USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
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Politically, Colonel Yeager is a Republican. He is af- filiated with Anchor Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons No. 980, charter member; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Ansar Temple; "40 and 8" Society; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Phi Delta Theta fraternity; Kiwanis Club; and Danville Country Club. He is a member of the Western Society of Engi- neers, Society of American Military Engineers, and Ameri- can Society of Civil Engineers. He has various business connections in Danville, being president of the Domestic Appliance Company, president of the Danville Lumber Company, and a director of the Western Indiana Gravel Company.
John W. Speakman .- One of the best known of the younger lawyers of Vermilion County is John W. Speak- man, of Danville, who is serving as assistant United States District Attorney. He was born near Jamaica, Illinois, March 5, 1900.
John W. Speakman was educated in the public schools of Danville. He was graduated from the University of Illinois, from which he received his degree in law in 1924. The following year he was admitted to the Illinois bar. He spent six months in Los Angeles, California, and then re- turned to Danville, where he became a member of the firm of Jewel and Speakman, being associated in practice with William Jewel, of Danville. Mr. Speakman was subse- quently admitted to practice in the Federal Courts.
Mr. Speakman is a Republican and served as precinct committeeman of the first precinct, Third Ward, in 1926. He was elected secretary for the Vermilion County Re- publican Central Committee in April, 1926, and was ap- pointed assistant United States district attorney August 23, 1926.
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Mr. Speakman holds membership in Saint James Meth- odist Episcopal Church, Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Delta Phi, and Delta Sigma Rho fraternities. He is also a member of the Vermilion County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; Olive Branch Lodge, No. 38, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons; Goa Grotto; and American Legion.
During the World War Mr. Speakman served in the Student Army Training Corps at the University of Illinois. While a student at the university he was also a member of the debating team for three years.
Cecil D. Steely .- One of the progressive young business men of Danville is found in Cecil D. Steely, who is identi- fied with the Danville Poster Advertising Company as manager. He is a native of Indiana, born at West Leb- anon, February 10, 1898, the son of William J. and Lilly R. (Ritchey) Steely.
William J. Steely, retired, has spent his entire life in Indiana. He was born at West Lebanon in Warren Coun- ty, the son of George W. and Mary E. (Brenner) Steely. Both George W. Steely and his wife are deceased. George W. Steely was a leading agriculturist of Warren County, Indiana, and prominent in politics, having held various public offices at West Lebanon. His son, William J., fol- lowed general farming and stock raising throughout his active career. He specialized in the breeding of pure bred stock. Mr. Steely retired from his farm in 1923 and now lives at State Line, Indiana. His wife, born in Warren County, Indiana, died in July, 1923, and is buried at Mound Prairie, near Covington, Indiana. She was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Jane (Dixon) Ritchey, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Indiana. Mr.
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Ritchey died in 1923 and his widow lives at State Line, In- diana. To Mr. and Mrs. William J. Steely was born one child, Cecil D., the subject of this sketch.
William J. Steely is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church.
The boyhood of Cecil D. Steely was spent in Warren County, Indiana. Following his graduation from Rich- mond (Indiana) High School in 1916 he attended Earlham College. Mr. Steely began his business career as a sales- man for the Peabody-Houghteling Bond & Investment Company, of Chicago, Illinois, being identified with their Chicago, Illinois, offices. In 1917 he attended the Detroit Aeronautical School and completed the ground school course in October, 1918. He then came to Danville, where he has since been connected with the Danville Poster Ad- vertising Company as manager. He is also associated with the Haskell Sign System.
Mr. Steely married in 1922 Miss Esther Haskell, daugh- ter of W. J. and Eva C. (Dudenhofer) Haskell. Mr. Has- kall is president of the Danville Poster Advertising Com- pany. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Steely are: Catherine Elizabeth, born in 1924; and William J., born in 1928.
In politics Mr. Steely is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and Mound Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 274. He also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, Danville.
Eugene S. Lamm is numbered among the energetic and successful young business men of Danville, where he is associated with the interests of E. C. Lamm & Company. He was born in this city, July 24, 1896, the son of Edward C. and Edith (Elliott) Lamm.
Edward C. Lamm, deceased, was widely known in Dan- ville, where he was the founder of the business which bears
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his name. He was born in Danville in 1858. He went west early in life and lived on a ranch about thirty miles from Trinidad, Colorado. He later sold his interests and re- turned to Danville, where he established a lumber and mill- ing business in partnership with his brothers. This enterprise was begun in 1857 by William Lamm, father of Edward C. Lamm. Later, Edward C. Lamm purchased his brothers' interests and conducted the business success- fully until his death, April 3, 1922. The original plant was located at Hazel and North streets, and removed to its present location in 1909. Mr. Lamm was a Republican and held membership in the Presbyterian Church. His widow, born in San Francisco, California, now lives at Santa Barbara, California. Their children were: Mar- jorie, deceased; Ethel, married Louis Fisher, lives at Santa Barbara, California; Edith, lives at Santa Barbara, Cali- fornia; Wilford E., lives at Modoc Point, Oregon; Eugene S., the subject of this sketch; and Elsa, married Charles R. Ehlers, lives at Danville.
Eugene S. Lamm received his schooling at Danville and was graduated from high school in 1915. He then went to Modoc Point, Oregon, where he was associated with his brother's lumber interests. In September, 1917, he enlisted in the Forestry Engineers from Oregon, Twen- tieth Engineers, Fourth Company. This outfit was sent to France in November, 1917, and saw active duty in the Vosges Mountains. Mr. Lamm was discharged from the service at Rockford, Illinois, in May, 1919. Upon his re- turn to Danville he became identified with his father's business and after the latter's death in 1922 he assumed full charge of the concern. They do general mill work, manufacturing frames, mouldings and various sundries. A large lumber yard is also owned and operated by E. C. Lamm & Company.
In 1925 Mr. Lamm married Miss Katherine Mason, the daughter of Dr. F. R. and Katherine (Livengood) Mason.
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He is a prominent physician and surgeon of Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Lamm have a son, Edward C., born in 1927.
Mr. Lamm is a Republican, and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protectice Order of Elks, No. 332, Loyal Order of Moose, and American Legion.
In 1928 to 1929 Mr. Lamm operated the Aerial Transit Company and has the only privately owned plane in Dan- ville. He and his wife are both licensed pilots. In 1929 Mr. Lamm organized the Danville Flying Club.
Everett Leslie Dalbey .- Prominent among the leading members of the Vermilion County Bar Association is Ev- erett Leslie Dalbey, who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Danville, with offices in the Adams Building. He was born in Oakwood Township, Vermilion County, May 10, 1889, the son of Verner R. and Sarah G. (Lucas) Dalbey.
Verner R. Dalbey was born in Oakwood Township, Ver- milion County, near Newtown, May 8, 1856. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm and after his marriage, December 5, 1875, followed farming for several years. He then became interested in the mercantile business at Steam Corner, Indiana, and from there went to Muncie, Illinois, where he engaged in the grain and stock business. He also constructed a store and served as postmaster at Muncie. For several years he had charge of a fine tract of land, containing 1,000 acres, known as the "Fox Farm." Mr. Dalbey engaged in business at Muncie for a period of eighteen years. He died in August, 1925, and is buried in Stearns Cemetery, near Muncie. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Baptist Church, having served for twenty-seven years as Sunday school superintendent. He was honorary superintendent at the time of his death. Mr. Dalbey married Sarah G. Lucas, of Veedersburg, Indiana.
E. L. Dalley.
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She now lives at Tilton, Illinois. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dalbey: Robert F., lives in Chicago, Illinois; Herman S., lives at Tilton, Illinois; Myrtle, married M. R. Waddell, lives at Danville; Wil- bern A., lives at Robertsdale, Alabama; Everett Leslie, the subject of this sketch; Beulah, deceased; Virgie, lives at Danville; and Kenneth, at home.
Everett Leslie Dalbey grew up at Muncie, Illinois, where he attended the public schools. He also attended the Danville High School, the College of Literature and Arts at the University of Illinois, and was a member of the graduating class of 1913 of the Law School, University of Illinois. While there he also made records in scholar- ship and was awarded membership in the Order of Coif, honorary legal fraternity, during his senior year. Mr. Dalbey was admitted to practice at the Illinois bar in July, 1913, and immediately came to Danville, where he was associated in practice with Rearick & Meeks for ten years. He then practiced alone for a short time before forming a partnership with ex-Judge Lawrence T. Allen, under the firm name of Allen & Dalbey. They have specialized mainly in corporation law.
In September, 1909, Mr. Dalbey was united in mar- riage with Miss Leah G. Collett, daughter of Lemuel G. and Dora (McFarland) Collett, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. Both are deceased and are buried at Oakwood, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Dalbey the following children were born: Dora Wintress Dalbey, who attends the University of Illinois; Beulah Marie, at- tends the Danville High School; Sarah Henrietta, and Ev- erett Linden at home.
Mr. Dalbey has always been a Democrat. He is a trustee of the First Baptist Church, and has been active in church work throughout his life. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; Phi Delta Phi fraternity; Exchange Club; Danville Country
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Club; Young Men's Christian Association; and Chamber of Commerce. He is identified with the Vermilion County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association.
Edward J. Ryan is numbered among the most progres- sive business men of Danville, where he is president of the E. J. Ryan Company, 117 North Walnut Street. He was born at Chillicothe, Illinois, July 16, 1867, the son of John and Elmira Jane (Goff) Ryan.
John Ryan was a native of Kane County, Illinois, and his wife was born in New York. He grew up on his father's farm and at an early age became interested in bridge building, later becoming widely known as a bridge contractor. He died in 1882 and his wife died in 1923. Both are buried in the Masonic Cemetery, Streator, Illi- nois. Mr. Ryan was a Republican, a member of the Pres- byterian Church, Streator Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons. There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ryan: Minnie, deceased; Edward J., the subject of this sketch; and Charles, deceased.
Edward J. Ryan was educated in the public schools of Chicago. As an apprentice plumber he served with the Mulford Plumbing Company, Streator, Illinois, and was identified with that company for a period of ten years. He then, in partnership with a Mr. Ferguson, established a plumbing business at Streator, which was continued for four years. In 1890 Mr. Ryan came to Danville and after a short time went to Aurora, Illinois, where he followed his trade and engaged in business. In 1893 he returned to Danville and established a business of his own, having pur- chased the plumbing establishment of W. A. Hill & Com- pany. The business was incorporated in 1918 and Mr. Ryan became president. Among the large and noteworthy contracts completed by the E. J. Ryan Company may be
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mentioned the following: Danville Hospital; National Soldiers Home; Danville High School; Lincoln School; Jackson School; Douglas School; Danville Consistory; Franklin School; Washington School; Grant School; Lake- view Hospital; Illinois Printing Company; Baum Building; Adams Building; Daniel Building; First National Bank; Second National Bank; Kankakee High School, Kankakee, Illinois; New York Central Railroad Office Building, Gib- son, Indiana; Lincoln Hall, University of Illinois, Cham- paign, Illinois; Indianola High School, Indianola, Illinois.
Mr. Ryan married Miss Minnie M. Barr. Their daugh- ter, Helen, married William Auer, and lives at Rochester, New York. They have a daughter, Jean.
Mr. Ryan is a Republican, and is affiliated with Olive Branch Lodge, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Medinah Tem- ple; Gao Grotto; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; Modern Woodmen of America; Rotary Club; Danville Country Club; and Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ryan is identified with the Illinois State Master Plumbers Association and National Master Plumbers Association.
Robert C. Songer .- Among the substantial business men and highly esteemed citizens of Danville may be men- tioned Robert C. Songer, who is identified with Houpt & Songer, of 207 South Street. He is a native of Vermilion County, born December 18, 1881, the son of William W. and Ella E. (Shore) Songer.
William W. Songer was born in Vermilion County, In- diana, in 1857, the son of Lewis and Matilda (Lowe) Songer, both natives of Indiana. The Songer family re- moved to Vermilion County, Illinois, from Indiana about 1865 and settled near Alvin, where they became prosperous farmers. William W., father of the subject of this sketch,
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was eight years old when his parents brought him to Alvin, Illinois. He learned the carpenter trade and followed that throughout his active career. In 1907 he retired and re- moved to Danville, where he died in 1915. He is buried in Bethel Cemetery, near Alvin, Illinois. Mr. Songer was a Republican and served as assessor of Ross Township for four terms. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Ella E. (Shore) Songer was born in Shelby County, Ohio, and came to Neoga, Illinois, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Shore, when she was a very young girl. She now re- sides at Danville. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Songer: Maude, married Charles Darling, lives at Oak- land, California; Robert C., the subject of this sketch; Myrtle, married T. L. Cummins, lives at Catlin, Illinois; Lucile, married Robert Burow, lives at Joliet, Illinois; Joseph, lives at Lewistown, Montana; and Zora, married Benjamin Robinson, lives at Danville.
The boyhood of Robert C. Songer was spent at Alvin, Illinois, where he attended the public schools. He was graduated from Brown's Business College in 1901. Mr. Songer learned carpentry in association with his father's business and from 1903 until 1905 was a building con- tractor in Indiana. In 1906 he came to Danville as man- ager of the Henry Taylor Lumber Company, at present the Alleth-Prouty Company. In 1912 he became manager of the City Coal Company, but two years later purchased a half interest from William R. Houpt in his building sup- ply business. This was a small organization in 1914 but today ranks as one of the largest houses of its kind in the city.
In 1905 Mr. Songer married Miss Theresa M. Claypool, the daughter of Squire and Julia (Harrison) Claypool, of Danville. The former is deceased and the latter lives at Bismarck, Illinois. There are four children in the Songer family. Roberta, attends Jacksonville Women's College;
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Glen Harrison, Robert Franklin, and John William, all students.
Mr. Songer holds membership in Saint James Methodist Episcopal Church, is vice president of the Rotary Club, and a member of Further Light Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 1130; Knights of Pythias; Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; and Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Songer is a Republican.
Clarence Edwin Wellman, who is serving his fourth term as clerk of the Circuit Court of Vermilion County, is a highly esteemed and widely known citizen of Danville. He was born at Sardinia, Ohio, September 8, 1877, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Roudebush) Wellman.
Thomas Wellman, deceased, was a farmer and spent the greater part of his life in Brown County. He was a native of Farmington, Maine, and his wife was born in Ohio. She is also deceased. Clarence Edwin, the subject of this sketch, was their only child.
The boyhood of Clarence Edwin Wellman was spent on a farm. He came to Illinois from Ohio when he was six- teen years of age and worked on a farm near Rossville for several years. He attended Greer College, Hoopeston, and also was a student at Eureka College, Eureka, Illinois. He left school in March, 1898, and enlisted in Battery A, First Illinois Volunteer Light Artillery, and was sent for train- ing to Chickamauga Park, Georgia, and then to Porto Rico. He returned to the United States and was honorably dis- charged on November 25, 1898. After his service in the Spanish-American War, Mr. Wellman entered the employ of the Sprague Canning Machinery Company at Hoopes- ton, Illinois, as a mechanic, and remained in their employ until January 1, 1912. At that time he accepted the office of deputy clerk in the office of the Circuit Court. He was
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elected clerk of the Circuit Court in 1916, and is now serv- ing the fourth term in that office.
December 25, 1901, Mr. Wellman married Miss Mary A. Lindahl, of East Lynn, Illinois, the daughter of Augustus and Emily Lindahl, of Hoopeston, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Lindahl were born in Sweden. To Mr. and Mrs. Wellman were born three children: Earle F., born April 2, 1906, lives at home; Gladys M., born November 26, 1908, married Donald G. Finch, lives at Danville; and Marion E., born March 23, 1912, attends Danville High School.
Politically, Mr. Wellman is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of Saint James Methodist Episcopal Church, and has served for fourteen years as general secretary of the Sun- day School. He is affiliated with Oliver Branch, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Past Monarch Gao Grotto; Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm; Mod- ern Woodmen of America; Knights of Pythias; and he is past department commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mr. Wellman enlisted in Company B, Third Infantry, Illinois National Guard, March, 1908, and was made second lieutenant in 1911. He was transferred to the 5th Infantry Illinois National Guard in 1912 as Battalion Quartermaster and Commissary. He resigned from the National Guard on November 26, 1916.
Lewis G. Bishop is a veteran of the World War and a leading business man of Danville, where he is president of the Bishop Construction Company, with offices in the Adams Building. He was born in Crawford County, Illi- nois, May 13, 1893, the son of William L. and Emily E. (Adams) Bishop.
William L. Bishop, deceased, was a native of Crawford County, Illinois, and his wife was born in Indiana. He
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was reared on his father's farm and was well educated. He became a merchant at Hutsonville, Illinois, and in 1900 located at Danville, where he was associated with the Dan- ville Wholesale Grocery Company until the time of his death in 1904. He is buried at Danville. Mr. Bishop was a life long Republican, a member of the Christian Church, and Hutsonville Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was Past Master for fifteen years. Emily E. (Adams) Bishop is the daughter of Lewis and Hannah S. (Shewman) Adams, natives of Ohio and early settlers of Crawford County, Illinois. She lives at Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop were the parents of five children: Dr. Frank, physician and surgeon, died in Los Angeles, California, in September, 1928, was a graduate of the University of Ken- tucky and the University of Southern California, and a World War veteran, having served in France with the United States Medical Corps as a captain; Zella, married W. E. Reynolds, lives at Jacksonville, Florida; Fern, mar- ried H. E. Parker, Jr., lives at Danville; Lewis G., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Blanche, lives at home.
Lewis G. Bishop was educated in the public schools of Crawford County and also attended school in Danville. He began his business career with the Danville Brick Com- pany as a salesman and in 1916 established the Bishop Construction Company, which was incorporated three years later. They specialize in road building and have to their credit the building of the Paxton and Elliott road, several excellent roads in Vermilion County, and the first road of brick that was built in Iroquois County, Illinois.
In September, 1921, Mr. Bishop was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Jones, the daughter of O. M. Jones, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have two children: William, born July 4, 1923; and Emmalou, born February 23, 1927.
Mr. Bishop is a Republican, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Anchor Lodge, Ancient Free and
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Accepted Masons, Danville Consistory, thirty-second de- gree; Ansar Temple, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Danville Country Club, and Kiwanis Club.
During the World War Mr. Bishop enlisted on Decem- ber 3, 1917, in the Ordnance Department. He was sent to the Columbus (Ohio) Barracks, later to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Washington, District of Columbia. He served in France with the Advanced Ordnance Corps, No. 4, Ammu- nition Dump at Neuf Chateau. He was discharged in May, 1919, as sergeant of ordnance.
Herman Carl Horneman, who is president of the Sugar Creek Creamery Company, 123 North Washington Ave- nue, is one of the representative business men of Danville and Vermilion County. He was born at Harlan, Kansas, May 13, 1884, the son of Charles and Caroline (Leifheit) Horneman.
Charles Horneman was born near Berlin, Germany, in 1839, and came to the United States in 1858. He settled in DeKalb County, Illinois, where he followed his trade as a blacksmith and machinist. He was married at Hinkley, Illinois., to Caroline Leifheit, also a native of Germany, and they then settled at Harlan, Smith County, Kansas. Later, the family located in Nebraska and from there went to Des Moines, Iowa. At the time of his death in 1917 Mr. Horneman was living at Long Beach, California. He is buried at Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Horneman was a Re- publican, a member of the German Lutheran Church, and held various club and lodge memberships. His widow lives at Long Beach, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Horneman were born seven children, as follows: Will, lives at Des Moines, Iowa ; Charles, deceased; Frank, lives at Danville; Albert, deceased; Albertina, married Dr. H. C. Jones, lives
HERMAN CARL HORNEMAN
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at Los Angeles, California; Walter, lives at Louisville, Kentucky, where he is manager of the Sugar Creek Cream- ery Company; and Herman Carl, the subject of this sketch.
The boyhood of Herman Carl Horneman was spent at Des Moines, Iowa, where he received his early schooling. He was graduated in agriculture from Iowa State College in 1907 and in 1920 received his Master's degree from the same institution. After leaving college in 1907 he was identified with the Agricultural Extension Department of the State of Iowa for two years. He was then associated with the Blue Valley Creamery Company of Chicago, in charge of cream purchasing for their entire creamery sys- tem. In June, 1910, Mr. Horneman organized the Wat- seka Creamery Company at Watseka, Illinois. The busi- ness expanded rapidly and was incorporated in 1914 as the Sugar Creek Creamery Company. The company's gen- eral offices were removed to Danville in 1917 and factories in other cities have been established, as follows: Danville and Pana, Illinois, in 1913; Louisville, Kentucky, in 1917; St. Louis, Missouri, in 1919; Indianapolis and Evansville, Ind., in 1921; Marshfield, Missouri, in 1922; and Bristol, South Dakota, in 1927.
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