USA > Iowa > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &t., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest etc > Part 72
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The society still calling themselves Seventh-Day Adventists erected a church edifice a few years later, and each now holds separate services. No regular preachers are sustained, as their Elders act in the capacity of evangelists or traveling missionaries.
Services are held regularly every Saturday, and a Sabbath school is held before the services.
Roman Catholic Church .- In 1869, under the direction of Rev. Father Lowrey, of Cedar Rapids, a society was organized and a church edifice erected. Father Lowrey awakened a degree of interest in the work which was creditable to all concerned. The church building is 24x50 feet in size. The pulpit is supplied by Father Lowrey at the present time.
The church was built in 1867. The committee to buy the lot and erect the building was J. C. Davis, B. Dougherty, F. Seminger and James Flinn, who acted until the building was dedicated.
The first meeting ever held in Marion was in 1864, in the house of Dennis Colbert. The first Sunday school organization was in 1868, under the direction of Mrs. Mary Seminger.
The amount for the erection of the church was raised by the members and citizens of Marion generally. Three thousand and four hundred dollars was secured, four hundred and twenty dollars of which was raised by J. C. Davis, who held a fair for that purpose.
551
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ASSOCIATIONS.
Marion Lodge, No. 6, A., F. § A. M .- This society was organized March 18, 1844, under a dispensation.
The first officers under the dispensation were : William Abbe, W. M .; Law- rence Hollenbeck, S. W .; John C. Berry, J. W .; David Stiles, S. D .; A. E. Skinner, J. D .; H. S. Camp, Tiler ; Samuel Hunter, Treasurer ; Joseph Mc- Kee, Secretary.
A charter was granted the Lodge, January 8, 1845, by the Grand Lodge that convened in Iowa City, with Oliver Cock, W. M.
The charter members were: William Abbe, W. M .; L. Hollenbeck, S. W .; J. C. Berry, J. W. Present officers-J. B. Scott, W. M .; J. S. Torrence, S. W .; G. A. Lilly, J. W .; W. L. Elliott, Treasurer ; J. K. Gibson, Secretary ; E. I. Bixby, S. D .; W. L. Lilly, J. D .; N. E. Burris, Steward ; James Beall, Steward ; S. B. Withers, Tiler. Membership, 99. The society first held its meetings in the old Court House, and has been removed several times since. Now meets in a large hall in Mentzer & Son's building.
Marion Royal Arch Chapter, No. 10, organized September 25, 1855, under a dispensation from J. R. Hartsock, Grand H. P. State of Iowa, issued July 4, 1855.
Date of charter, May 31, 1856. Charter members-Robert Holmes, Henry Ristine, A. Manson, G. W. Miller, L. H. Cameron, G. W. Madden. First officers-G. R. Hartsock, H. P .; Robert Holmes, K .; Gabriel Carpenter, S. P. T .; Henry Ristine, C. H .; A. Manson, P. S .; G. W. Miller, R. A. Captain ; J. H. Cameron, G. M. 3d V .; Mowry Farman, G. M. 2d V .; S. W. Madden, G. M. 1st V. Present officers-A. Grant, H. P .; M. L. Elliott, K .; John Hunter, S .; A. B. Dumont, Treas .; J. G. Reichard, Sec .; H. T. Milliken, C. H .; T. J. McDaneld, P. S .; E. I. Bixby, R. A. C .; G. P. Carman, M. 3d V .; C. E. Shedd, M. 2d V .; A. Ammerman, M. 1st V .; G. B. Withers, Tiler. Membership, 92.
Patmos Commandery, No. 27 .- Organized under a charter October 19, 1875. Charter members-R. D. Stephens, A. B. Dumont, A. Grant, J. T. Harris, J. G. Reichard, J. G. Hayzlett, N. W. Owen, D. T. McAffee, O. C. Wyman, Z. T. Mullen, M. Parmenter, S. N. Farker and John Lanning. First officers-R. D. Stephens, E. C .; A. B. Dumont, G .; A. Grant, C. G .; J. G. Hayzlett, S. W .; J. T. Harris, J. W. ; D. T. McAffee, S. B .; N. W. Owen, Sword Bearer; S. W. Parker, J. W .; John Lanning, P .; M. Parmenter, Treasurer ; J. G. Ricchard, Secretary. Present officers-R. D. Stephens, E. C .; S. T. Berry, G. ; A. Grant, C. G .; A. B. Dumont, P .; G. B. Owen, S. W. ; George Gibson, J. W. ; D. T. McAffee, S. B .; N. W. Owen, Sword Bearer ; M. Parmenter, Treasurer ; J. G. Reichard, Secretary.
The present membership is 52. Meetings are held in the Masonic Hall. De Molay Lodge, No. 384, A., F. § A. M .- This society was organized under a dispensation January 19, 1878. Charter members : A. B. Dumont, W. M. ; H. G. Milligan, S. W .; A. M. Goldsbury, J. W.
First officers-A. B. Dumont, W. M .; H. G. Milligan, S. W .; A. M. Goldsbury, J. W. ; C. E. Shedd, S. D .; T. J. McDaneld, J. D .; C. P. Car- man, S. S .; S. T. Berry, J. S .; George Gibson, Tiler ; M. Parmenter, Treas- urer ; J. L. Crawford, Secretary.
Present officers-Same as above, with the exception of J. M. Booth, Tiler ; A. Ammerman, J. S. ; J. S. Borgett, Chaplain ; and J. W. Bowdish, Secretary. The society numbers 24 members.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Osceola Lodge, No. 18, I. O. O. F .- Instituted September 25, 1848. Charter members-I. M. Preston, S. J. Hess, H. H. Welch, M. S. Morris, Richard Cartright. First officers-I. M. Preston, N. G .; T. L. Ovington, V. G .; A. Daniels, Secretary ; P. Daniels, Treasurer ; S. R. Crummey, Conductor ; J. D. Thompson, I. G .; H. G. Thomas, R. S. S .; H. H. Welch, L. S. S. The records do not show the election of any other officers. A charter was given the Lodge, October 20, 1869, in lieu of the one issued August 30, 1868. Present officers : J. I. Berryhill, N. G .; J. H. Hazelton, V. G .; L. E. White, Secretary ; J. Coenen, Treasurer.
Linn Encampment, No. 91 .- First meeting was held April 4, 1876. Charter members-I. M. Preston, E. C. Preston, J. J. Taylor, L. K. Parkhurst, John Cone, Stephen Parmenter, John Magee, J. M. Gray, By. Carl, D. R. Hindman, George Busby, A. Adams. First officers : J. M Preston, C. P .; J. J. Taylor, H. P .; E. C. Preston, S. W .; John Cone, J. W .; S. K. Parkhurst, Scribe; Stephen Parmenter, Treasurer; J. M. Gray, Guide ; John Magee, Sentinel ; D. R. Hindman and George Busby, Guard of Tent. Present offi- cers-D. R. Hindman, C. P .; Wallace Burns, H. P .; J. M. Houlett, S. W .; H. I. Elliott, J. W .; Bert C. Busby, Scribe ; L. K. Parkhurst, Treasurer.
Libra Lodge, No. 19, A. O. U. W .- Organized March 23, 1875. Charter members-George E. Fullerton, John M. Booth, D. P. Thurber, D. But- terfield, S. Smoyer, E. L. Samson, D. R. Hindman, W. G. White, T. J. Mc- Danield, O. S. Hall, I. D. McDanield, John Swan, J. G. Hayzlett, J. L. Craw- ford, N. W. 'Yeark, J. C. Bixby, George N. Wilson, D. O. Belden, G. D. Gillilan, John A. Howe, A. Hayzlett, D. T. McAffee. First officers-W. G. White, P. M. W .; J. G. Hayzlett, M. W .; D. R. Hindman, F .; J. L. Crawford, O .; E. L. Samson, Recorder ; J. E. Fullerton, Receiver ; J. M. Booth, Finan- cier ; D. P. Thurber, G .; T. J. McDanield, I. W .; I. D. McDanield, O. W .; J. E. Eullerton, M. E. Present officers-J. B. Young, M. W .; N. E. Bur- roughs, F .; J. H. Hazelton, O .; E. H. Ward, Recorder; John B. Graves, Receiver ; William M. Williams, Financier ; A. Rester, G .; Peter Russ, I. W .; William Harberson, O. W .; Dr. D. R. Hindman, Medical Examiner. The Past Master Workmen of the society since its organization have been-W. G. White, D. R. Hindman, J. L. Crawford, G. E. Fullerton, J. M. Booth, E. L. Samson and D. P. Thurber. Membership, 85. Society meet in their large finely furnished hall over Twogood & Downie's store.
RAILROADS.
The first railroad project through the county was the Dubuque & Keokuk Rail- road, designed to connect the two cities named. The route contemplated was from Dubuque through Cascade, Anamosa, Marion, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and thence either through Washington or Fairfield to Keokuk. Efforts were made to get an act through Congress donating alternate sections of the public lands to aid in its construction, but did not succeed. Gen. Thomas J. McKean, of Marion, made a preliminary survey of the line. The project received from its enemies the name of " Ram's Horn," a term of derision for its supposed devia- tion from a straight line. It was a feasible route, however, as is proven by the fact that there was constructed, years after the project was abandoned, a road nearly on the original line from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids, from which place connection has recently been made as far as Iowa City, so that trains are now being run daily over more than one-half the distance, and substantially on the same line originally contemplated by the early settlers in their efforts to get an outlet for their surplus productions. The construction of a north and south
553
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
road was gradually abandoned as the railroads from Chicago were slowly approaching the Mississippi River. It was readily seen that these roads would be continued westward through the State, and hence public attention was turned toward the East for the solution of the transportation problem.
About the year 1852, a company was chartered by the Illinois Legislature for the construction of a railroad from St. Charles, in that State-to which town a branch of the Galena & Chicago (now North-Western) had been built- to the Mississippi River, at or near Savannah, Ill. Of this company, S. S. Jones, of St. Charles, was President, and it started out with good prospects of an early completion of the line.
In the Spring of 1853, a convention of many of the leading citizens of Clinton, Jackson, Jones, Linn and other counties farther west, was called, to meet at Maquoketa, at which time a company was organized, under the name of the "Iowa Central Air Line Railroad Company," to extend that road from the Mississippi River, at Sabula, in Jackson County, to the Missouri River, through the counties of Jackson, Jones and Linn, with a branch to Lyons.
At a special election held on the second Monday in June, 1853, the voters of Linn County decided to issue county bonds to the amount of $200,000 to aid in the construction of the roads.
In 1856, Congress made a grant of land to Iowa to aid in the construction of four roads across the State, including one on the line of this company.
The Legislature of the State, at the extra session in July, 1856, conferred upon the Iowa Central Air Line Company the lands granted to the State, to build a road near or upon the forty-second degree of north latitude, from Sabula to the Missouri River.
A contract was let to a company of New York capitalists to build the first eighty miles of the road to Marion; but, for some reason, they made but little progress. The financial crisis of 1857 brought the work to a standstill, the contractors finding it impossible to proceed with the work.
In the meantime, a rival company had organized to build a road from Clin- ton to Cedar Rapids, and thence to the Missouri River. By the Spring of 1858 they had built some thirty-five miles of road to Wheatland, west of the Wapsipinicon River. The rapid progress of this company disheartened the friends of the other enterprise, it being considered absurd to suppose that the two roads, if built, would ever find business enough to pay even running expenses. In a little over fifteen years thereafter, however, two other east and west roads were built in that section, between the Mississippi River and Linn County, and two north and south roads also penetrate it.
In the year 1860, the State Legislature, finding that the Iowa Central Air Line Company was not prosecuting the work energetically, resumed the land grant and conferred it upon the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad Com- pany, then constructing their road westward from Cedar Rapids.
The " Dubuque Southwestern Railroad " was originally intended as a con- necting link between the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad and the Air Line Railroad at Anamosa. The city of Dubuque voted bonds to the amount of $250,000 to assist in building it. It was finished to Anamosa in 1859, and to Springville early in 1861. The breaking-out of the war put a stop to the work, and Springville remained the terminus until 1864, when track-laying was re- commenced, and the road was opened to Marion late in the Fall of that year. The citizens of Marion contributed liberally toward the extension of the road from Anamosa, paying, in all, at least $50,000.
554
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
A company under the name of the "Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Railroad," was formed in Marion, in the Winter of 1869, to build a road from Sabula, in Jackson County, westerly through Jackson, Jones and Linn Counties, to Marion, and thence through Benton, Tama and Grundy Counties to Ackley, on the Illinois Central Railroad. The Western Union Railroad, running from Racine to Rock Island, had been purchased by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company, and it was understood that the company were anxious for an Iowa extension. A delegation of Marion citizens, with parties from several of the towns along the old Iowa Central route, visited Milwaukee, and, after con- sultation with the managers of the St. Paul road, returned home and organized the S., A. & D. R. R. Co., with R. D. Stephens, of Marion, as President ; Geo. Wells, of Grundy County, as Vice President ; and S. W. Rathbun, of Marion, as Secretary.
The contract between the companies was, that the S., A. & D. R. R. should do the grading and tying, and the Milwaukee company was to iron and operate the road. During the year 1870, twenty miles of the road were completed and put in operation, between Sabula and the town of Preston, in Jackson County, (named after Col. I. M. Preston, of Marion). In 1871, the road was further extended to Olin, in Jones County, and in December. 1872, the track was laid to Marion. In August, 1870, Marion township voted a tax of five per cent. in aid of this road. This tax produced a total revenue of about $60,000, in addi- tion to which there was about $25,000 of private subscription, making nearly $90,000 paid by Marion to secure this road.
THE PRESS.
This will be noticed more definitely in a special chapter on that important subject. The first paper of Marion was the Prairie Star, which was estab- lished in 1852, by Azor Hoyt. This was changed to the Linn County Regis- ter, then to the Linn County Patriot, then to the Marion Register. There has been also the Marion Herald changed to the Marion Democrat; also the Linn County Signal; then the Linn County Pilot, which was established by C. W. Kepler, September 1, 1871, at Mount Vernon. It was an eight-column folio, and supported Horace Greeley in 1872. Andrew Beatty became pro- prietor August 29, 1872, and for a month, in August, 1873, P. J. Fisher became his partner. It was moved to Marion March 5, 1874, where it has since been published by Beatty & Willits. The Hope of Israel was issued, in 1866, by the Adventist Society. It is still operated under the title of Advent and Sabbath Advocate, by Jacob Brinkerhoff.
Marion has three weekly newspapers and a job printing office of good size conducted by Bardwell Brothers.
BREWING INTERESTS.
The brewery of Coenin & Schneider was established in 1867, by Coenen & Brother. The main building is a large three-story stone structure. A malt house was built in 1872. The building is situated at the base of a large emi- nence, and the cellars run back under the brow of the hill 120 feet. There are two large ice cellars containing 1,800 tons of ice. There is a large drying room in the second story, where the malt is dried. The machinery is operated by a sixteen horse power steam engine, manufactured by the Chicago Steam Engine Company. Thirty barrels of beer are manufactured daily. The build- ing is provided with new elevators, and a large fanning-mill of the " Big Giant " . pattern is used in extracting all foreign matter from the barley. The proprie-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
tors purchased 12,000 bushels of barley last season, for which they paid forty- five cents per bushel. About 4,000 bushels of malt are on hand, which was manufactured during the Winter of 1877-8; about 120 bushels of malt are con- sumed daily. The arrangement for receiving the barley into the building is worthy of notice. The wagons loaded with the grain are hauled up on to the summit of the hill, on a level with the third story, are then unloaded into a car and thence into the third floor; if the barley contains any impurities, it is run through the large fanning-mill before mentioned, and if not, it passes at once to the barley floor below. There are fourteen casks in the first cellar, each con- taining twenty-five barrels of beer; in the second cellar there are thirty-two casks with a like capacity. There are twelve tubs in the fermenting room, each having a capacity of thirty barrels of the liquid. There is a large cistern on the hill containing 150 barrels of water; a large well on the low ground fur- nishes the water necessary for the manufacture of beer. The proprietors also have several large barns on the premises where cattle are fattened during the Winter season.
INDIAN CREEK MILLS.
A two-story frame building, erected about eight years ago by Messrs. Cromer & Carrer, and were first operated by them. They are at present the property of Gifford & Miller, and have been owned and operated by these gentlemen for three years. The mills are situated about one-half mile west of the business part of Marion, and are engaged principally in grinding grists for farmers. The Leffels double turbine wheel is used in operating two run of stone. The owners have recently placed a new separator and "middlings purifier " in the mill, used in manufacturing the " Patent Process Flour."
Richard Thomas and an old resident of Linn County, Hiram Beales, built the dam.
BANKING.
The First National Bank of Marion was organized June 12, 1863; the charter bearing date October 31, 1863. Business was begun January 1, 1864, with the following officers: Joseph Mentzer, President; R. D. Stephens, Cashier. September 26, 1864, Mr. R. D. Stephens became President, and has filled that office since. Present Cashier, J. W. Bowdish. The capital at organ- ization was $50,000, but a year later it was increased to $67,000, the surplus capital at present being $34,000.
This was the first National Bank organized in Linn County, and the third organized in the State. It bears the number 117 in the United States Bureau of Currency.
Before the organization of this bank several private bankers had operated in Marion. The first were R. & W. Smith, the former now of Mt. Vernon. They were superseded in 1856 by Smith, Twogood & Co., followed by Twogood & Elliott, until October 23, 1877, when they made an assignment under the State law and went into bankruptcy, February 5, 1878. This was a heavy blow upon a large number of creditors, there being about $130,000 unsecured indebtedness, and $35,000 secured. Nothing more than a nominal percentage will be realized.
Greene, Weare & Graves, of Cedar Rapids, established a branch house at Marion in 1856, and continued about four years.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The early business of Marion has already been referred to, and the condi- tion in 1860 shown. Since that time, the trade has been favored with a grad-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
ual increase, so that at present the business houses present a lively and prosperous aspect, notwithstanding several fires. The flouring-mill erected near the depot has twice been destroyed. A distillery and mill combined was the first to be swept away by fire in that locality. At the time of the last con- flagration, B. H. Sharp was proprietor of the mill. Its large stone walls still stand near the depot, and will probably be reconstructed.
The city is provided with two excellent hotels, the "Park Place," by A. Caldwell, a three-story brick, of good dimensions ; the Newhall House, by F. B. Stinger, the oldest in the city ; and the Washington House, by Mr. Koslovsky. There are two wagon factories-by Mr. Winsor and Mr. Jaquith-of considera- ble prominence, employing a large number of workmen. There are also the following business interests : general merchandise, 3; dry goods, 4; grocers, 6 ; drugs, 3; bank, 1; printing offices, 4 ; hardware, 2; boots and shoes, 3 ; shoe shops, 3; book stores, 2; restaurants, 3; bakeries, 2; clothing, 2 ; milliners, 4; dressmakers, 3; agricultural implement dealers, 3; jewelers, 2; meat markets, 2; cigar factory and store, 1; harness shops, 2; tin shop, 1; saloons, 6; bill- iard hall, 1; dentists, 3; furniture, 2; art gallery, 1; tailors, 3; medical laboratory, 1 ; lumber, grain and stock dealers, 4; painters, 3; broker, 1; liv- ery stables, 2; undertakers, 2; cooper, 1; carpenter shops, 4; blacksmiths, 4.
THE CITY.
A very noticeable feature of Marion is its luxurious growth of shade trees. Every possible space is filled with large and graceful trees, of permanent value, which serve the two-fold purpose of protecting the residences from the sun's rays in Summer and the equally desirable protection from prairie winds in Winter.
The town is appropriately named the "Grove City." It lies in peace and quiet in the midst of a charming wood, and affords a most delightful place of residence. In the heart of the town, a whole block is given up from business interests for use as a park, and in this public ground are growing thrifty hard wood trees. A fountain in the center of the park, and ornamental urns and seats scattered here and there, add to the beauty of the place. Several of the streets which are devoted to residences are equal in beauty to those of any town in the State, of the size and wealth of Marion. The city is in a healthy locality, and is in every sense desirable as a home. It does not pretend to be an exten- sive business center, but it is amply supplied with retail establishments, which do a prosperous trade.
The churches are well sustained, and show that a deep interest is taken in the moral progress of the community. The edifices are, in several denomina- tions, more than ordinarily fine. The schools are sustained with generous hand, and are ably conducted. The streets are orderly, and the city is in the hands of a good government. The social character of Marion is refined and cultivated, and the citizens have an air of substantial success in worldly under- takings. Many of the older residents rate high in the reports. Even strangers who visit the city for a few weeks' recreation or for business purposes are im- pressed with the cordiality of the people, which is manifested in true Western heartiness.
THE COUNTY FARM.
Between five and six miles northeast of Marion, in a most fertile region, lies the County Poor Farm, consisting of two quarter sections. The buildings are . good. One of the best barns in the county stands on, this farm. It was super-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
vised by Mr. R. D. Stephens, while a member of the Board, and is large, con- venient and satisfactory in every respect.
The percentage of paupers maintained by the county is lighter than in most counties of the size and age of Linn. The system preserved is admirable. The farm is productive in cereals and stock, and is carried on at a comparatively light expense.
MOUNT VERNON.
Without doubt, the first settler in this vicinity was Charles C. Haskins, who is believed to have settled one and a half miles east of the village site in the Summer of 1837. Mr. Haskins is now dead, and his friends have no ineans of knowing the exact date of his settlement. To him is accorded the second place in the list of original pioneers of the county. After a short time, he sold his original claim and took up another on the county line, east of Lisbon, where he lived for many years. The subject of his arrival is referred to in the General History. He died August 15, 1874. The inability to obtain full par- ticulars in his case illustrates the value of recorded dates as furnished in this work. In a few years more, it will be impossible to converse with the first settlers ; they will have passed away.
Among those who came in 1838 and the Spring of 1839 were Michael Donahoe and sons, William, Peter, and others, 1838; John McAfferty and Silas Hammond, who then owned a claim adjoining that of Mr. McAfferty, 1838 ; Hiram Beales and Asher Edgerton, 1838, who sold to Thomas Craig (deceased) two and a half miles west; Thomas Dill, with family, still living, two miles south ; Daniel Hahn, who came first in March, 1838, settled in Septem- ber, and who now lives near town; William Hayzlett, who settled one-half mile east in the Fall of 1840, and who now resides in Mount Vernon ; Peter and Henry Kepler, 1839, with families, two miles northwest, who now reside in the vicinity ; William Abbe, with family (he died in California and his son now lives at Marion), settled in the Spring of 1838 on Abbe's Creek ; Oliver Clark, deceased, with family ; John Stewart, 1839, two miles southwest, where he now lives with his family; Jerre Burge, two miles south, who also is still living there, and who came to the State in 1834; Reuben Ash adjoined the village site on the north, in 1840, and Elisha F. Williams settled near by. In April, 1840, Robert Smyth made his home near Mount Vernon, James and Jeremiah Smyth came in 1842, Allison I. Willits came in 1840, and Chauncey C. Blodgett settled soon after; his wife, now Mrs. Beatty, still lives in Mount Vernon. William Abbe, John McAfferty and C. C. Haskins were the three first Justices of the Peace in the vicinity. Robert Smyth, assisted by E. D. Waln, was appointed by the " squatters " to bid off the land for all at the land sales held in February, 1843. In 1841, Robert Smyth secured a post office at his house, under the name of Franklin. This was continued at various houses in the neigh- borhood until it was transferred to and called Mount Vernon. Peter McRoberts, one of the first County Commissioners, settled in 1838 two miles southwest of Mount Vernon, and afterward removed to Tama County. Stephen Osborn settled on the south side of Yankee Grove, now the Sargent place, in 1838. Later came Harvey Jewett and Joseph Gourley, who have now removed; Will- iam Albright and many others equally worthy of mention.
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