & Bristol, two enterprising citizens, built an addition to their brick store, and on the 23d of July in that year opened the " Fremont House." This was for many years a noted hotel, and many a ball supper has been pro- vided in its dining-room, as well as formal dinners, when the best and bravest of the Benton boys were departing for the front, and to welcome them home. Mr. Ralyea was for a time the landlord of this hotel, and in 1856 Eliphalet How ard took possession.
The Ralyea House was erected in 1874, under the personal supervision of Mr. Ralyea himself, who thereby obtained a first-rate building at a comparatively reasonable cost. The building is three stories high, with basement. The third story is a mansard. The building is finished in the very best manner inside, and the furniture and carpets are of the best. There are but few hotels in Iowa that equal the Ralyea as a home for the traveling public, and none that surpass it. This gentleman's able management as a hotel keeper well deserves a word of commendation, and the future landlords of Benton County will do well by their guests to imitate his management.
July 9, 1878, Charles Casena was thrown from a horse into the river, at the foot of Washington street, and drowned, in the same place where Milton Gerbrich and the one-armed colporteur were drowned a year or two since. Charley came to Vinton about ten years ago in company with a band of Italian minstrels, and was induced to leave the company, and was cared for by James Chapin for a few years. Since then he has made a bad record for himself.
MUNICIPAL.
The town council of Vinton met for the first time August 9, 1869, it being composed of the following gentlemen : Mayor, James Wood ; Paul Correll, M Donelan, Cornelius Ellis, John Gilmore, Nathan Hays, J. A. McDaniel, D Stick and H. H. Sterling, Trustees ; W. F. Kirkpatrick was elected City Clerk. Ordinance No. 1 was " An ordinance fixing the bounds of Wards."
Ordinance No. 2, " An ordinance defining and punishing misdemeanors."
Sept. 6, 1869, W. F. Kirkpatrick resigned the office of City Clerk, and A. A. Wentz was appointed to fill vacancy. Mr. Brown was appointed City En- gineer at a salary of $4 per day.
Robert St. Clair was City Solicitor, but resigned Sept. 24, 1869; George M. Gilchrist was appointed, Oct. Ist, to fill vacancy.
1870-Mayor, James Wood; Treasurer, Wm. W. Hanford ; Solicitor, George M. Gilchrist ; City Assessor, Levi S. Miller ; Marshal, Ezra Bigelow, Trustees, J. L. Tinkham, J. F. Young, 1st Ward; N. Hays, M. Donelan. 2d Ward; Wm. A. Gwinn, John Gilmore, 3d Ward ; C. Ellis, R. N. Young, 4th Ward. A. A. Wentz appointed City Clerk, and James A. Brown, En- gineer.
June 10, 1870, Ald. Gilmore and Ald. Donelan were appointed to attend to matters relating to a city jail.
July 1, 1870, Special Committee on Jail reported county jail not for sale at that time.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Sept. 16, 1870, on motion of Ald. Ellis, the Finance Committee were in- structed to look after ground on which to build a city jail.
On motion of Ald. R. N. Young, a committee consisting of Aldermen Ellis and Hays was appointed to draw a plan for a city jail.
1871-Mayor, J. C. Traer : Marshal, W. W. Means; Treasurer, W. W. Hanford; Assessor, Levi S. Miller. Aldermen, J. F. Young, 1st Ward ; W. B. Reynolds, 2d Ward; Geo. W. Ridge, 3d Ward ; C. Ellis, 4th Ward. Clerk, A. A. Wentz.
April 7, 1871, on motion of Alderman Ridge, the Chair appointed a com- mittee, consisting of Aldermen Ridge, Ellis and Gilmore, to draft a plan for a city jail, and see if grounds can be procured on which to erect it.
April 14, 1871, Committee reported a plan for jail, which was accepted.
On motion of J. F. Young, the Chair appointed a committee. consisting of Young, Hays and R. N. Young, to contract for the building of jail according to plan.
April 21, 1871, the Mayor was instructed to buy the lot of Mr. Horridge, north of Court House.
May 5, 1871, Mayor reported that he had bought said lot for $300.
May 12, the Clerk was instructed to draw warrants in pay for the building of the jail upon the order of the Chairman of the Jail Committee. Jail finished soon after, but record does not state what it cost.
1872-Mayor, J. C. Traer ; Treasurer, W. W. Hanford; Solicitor, G. M. Gilchrist ; Assessor, John A. Bills. Trustees, George Horridge, 1st Ward ; Nathan Hays, 2d Ward ; W. K. Platt, 3d Ward; D. H. White, 4th Ward. Clerk, A. A. Wentz, ; Marshal, W. W. Means.
1873-Mayor, A. Haines ; Treasurer, S. E. Keith ; Assessor, L. S. Miller, Trustees, J. M. Crandall, 1st Ward : L. S. Miller, 2d Ward ; R. H. Quinn, 3d Ward ; C. C. Lawton, 4th Ward. Clerk, A. A. Wentz ; Marshal, George Ridge.
1874-Mayor, A. Haines ; Treasurer, E. Evans ; Assessor, John Shaffer ; Solicitor, G. M. Gilchrist. Trustees, A. H. Ellis, 1st Ward ; M. Donelan and L. S. Miller, 2d Ward ; H. Stanton and F. R. Voris, 3d Ward ; D. H. White, 4th Ward. Clerk. G. M. Taggart ; Marshal, W. W. Means.
1875-Mayor, W. B. Reynolds, Sr. ; Treasurer, R. N. Young ; Assessor, John Shaffer ; Solicitor, D. E. Voris. Councilmen, H. H. McElroy, 1st Ward ; John Rider and M. D. L. Webb, 2d Ward ; J. A. MeDaniel, 3d Ward ; J. B. Locke, 4th Ward. Clerk, C. S. Bennett; Marshal, J. C. Slosson.
1876-Mayor, W. B. Reynolds, Sr. ; Treasurer, George Knox ; Assessor, Levi Miller. Councilmen, J. M. Crandall, 1st Ward : Nathan Hays. 2d Ward : J. M. Inman, 3d Ward ; D. H. White, 4th Ward. Clerk, C. S. Bennett ; Mar- shal, S. D. Redfield.
1877-Mayor. W. B. Reynolds; Treasurer. J. W. Smock ; Solicitor, E. R. Clingham ; Assessor, J. R. Christy. Councilmen, John Stickney, 1st Ward; Paul Cornell, 2d Ward : F. R. Voris, 3d Ward ; George Gilchrist, 4th Ward. Clerk, C. S. Bennett; Marshal, W. W. Means.
1878-Mayor, L. S. Miller ; Treasurer. James Smock : Solicitor, G. W. Burnham ; Assessor. J. R. Christie. Councilmen. J. F. Young, 1st Ward ; E. Forrester, 2d Ward; Samuel B. Corning. 3d Ward: D. H. White, 4th Ward. Clerk, C. S. Bennett ; Marshal, W. W. Means.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In the Spring of 1872, a second-hand Button Hand Engine was received at Charles City for trial, but failing to give satisfaction, the Council of that city
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
ignored it and purchased another machine. About this time the Town Council of Vinton were taking steps to protect themselves in the event of fire, and, learn- ing of this engine at Charles City, appointed a committee to go there and inves- tigate the matter; and, as a result of their labors, the engine was shipped to Vinton for trial. It seems that the committee had agreed to buy the engine if it would throw water as represented by the agent, but upon test did not satisfy the Council ; however, to avoid law suits and trouble, the engine was taken, but never manned. It has been recently overhauled and is ready in case of emergency.
In the Fall of 1872 the Council purchased another hand engine, a new "Button," and in December of the same year, a company was organized to man it, C. E. Porter being elected as the first Foreman. The company was named the
S. H. WATSON FIRE COMPANY,
in honor of their generous donator, who had presented them with $100 to pur- chase uniforms, etc. E. M. Stedman was the first Foreman of the hose company. E. D. Stedman is the present Foreman ; J. E. Brady, First Assistant ; W. W. Martin, Second Assistant ; John Moyer, Engineer. The company numbers forty men.
RESCUE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.
This company was organized about the same time with the fire company, and was first under the charge of W. D. Reynolds, Foreman (who has remained such ever since) ; J. C. Matthews, First Assistant, and J. F. Young, Second Assistant. His present assistants ore W. H. Brown, First, and Charles Good- win, Second. Their wagon was built at home by J. M. Crandall.
In 1877 the Council appointed E. D. Stedman as Chief Engineer and W. D. Reynolds, Assistant Chief Engineer. A building for the engine and hook and ladder companies was erected in the Winter of 1872-3, on the northwest corner of Main and Market streets, but was removed in 1877 to the city lot on the southwest corner of Washington and Concord streets. The department is still in the able hands of Chief Engineer E. D. Stedmam and Assistant Chief Engineer, W. D. Reynolds.
SCHIOOL RECORD.
The first meeting of the Board of Vinton Independent District was held April 6, 1861, Joseph Dysart, President, and W. W. Hanford, Secretary. The bounds of the district were established by a committee of the Board in consul- tation with the Township District officers. Messrs. Adams, Webb and Watson were appointed to make inquiries in reference to a building site. April 22d, the Board rented the basements of the N. S. Presbyterian and Methodist Churches for school rooms. May 4th, E. Bennett, U. E. Traer, Fannie Kiddoo, Nellie Howe and Mrs. J. F. Young were employed as teachers.
May 3, 1862, it was voted to receive the deed for school house site from J. S. Tilford, and give him an order on the County Treasurer for the money in his hands, to be applied as part payment thereon. December 8th, Mrs. Freer was authorized to employ an assistant in her room at $8 a month.
April 20, 1863, a committee was appointed to report a plan for building, and on the 17th of May, it was resolved to let the contract for building the foundation. 3 In October, the contract for the brick was let at $5.75 per thousand.
May 5, 1864, S. H. Watson was authorized to negotiate a loan of $6,000, payable in installments within six years. June 21st, contract was made with
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Finkbine & Lovelace, of Iowa City, to construct the building. January 30, 1865, the Board resolved to vacate the church basements by January 1, 1865.
March 24, 1866, it was resolved to crect an addition to the building. Sep- tember 9, 1867, $5,000 in bonds were voted for the purpose.
At the annual election in 1872, it was voted to issue bonds for the erection of a new building in the Third Ward.
March 13, 1876, the people voted in favor of an issue of $10,000 in bonds for the erection of another school building, which amount was increased by $2.500 in June. The construction of the edifice now known as the "High School," was completed in 1877, and it has been occupied for school work for the past year.
The present officers of the Board are: W. B. Reynolds, President ; T. S. Palmer, George Horridge, Lewis Quinn, J. M. Crandall, E. M. Evans, Direct- ors ; James A. Brown, Secretary ; G. M. Gilchrist. Treasurer.
The following were the teachers employed during the school year of 1877-8 : H. M. Hoon, Principal ; Mary D. Warner. Assistant ; Alice W. Bingham, Mrs. N. E. Pierce, Mary E. Marine, Ada Voris, Mattie Voris, Clare R. Van Horn, Ora M. Ketchum, Verona Marcellus, Etta A. Palmer, Miss C. S. Hall and Miss W. A. Burr.
The United Presbyterian Church of Vinton was organized in 1857 by Rev. Hugh Sturgeon, a committee for the purpose from the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids. Its original members numbered seventeen. The pulpit was filled by various supplies until 1862, when Rev. S. M. Kier was called and installed as the first Pastor. He served the Church for some three years. After a vacancy of about a year, Rev. W. A. Pollock was made Pastor. and served the Church for three years.
Another vacancy of a year occurred, when Rev. Mr. Rule was called to the pastorate, in the Spring of 1870. He continued in this office for some two years. Afterward, Rev. P. H. Drennan supplied the pulpit.
A large number of United Presbyterians resided from five to seven miles to the northwest from Vinton, and were finally organized into a church known as the Pratt Creek Church. This so weakened the town organization that it was thought best to disband it; and it was virtually transferred to the Pratt Creek Church, after having accomplished a good work for the Master and the community in its short life of less than twenty years.
RELIGIOUS.
The Presbyterian Church of Vinton is a union of the former First and Sec- ond Churches. The First was prior to all the other churches of Vinton. It was a New School organization, effected June 27, 1852, by Rev. Williston Jones, a committee from the Presbytery of Des Moines. Its original members were James F. Young, Mrs. Mary Young, John S. Tilford, Mrs. Margaret A. Tilford, James Rice, Mrs. Maria Traer, Mrs. Amy Jones, Harrison Bristol, and Mrs. Mary Bristol. Its first stated supply was Rev. John Summers. He preached here for nearly two years, and was succeeded in the Spring of 1854 by Rev. Nelson C. Robinson. After a faithful pastorate of seventeen and a half years, he was succeeded, without a Sabbath's vacancy, by Rev. Stephen Phelps, who served the church until its organization was lost in the new one formed by the union of the two churches.
The Second Church was an Old School organization, effected on the 25th of February, 1854, by Rev. J. S. Fullerton, and Elder William Vaughn, a committee from the Presbytery of Cedar Rapids. Its original members were :
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Francis J. Dobbins, Mrs. Rachel Dobbins, Mrs. Rachel Gwinn, Mrs. Lavina Beatty, Miss E. Jane Watson, Henry Watson and Ezra Watson. Its ministers were : Rev. W. L. Lyons, who served the church from the Spring of 1856 for about one and a half years ; Rev. James Kirk, who served from November 1, 1857. for three years ; Rev. J. S. Dunning, who served from 1863 to 1869, and Rev. J. W. Crawford, from the Spring of 1869 until the union of the churches.
The union of the two churches was consummated on the 17th of June, 1872. A basis of union having been carefully prepared and adopted by both congregations, they met, each in its own house of worship, on Monday evening, June 17th. All the officers of both resigned, except the Trustees, who were retained in position, that they might legally hold the property until they could convey it to the Board of Trustees to be appointed by the new church. All closing business of each organization having been transacted, the First congre- gation, conducted by a committee from the Second, marched in a body to their place of meeting. As they appeared at the door, the other congregation arose, turned to face them, and sang the doxology, "Praise God from whom all bless- ings flow." The organization was then duly effected, and its officers appointed. Rev. Stephen Phelps was invited to take charge, was in due time installed, and is still Pastor of the church.
The First Church, at the time of the union, numbered about two hundred members. The Second numbered about one hundred and twenty-five. During the year 1866-7, known as " the revival year," 168 persons were added to the church. There have been many removals, and many deaths. Its present membership is 484.
The meetings of the First Church were held at first in the old Court House. After it burned down, they were held in the sitting-room of Mr. J. S. Tilford's residence ; afterward, in Jones' Hall (now a part of the Howard House); after- ward, in the new school house, known as "the Tilford School House," built by Mr. Tilford and Mr. Joseph Young, chiefly for a place of holding religious meetings. The present Baptist Church building was commenced by this society ; but before the walls were up it was sold, and a larger house com- menced in 1856, completed in 1857. In this house, the congregation met until the time of the union.
The meetings of the Second Church were held at first in "the Tilford School House; " afterward, in the small frame church erected by them in 1857 : afterward, in their larger frame church built in 1866. In this, the con- gregation worshiped until the time of the union. The united congregation enlarged this house of worship, and used it until October 14, 1877, at which time they dedicated their present church building, which had been erected on the site of the brick church of the former Second organization, and at a cost of $35,000.
The First Baptist Church, of Vinton .- February 23, 1856, Elder Richard King made an appointment to preach in what is now (1878) known as the Good Templars' Hall, upon the following Sunday, March 8th. After services, Elder King being chosen Chairman. the following named brethren and sisters, having letters from other churches of like faith and order, were organized into a Baptist Church, to be known as the First Baptist Church of Vinton :
Brethren-Stephen Chapin, Stephen Chapin, Jr., James Chapin, William C. Connell, James L. Pauley. Sisters-Ruth Webb, Mary W. Kelsey, Mariah Connell, Margaret S. Pauley, Lovinea Chapin, Pedee Conant.
Stephen Chapin was elected Deacon, and James Chapin Clerk and Treas- urer. May 10th, Church commenced holding their regular weekly services in
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Tilford's school house, the building occupying lot now the home of H. M. Hoon. June 14, 1856, the Church gave Elder Ashel Chapin, of the Galena Church, a call to become its first Pastor, he accepting and entering upon his labor, the Church voting him $200 a year and the Home Mission Board granting $200 more for support. At the same meeting of the Church, the first Trustees were elected, being for one year, viz .: P. A. Locke, Hermon Stanton and James L. Panley. July 20, 1856, occurred the first baptism, Sister Cynthia Ann Chase. August 3, same year, celebrated the Lord's Supper for the first time. August 17, by request, sent Pastor and others as Delegates to Waterloo, to assist in organizing an Association to be known as the Cedar Valley Association. April 9, 1857, the Church adopted Articles of Incorporation. November 15, 1857. the Church having bought and fitted up its present house of worship, the building was dedicated to the worship of God, the Pastor preaching the sermon and Elder Joseph Eaton making the dedicatory prayer. The following year, the Church received aid from the Home Mission Board to the amount of $150. September 3, 1859, the Church applied and was admitted into the Linn Asso- ciation. October 3, Elder A. Chapin resigned and the pulpit was supplied by Elder A. G. Eberhart and others until January 22, 1865, when Elder A. H. Harris became the Pastor of the Church and continued until near the close of his life, who died from the effects of an internal abscess. September 23, 1866, the Church called to its pastorate Elder James Sunderland, of Strawberry Point, who entered upon his labors in November following. April 1, 1871, Elder Sunderland resigned, accepting a call from Sioux City, and the vacancy was filled by Elder N. B. Homan, from Fairview, commencing his pastoral labors January 5, 1873. April 17, 1875, Elder Homan resigned, but con- tininued preaching for the Church until September 11, when he removed to Kansas, and the Church gave to its present Pastor, Amos Weaver, a call, who commenced his pastoral labor October 1, 1875, to whom the Church is deeply attached. "A teacher well taught, and a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."
The Church has always been composed of a membership of a transient na- ture, giving off quite as largely as it has received. Under the pastoral labors of Elder James Sunderland, it reached its highest membership-about 160; its present membership (August, 1878,) is 140. Of the eleven lay members at its organization, four are still connected with the Church : Stephen Chapin, Jr., and wife, Lovinia Chapin, William C. Connell and wife, Mariah Connell.
Christian Church .- This society was first organized in 1867 by Rev. O. E. Brown, meeting, for the first two years, in the Court House, and then for about a year in the old U. P. Church. In 1870, the society built a church 32x56, in the eastern part of the town, which was dedicated by A. N. McConnell, from Marion. Pastors were employed yearly until 1872, when Elder S. T. Shorters was engaged, and has been here ever since. A Sunday school was established about the time of the organization of the church, which has always been under the charge of E. L. Courier, Superintendent.
Church of the Erangelical Association .- This mission was located at Vin- ton by the action of the annual session of the Iowa Conference held at La Porte City in April, 1873. Rev. James Croasman, of the Pittsburgh Conference. and formerly Missionary to Oregon. was the first Pastor. At this time. there was not a member in the town and no place of worship. By the 1st of Decem- ber, same year, a new and commodious church building was erected and dedi- cated. Rev. D. B. Bvers, of the Illinois Conference, officiating. The building and lot cost $2.065. The following February, a society of nineteen members
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
was organized. Since that date, under the efficient labors of the succeeding Pastors, Revs. Yerger and Utt, the society has increased its membership to over fifty, and has sustained an active Sunday school. Rev. H. M. Sexton is the present Pastor.
Methodist Episcopal .- This society was organized in the Fall of 1853, through the missionary labors of Rev. H. S. Burleigh. The class was com- posed of J. D. Tracy, D. B. Keyes and wife, E. Howard and wife, William Talfe and wife, E. Evans and wife, and J. Morris and wife. For several years the meetings were held at the houses of the various members.
The commencement of the church edifice was between 1858 and 1860, dur- ing the pastoral care of Rev. J. H. Reddington, and in 1860, the basement was made ready for use. In 1862, the building was fully completed. In 1869, the increase in numbers compelled an addition, which was completed the same year, in the form of a transept, in dimensions 30x50 feet. The cost of the whole, up to that time, was about $9,000, and the building was thereby made capable of seating seven hundred persons.
The succession of Pastors has been as follows : H. S. Burleigh, Nelson Wells, S. R Young, B. F. Taylor, Mr. Keith, J. H. Reddington, J. H. Ran- kin, S. C. Freer, S. A. Lee, U. E. Eberhart, S. A. Knapp, G. W. Brindell, R. W. Peebles, D. Sheffer, T. C. Golden and E. L. Miller-the latter now in charge.
In 1855, there were twenty-seven names borne on the roll, which, in 1857, had increased to eighty.
A parsonage was purchased in 1863, during Mr. Lee's stay ; but this was sold during Mr. Sheffer's Pastorate, and a commodious building erected to sup- ply its place.
The membership is about four hundred, this being one of the largest relig- ious bodies outside the large cities in Iowa.
C. O. Harrington is Superintendent of the Sabbath school ; C. W. Miller, Secretary. About 180 pupils usually attend.
The official Board of the Church is as follows: S. A. Knapp, President ; D. Stick, Treasurer ; C. O. Harrington, Secretary ; L. S. Miller, H. S. Con- ner, Louis Quinn, Trustees.
MASONIC.
Vinton Lodge, U. D., was instituted under dispensation granted May 11, 1854. The first officers U. D. were Elijah Evans, W. M .; W. C. Conrad, S. W .; John McCartney, J. W. ; H. Berry, Treasurer ; J. S. Epperson, Secre- tary ; A. Johnson, S. D .; H. J. Burley, J. D. ; and the first report to the Grand Lodge embraced the names of James Wood, Jacob S. Hunt, John Fer- guson, William Jones, Master Masons.
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