USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 1
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THE NEW YORK PODLE LIRPARY
AFIOP LENOY AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
Thomas A Hendricks
HISTORY 1
OF
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SHELBY COUNTY,
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INDIANA.
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, NOTES, ETC., TOGETHER WITH A SHORT HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST, THE INDIANA TERRITORY, AND THE STATE OF INDIANA.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO : BRANT & FULLER. 1887.
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 686728 A ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1933 L
Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis.
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PREFACE.
AFTER several months of almost uninterrupted labor, the History of Shelby County is completed. In issuing it to our patrons we do not claim for it perfection; but that it contains that reasonable de- gree of accuracy which only could be expected of us, is confidently asserted. The difficulties that surround such an undertaking can scarcely be realized by one who has never engaged in work of the kind. To reconcile the doubtful and often conflicting statements that are so frequently made by those who would seem to be best informed, is a task both perplexing and tedious. Yet we believe that we have been able to present a history of the county that is as nearly complete as reason can demand, and the book exceeds our promises in almost every particular. We have endeavored to set forth the facts in as concise and unostentatious language as possible, believing it is for the facts and not for rhetorical display that the book is desired. The mechanical execution and general appear- ance of the volume will recommend it, even to the fastidious. The arrangement of the matter is such as to render an index almost superfluous, as the subject under consideration is at the top of every right-hand page. For further details the italic subdivisions will enable the reader to refer with readiness to any topic. In the spell- ing of proper names there is such a wide difference, even among members of the same family, and is a matter of so arbitrary a nature, that our only guide was each man's desire. Every clew that gave promise of important facts connected with the county's history has been investigated by those engaged in the work. We believe the volume will be favorably received and highly appreciated by those for whom it was prepared. Our thanks are due to those who have rendered us assistance and to our patrons.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CHICAGO, ILL., October, 1887.
CONTENTS.
PART I .- HISTORY OF INDIANA.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
PREHISTORIC RACES .. 17
Antiquities.
19
Chinese, The.
18
Discovery by Columbus. 33
Explorations by the Whites. 37
Indians, The .. 31
Immigration, The First. 18
Immigration, The Second
20
Pyramids, etc. The .. 21
Relics of the Mound-Builders 23
Savage Customs. 34
Tartars, The ... 23
Vincennes. 39
Wabash River, The 39
White Men, The First.
37
CHAPTER II.
NATIONAL POLICIES, ETC. 41
American Policy, The .. 46
Atrocity of the Savages. 47
Burning of Hinton
48
British Policy, The
Clark's Expedition ...
46 52
French Scheme, The.
Gilbault, Father.
Government of the Northwest ....
Hamilton's Career.
Liquor and Gaming Laws.
Missionaries, The Catholic.
42
Ordinance of 1787 70
Pontiac's War
46
Ruse Against the Indians. 6.4
Vigo, Francis.
G
CHAPTER III.
OPERATIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS 75 Agriculture. 209
Battle at Peoria Lake .. 104 Coal. 207
Campaign of Harrison .. 92
Cession Treaties .. 93
Defeat of St. Clair .. 79
Defensive Operations. 76
Expedition of Harmer
75
Expedition of Wayne .. Expedition of St. Clair
79
Expedition of Williamson 78
Fort Miami, Battle of.
80
Harrison and the Indians 87
105
Kickapoo Town, Burning of.
78 75
Massacre at Pigeon Roost.
103
Mississinewa Town, Battle at.
106
Oratory, Tecumseh's
114
Prophet Town, Destruction of
100
Peace with the Indians
106
Siege of Fort Wayne .. 101
Siege of Fort Harrison 103
Tecumseh. 111
Tippecanoe, Battle of. 9.8
War of 1812. 101
War of 1812, Close of the. 108
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION OF INDIANA TERRITORY 82
Bank, Establishment of 120
Courts, Formation of. 120
County Offices, Appointment of. 119
Corydon, the Capital 117
Gov. Posey. 117
Indiana in 1810 8-4
Population in 1815. I18
Territorial Legislature, The First. 8-1
Western Sun, The 8-4
CHAPTER V. PAGE.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE, ETC. 121
Amendment, The Fifteenth 147
Black Ilawk War. 126 Constitution, Formation of the 121
Campaigns Against the Indians. 128
Defeat of Black Ilawk 130
Exodus of the Indians. 13E
General Assembly, The First. 122
Guadalupe-fidalgo, Treaty of .. 142
Harmony Community ... 134
Indian Titles 132
Immigration 125
Lafayette, Action at 127
Land Sales .. 133
Mexican War, The. 136
Slavery ..
144
CHAPTER VI.
INDIANA IN THE REBELLION 148
Batteries of Light Infantry .. 182
Battle Record of States.
Call to Arms, The ... 188
149
Colored Troops of Indiana
182
Calls of 1861.
Field, In the .. 177
152
Morgan's Raid 170
Minute-Men. 170
One Hundred Days' Men 176
Regiments, Formation of. 151
Regiments, Sketch of .. 153
Six Months' Regiments 172
CHAPTER VII.
STATE AFFAIRS AFTER THE REBELLION 189
Internal Improvements. 199
Indiana Ilorticultural Society .. 212
Indiana Promological Society 213
Special Laws 190
State Bank. 196
State Board of Agriculture 209
State Expositions 210
Wealth and Progress. 197
CHAPTER VIII.
EDUCATION AND BENEVOLENCE 215
Blind Institute, The ... 232
City School System. 218
Compensation of Teachers. 220
Denominational and Private Institutions 230
Deaf and Dumb Institute 236
Education 265
Enumeration of Scholars. 219 Family Worship. 252
Free School System, The. 215
Funds, Management of the. 217
Female Prison and Reformatory 211
House of Refuge, The. 243
Insane Hospital, The .. 238
Northern Indiana Normal School. 229 Origin of School Funds 221
Purdue University .. 224
School Statistics. 218
State University, The. 222
State Normal School. 228
State Prison, South' 239
State Prison, North .. 240
Total School Funds. 220
Divorce Laws 193
Finances .. 194
Geology 205
78
Hopkins' Campaign
Maumee, Battle of ...
41 65 67 64
Independent Cavalry Regiment 181
vi
CONTENTS.
PART II .- HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
GEOLOGY-Surface Configuration-Glacial Drift-General Section of the County- Hot Wells-Paleozoic Geology-Devon- ian and silurian Ages-Fossils-Local Details-Conn's Creek and " Waldron Beds, " etc. 247
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN HISTORY-Early Tribes-The Dela- wares-Treaty Ceding Shelby County to the United States-Reminiscences- Miscellaneous Items .. 267
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION-Act of the Legisla- ture-First Townships-Locating the County Seat-Sale of Lots-Early acts of County Board-Reorganization of Town- ships-Early Jails-Court House-Finau- ces-County Poor-Roads-Railroads- Elections-County Officers-Medical So- ciety-County Fairs-Local Industries .. 273
CHAPTER IV.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS-The Indian Trader- First Settlers and Where They Settled- Early Land Sales-The Log Cabin- Early Milling-First Crops-Wild Ani- mals-A Reminiscence -- Snakes-Tra le and Commerce - Amusements - Inci- dents, etc. 300
CHAPTER V.
MILITARY HISTORY-Mexican War-Causes of the Civil War-Public Opinion in Shelby County-The Boggstown Resolu- tions-News From Fort Sumter-First Company for the Front-Flag Presenta- tion-Other Companies-Change in Sen- timent-The County's Early Record- Democratic Resolutions-Renewed Vol- unteermg-Sword Presentation -The 100 Days' Men-The Morgan Raid-Public Opinion in 1863-4-Men Fur ished for the War-Indiana Legion-Bounty and Relief-Roll of Honor 320
CHAPTER VI.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY - Early Piety - The Methodist Episcopal Church -- 1ts Classes at Marion, Shelbyville, Wrays, Beggs- town, Brandywine, Fai land. Flatrock, Norristown. Marietta, Morristown, Foun- taintown, Pleasant Hill, Waldron, Win- chester, Ripple's, Toners, Geneva, Acton
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Circuit and Cynthiana - The Presbyte- rians at Shelbyville and Borgstown - The Roman Catholics - The Missionary Baptists - The Disciples at Shelbyville, Mt. Anburn, Morristown, Cave Hill, Gwynnville - Uni ed Brethren - Metho- dist Protestant - Southern Methodist Episcopal Church - Adventists - Chris- tian Union - Lutherans, etc .. 358
CHAPTER VIL
TOWNS- Shelbyville- Early Items - Public
Improvements - Banks -An Old Map- The Town in 1856- Incorporation-Ad li- tions - Reminiscence of 1836 - Popula- tion -Secret Societies - Manufacturing Enterprises - The Press - Other Towns of the County, etc. 401
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
To find any particular biographical sketch turn to the township in which it should regu- lurly appear, where they will be found arranged in alphabetical order.
Addison Township Biographies. 591
Brandywine Township Biographies 605
Hanover Township Biographies 629
Hendricks Township Biographies 651
Hendricks, Thomas A., Biography of 457
Jackson Township Biographies . 666
Liberty Township Biographies .. 684
Marion Township Biographies. 697
712
Noble Township Biographies
Shelbyville Biographies. 470
Shelby Township Biographies 738
Sugar Creek Townsh p Biographies 744
Union Township Biographies
Van Buren Township Biographies. 780
Washington Township Biographies 785
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Carson. Joseph L. 427
Conger, Sid 529
Cotton, William. 291
Cotton , Thos. A .. 4 1
Davison. Ithamar 393
Day. S. D 359
Glessner Oliver J.
563
Hendricks, Thomas A .Frontispiece.
Nail, Samuel 598
Nail. Che. ry.
599
Ray, W. S. 633
325
Steuart, Jimes K 667
Stenart, W. P.
Torline, Henry H 495
Vabarsdall, J. W 735
Wheeler. John L 201
Wilson, Isaac 257
Moral Township Biographies 723
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
FORMER OCCUPANTS.
PREHISTORIC RACES.
Scientists have aseribed to the Mound Builders varied origins, and though their divergence of opinion may for a time seem incom- patible with a thorough investigation of the subject, and tend to a confusion of ideas, no doubt whatever can exist as to the compar- ative accuracy of conclusions arrived at by some of them. Like the vexed question of the Pillar Towers of Ireland, it has caused much speculation, and elicited the opinions of so many learned antiquarians, ethnologists and travelers, that it will not be found beyond the range of possibility to make deductions that may suffice to solve the problem who were the prehistoric settlers of America. To achieve this it will not be necessary to go beyond the period over which Scripture history extends, or to indulge in those airy flights of imagination so sadly identified with occasional writers of even the Christian school, and all the accepted literary exponents of modern paganism.
That this continent is co-existent with the world of the ancients cannot be questioned. Every investigation, instituted under the auspiees of modern civilization, confirms the fact and leaves no channel open through which the skeptic can escape the thorough refntation of his opinions. China, with its numerons living testi- monials of antiquity, with its ancient, though limited literature and its Babelish superstitions, claims a continuous history from antediluvian times; but although its continuity may be denied with every just reason, there is nothing to prevent the transmission of a hieroglyphic record of its history prior to 1656 anno mundi, since many traces of its early settlement survived the Delnge, and became sacred objects of the first historical epoch. This very sur- vival of a record, such as that of which the Chinese boast, is not at variance with the designs of a God who made and ruled the universe; but that an antediluvian people inhabited this continent,
1
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
will not be claimed; because it is not probable, though it may be possible, that a settlement in a land which may be considered a portion of the Asiatic continent, was effected by the immediate followers of the first progenitors of the human race. Therefore, on entering the study of the ancient people who raised these tumu- lus monuments over large traets of the country, it will be just sufficient to wander baek to that time when the flood-gates of heaven were swung open to hurl destrnetion on a wicked world; and in doing so the inquiry must be based on legendary, or rather upon many cirenmstantial evidences; for, so far as written narra- tive extends, there is nothing to show that a movement of people too far east resulted in a Western settlement.
THE FIRST IMMIGRATION.
The first and most probable sources in which the origin of the Builders must be sought, are those countries lying along the east- ern coast of Asia, which doubtless at that time stretched far beyond its present limits, and presented a continuous shore from Lopatka to Point Cambodia, holding a population comparatively civilized, and all professing some elementary form of the Boodhismn of later days. Those peoples, like the Chinese of the present, were bound to live at home, and probably observed that law until after the con- fusion of languages and the dispersion of the builders of Babel in 1757, A. M .; but subsequently, within the following century, the old Mongolians, like the new, crossed the great ocean in the very paths taken by the present representatives of the race, arrived on the same shores, which now extend a very questionable hospitality to them, and entered at once upon the colonization of the country south and east, while the Caucasian race engaged in a similar move- ment of exploration and colonization over what may be justly termed the western extension of Asia, and both: peoples growing stalwart under the change, attained a moral and physical eminence to which they never could lay claim under the tropical sun which shed its beams upon the cradle of the human race.
That mysterious people who, like the Brahmins of to-day. wor- shiped some transitory deity, and in after years, evidentiy embraced the idealization of Boodhism, as preached in Mongolia early in the 35th century of the world, together with acquiring the learning of the Confucian and Pythagorean schools of the same period, spread all over the land, and in their numerous settlements erected these raths, or mounds, and sacrificial altars whereon they received their
19
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
periodical visiting gods, surrendered their bodies to natural absorp- tion or annihilation, and watched for the return of some transmi- grated soul, the while adoring the universe, which with all beings they believed would be eternally existent. They possessed religious orders corresponding in external show at least with the Essenes or Theraputæ of the pre-Christian and Christian epochs, and to the reformed Theraputæ or monks of the present. Every memento of their coming and their stay which has descended to us is an evi- dence of their civilized condition. The free copper found within the tumuli; the open veins of the Superior and Iron Mountain copper-mines, with all the modus operandi of ancient mining, such as ladders, levers, chisels, and hammer-heads, discovered by the French explorers of the Northwest and the Mississippi, are conelu- sive proofs that those prehistoric people were highly civilized, and that many flourishing colonies were spread throughout the Missis- sippi valley, while yet the mammoth, the mastodon, and a hundred . other animals, now only known by their gigantic fossil remains, guarded the eastern shore of the continent as it were against sup- posed invasions of the Tower Builders who went west from Babel; while yet the beautiful isles of the Antilles formed an integral portion of this eontinent, long years before the European Northman dreamed of setting forth to the discovery of Greenland and the northern isles, and certainly at a time when all that portion of America north of latitude 45° was an ice-incumbered waste.
Within the last few years great advances have been made toward the discovery of antiquities whether pertaining to remains of organic or inorganic nature. Together with many small, but telling relics of the early inhabitants of the country, the fossils of pre- historic animals have been unearthed from end to end of the land, and in districts, too, long pronounced by geologists of some repute to be without even a vestige of vertebrate fossils. Among the collected souvenirs of an age about which so very little is known, are twenty-five vertebræ averaging thirteen inches in diameter, and three vertebræ ossified together measure nine cubical feet; a thigh-bone five feet long by twenty-eight, by tweive inches in diameter, and the shaft fourteen by eight inches thick, the entire lot weighing 600 lbs. These fossils are presunied to belong to the cretaceous period, when the Dinosaur roamed over the country from East to West, desolating the villages of the people. This animal is said to have been sixty feet long, and when feeding in cypress and palm forests, to extend himself eighty-five feet, so that he may
20
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
devour the budding tops of those great trees. Other efforts in this direction may lead to great results, and culminate probably in the discovery of a tablet engraven by some learned Mound Builder, describing in the ancient hieroglyphics of China all these men and beasts whose history excites so much speculation. The identity of the Mound Builders with the Mongolians might lead us to hope for such a consummation; nor is it beyond the range of probability, particularly in this practical age, to find the future labors of some industrious antiquarian requited by the upheaval of a tablet, written in the Tartar characters of 1700 years ago, bearing on a subject which can now be treated only on a purely circumstantial basis.
THIE SECOND IMMIGRATION
may have begun a few centuries prior to the Christian era, and unlike the former expedition or expeditions, to have traversed north- castern Asia to its Arctic confines. and then east to the narrow channel now known as Behring's Straits, which they crossed, and sailing up the unchanging Yukon, settled under the shadow of Mount St. Elias for many years, and pushing South commingled with their countrymen, soon acquiring the characteristics of the descendants of the first colonists. Chinese chronicles tell of such a people, who went North and were never heard of more. Circum- stanees conspire to render that particular colony the carriers of a new religious faith and of an alphabetic system of a representative character to the old colonists, and they, doubtless, exercised a most beneficial influence in other respects ; because the influx of immi- grants of such culture as were the Chinese, even of that remote period, must necessarily bear very favorable results, not only in bringing in reports of their travels, but also accounts from the fatherland bearing on the latest events.
With the idea of a second and important exodus there are many theorists united, one of whom says: "It is now the generally received opinion that the first inhabitants of America passed over from Asia through these straits. The number of small islands lying between both continents renders this opinion still more probable; and it is yet farther confirmed by some remarkable traces of similarity in the physical conformation of the northern natives of both continents. The Esquimaux of North America, the Samoieds of Asia, and the Laplanders of Europe, are supposed to be of the same family; and this supposition is strengthened by the affinity which exists in their languages. The researches of Hum-
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
boldt have traced the Mexicans to the vicinity of Behring's Straits; whence it is conjectured that they, as well as the Peruvians and other tribes, came originally from Asia, and were the Hiongnoos, who are, in the Chinese annals, said to have emigrated under Puno, and to have been lost in the North of Siberia."
Since this theory is accepted by most antiquaries, there is every reason to believe that from the discovery of what may be called an overland route to what was then considered an eastern extension of that country which is now known as the " Celestial Empire," many caravans of emigrants passed to their new homes in the land of illimitable possibilities until the way became a well-marked trail over which the Asiatic might travel forward, and having once entered the Elysian fields never entertained an idea of returning. This from generation to generation the tide of immigration ponred in until the slopes of the Pacific and the banks of the great inland rivers became hives of busy industry. Magnificent cities and monuments were raised at the bidding of the tribal leaders and populons settlements centered with happy villages sprung up everywhere in manifestation of the power and wealth and knowl-
edge of the people. The colonizing Caucasian of the historic period walked over this great country on the very ruins of a civil- ization which a thousand years before eclipsed all that of which he could boast. He walked through the wilderness of the West over buried treasures hidden under the accumulated growth of nature, nor rested until he saw, with great surprise, the remains of ancient pyramids and temples and cities,. larger and evidently more beauti- ful than ancient Egypt could bring forth after its long years of uninterrupted history. The pyramids resemble those of Egypt in exterior form, and in some instances are of larger dimensions. The pyramid of Cholula is square, having each side of its base 1,335 feet in length, and its height about 172 feet. Another pyramid, situated in the north of Vera Cruz, is formed of large blocks of highly-polished porphyry, and bears upon its front hiero- glyphic inscriptions and curious sculpture. Each side of its square base is 82 feet in length, and a flight of 57 steps conducts to its summit, which is 65 feet in height. The ruins of Palenque are said to extend 20 miles along the ridge of a mountain, and the remains of an Aztec city, near the banks of the river Gila, are spread over more than a square league. Their literature consisted of hieroglyphics; but their arithmetical knowledge did not extend farther than their calculations by the aid of grains of corn. Yet,
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IIISTORY OF INDIANA.
notwithstanding all their varied accomplishments, and they were evidently many, their notions of religions duty led to a most demo- niac zeal at once barbarously savage and ferociously cruel. Each visiting, god instead of bringing new life to the people, brought death to thousands; and their grotesque idols, exposed to drown the senses of the beholders in fear, wrought wretchedness rather than spiritual happiness, until, as some learned and humane Monte- zumian said, the people never approached these idols without fear, and this fear was the great animating principle, the great religious motive power which sustained the terrible religion. Their altars were sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies in large quantities, and on them thousands of human victims were sacri- ficed in honor of the demons whom they worshiped. The head and heart of every captive taken in war were offered up as a bloody sacrifice to the god of battles, while the victorious legions feasted on the remaining portions of the dead bodies. It has been ascer- tained that during the ceremonies attendant on the consecration of two of their temples, the number of prisoners offered up in sacri- fice was 12,210; while their own legions contributed voluntary victims to the terrible belief in large numbers. Nor did this horrible custom cease immediately after 1521, when Cortez entered the imperial city of the Montezumas; for, on being driven from it, all his troops who fell into the hands of the native soldiers were subjected to the most terrible and proionged suffering that could be experienced in this world, and when about to yield up that spirit which is indestructible, were offered in sacrifice, their hearts and heads consecrated, and the victors allowed to feast on the yet warm flesh.
A reference is made here to the period when the Montezumas ruled over Mexico, simply to gain a better idea of the hideous idolatry which took the place of the old Boodhism of the Mound Builders, and doubtiess helped in a great measure to give victory to the new comers, even as the tenets of Mahometanism urged the ignorant followers of the prophet to the conquest of great nations. It was not the faith of the people who built the mounds and the pyramids and the temples, and who, 200 years before the Christian era, built the great wall of jealous China. No: rather was it that terrible faith born of the Tartar victory, which carried the great defenses of China at the point of the javelin and hatchet, who afterward marched to the very walls of Rome, under Alaric, and
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
spread over the islands of Polynesia to the Pacific slopes of South America.
THE TARTARS
came there, and, like the pure Mongols of Mexico and the Missis- sippi valley, rose to a state of civilization bordering on that attained by them. Here for centuries the sons of the fierce Tartar race con- tinued to dwell in comparative peace until the all-ruling ambition of empire took in the whole country from the Pacific to the Atlan- tic, and peopled the vast territory watered by the Amazon with a race that was destined to conquer all the peoples of the Orient, and only to fall before the march of the arch-civilizing Caucasian. In course of time those fierce Tartars pushed their . settlements northward, and ultimately entered the territories of the Mound Builders, putting to death all who fell within their reach, and cansing the survivors of the death-dealing invasion to seek a refuge from the hordes of this semi-barbarous people in the wilds and fast- nesses of the North and Northwest. The beautiful country of the Mound Builders was now in the hands of savage invaders, the quiet, industrious people who raised the temples and pyramids were gone; and the wealth of intelligence and industry, accumulating for ages, passed into the possession of a rapacious horde, who could admire it only so far as it offered objects for plunder. Even in this the invaders were satisfied, and then having arrived at the height of their ambition, rested on their swords and entered upon the luxury and ease in the enjoyment of which they were found when the van- guard of European civilization appeared upon the scene. Mean- time the southern countries which those adventurers abandoned after having completed their conquests in the North, were soon peopled by hundreds of people, always moving from island to island and ultimately halting amid the ruins of villages deserted by those who, as legends tell, had passed eastward but never returned; and it would scarcely be a matter for surprise if those emigrants were found to be the progenitors of that race found by the Spaniards in 1532, and identical with the Araucanians, Cuenches and Huil. tiches of to-day.
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