USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2 > Part 22
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 2 > Part 22
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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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
he traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, by rail and steamboat, and was there mustered out with his men June 24, 1865. From thence he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the regiment was paid off, and he returned home July 4, 1865. He was wounded in the left foot at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, but while in the service never lost a day from sickness or any other canse. No company of soldiers ever had an officer who was more devoted to their welfare and comfort than the company that Major Studabaker led to the field from Wells County, as is well attested by the surviving members of his regiment. After his return he resumed farming and stock raising and in 1866 accepted the po- sition of cashier in the First National Bank, and in 1869 he became a member of the Ex- change Bank of John Studabaker & Co., which as a private bank is meeting with ex- cellent success. In 1574 Major Stodabaker was elected commissioner of Wells County, was re-elected to the same office in 1876 and 1880, and while commissioner had the super- intending of the building of the county in- firmary and jail, two splendid buildings of which the people of the county are justly proud, and also took an active part in build- ing both our railroads and was among the foremost in advocacy of our free gravel roads, and the people of the county are largely in- debted to Major Studabaker for the success of that enterprise in our midst. As a busi- ness man and accountant he has no superior in the county, and his integrity, honesty and judgment are so well known that his advice is sought after more frequently, perhaps, in both public and private affairs than that of any other man in Bluffton. Considered either as a man, a county official, neighbor, soldier, patriot or friend, Major Studabaker is popular and honorable. In politics he is a Democrat and cast his first vote as such.
Ile is a member of the Baptist church and also of the Masonie lodge of Blutlton, Indiana. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed, and are well and favorably known for their generosity and acts of kindness. Their home is open to their many friends.
ILLIAM PATRICK MOMAIION was born at Sidney, the county seat of Shelby County, Ohio, February 24, 1855. Parents were from County Kerry, Ireland. IIe received a limited edneation in the public schools of that place, but could have had better were it not for a roving disposition that led him to run away from home at the age of twelve and go West. He followed railroading in almost every line until he reached the age of twenty-two. He first eame to Wells County in 1570, but left in a short time, returning at different times until he at last settled down in Bluffton in 1876. August 28, 1878, he married Ida Ann Ridgley, the only daughter of Westal Ridgley, one of Wells County's first settlers. This marriage is blest with one son-Thomas. Mr. McMahon entered political life almost as soon as he was old enough to vote, a warm Democrat, but severed his connection with that party when the Greenback party was organized, and became one of its most ardent advocates. In the start of his work for this party he followed ditching for a living, but stumped the county at night, proclaiming its principles. At the request of the leaders of the party he purchased the Wells County Times in 1879 from James Gary Smith, under whose control the paper had suspended publication. The first issue from his hands appeared about the middle of January, 1879, since which the paper has never suspended pub- lication up to this date. May 2, 1879, he
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
bought out the Daily Times, the first daily paper ever published in Wells County. le owned and published both the papers sue- cessfully until August, 1880, when John Stndabaker, who held a mortgage on the paper, and a leading Greenbacker at the time, disagreed with him on the land question, in consequence of which Mr. Studabaker forced him out of the paper. Mr. McMahon started at once the Daily and Weekly Herald, which he moved to Fort Wayne. Associated with George B. Fleming and William B. Walters, he started the People's Advocate, which collapsed after a short period on account of the incompeteney of his partners. In the eventful campaign of 1886 for Wells County, in which the people's movement made such a hard fight for success, Mr. McMahon took a prominent part, and started the Daily and People's Advocate, and is now engaged in that business. Politically he still remains in the labor movement. Ile was the first char- ter member of Bluffton Local Assembly of Knights of Labor 6,282. Religiously he was raised a Catholic, but at present is a free-thinker.
AMES ALEXANDER, an active and enterprising agriculturist of Jackson Township, residing on seetion 27, was born in Logan County, Ohio, August 22, 1827, a son of Robert and Mary (Wilkinson) Alexander. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Mifflin County Febrn- ary 19, 1793, of Irish parentage. He was reared on a farm in his native State, and when a young man went to Champaign County, Ohio, where he was married Febru- ary 26, 1822, to Miss Mary Wilkinson, a native of Virginia, born October 11, 1793, who came with her parents to Ohio when
abont sixteen years of age. After living a few years in Champaign County, they re- moved to Logan County, and in May, 1837, the father came with his family to Elkhart County, Indiana, making the journey by team. That county was then quite new, but settlers were beginning to locate there. They remained in Elkhart County until February, 1838, coming thence to Wells County, where the father had entered 120 acres of wild land in Jackson Township the previous fall. Not a tree had been eut on the place when they came here, and while the father was building his cabin the family lived in a log cabin about three quarters of a mile away which was already occupied by two other families. Edward Alexander and family, a brother of Robert, came with the family and lived with them in their log cabin for a time. The cabin had but one opening for a door, and this was made high from the ground so that their hogs could be kept out. When their cabin was put up there were eight or ten inches of snow on the ground, and when they built a fire the snow melted, and it was only by covering the floor with clapboards left from the roof that they could keep out of the ind. Deer and other wild animals were numerous, and these furnished the family with meat when brought down by the trusty rifle of the old pioneer. The mother of our subject died October 31, 1868, and the father April 4, 1872. They were well known throughout the community and highly re- spected citizens. In polities he was formerly an old-line Whig, and latera Republican. For a number of years in the early history of the connty he served as one of the trustees of Jackson Township. James Alexander, whose name heads this sketch, was in his eleventh year when he came with his father's family to Wells County, and here he was reared amid the scenes attending the clearing up of
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a new country, and his youth was spent in assisting his father clear their heavily tim- bered farm. Ile remembers that during the first year of their settlement their horses ran away, and the crop had to be tended with oxen hitched up and broken into the work. October 14, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary McKee, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 3, 1833, a daughter of Peter and Rhoda (Peters) MeKee, natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. The parents of Mrs. Alexander came to Indiana and located in Blackford County in 1843, and there the father died about 1871. The moth- er is still a resident of Washington Township, Blackford County. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, of whom three are yet living - William Edward, engaged in teaching in Somerset, Wabash County; Julia and Jennie. Robert Peter is deceased. In polities Mr. Alexander is a Republican, and has held local offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church, and he is one of the advisory committee of Salamonie cireuit. For nearly half a century. he has lived in Jackson Township and has witnessed the inany wonderful changes that have taken place, transforming the wilderness into well cultivated farms and prosperons villages. The first sermon preached in Jackson Town- ship was at his father's house, by Rev. George W. Bowers of the Methodist Episcopal church, on Christmas eve, 1838, and the first relig- ious organization was formed at his father's eabin with eleven members. His father was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was licensed to preach in 1840, and held meetings all over the county. Mr. Alexander is one of the prosperous farmers of Jackson Township. llis farm contains 240 acres, 90 of which are under a good state of cultivation. Ilis house is one of the many-i
fine ones in the neighborhood, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees. Ile is engaged in general farming. Mr. Alexander enlisted in the war for the Union, October 14, 1864, and was discharged July 9, 1863. He was assigned to Company II, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry. He was sent to his regi- ment in Georgia, and at Dalton was sick with measles, and on his recovery was placed on extra duty as nurse in the hospital at Louis- ville, Kentucky, remaining there until his final discharge at Louisville, after which he returned to his home in Jackson Township, where he has since lived.
OSEPH GORRELL is the oldest man now living in Wells County, and one of the oldest settlers. lle was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1802, son of James and Sarah (Mullholland) Gorrell. The paternal ancestors were natives of Ireland, and the maternal, of Wales. The parents were married in Washington County, Pennsylvania, about 1790, and reared a fam- ily of sixteen children. Two others died in infaney. Upon their farm in Pennsylvania, the parents lived and died. Our subjeet was edueated in the subscription schools of his native county, and his father, who was a fairly educated man, taught free night schools in the neighborhood, which Joseph attended. Through the instruction given by his father, and the resident minister, he secured a good edneation, which, added to his good judgment, has made him a man of note in his township and county for almost half a century. He began teaelling when seventeen years of age, his terms being taught in the winter, while he worked at the carpenter's trade during the summer. He also taught vocal mnsie until after his marriage with Miss Esther Glass,
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
that ceremony being performed September 13, 1825. Her parents, John and An (Johnson) Glass, were natives of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where they remained during life. Mr. Gorrell settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1532, making a home in the wild woods, and ere he came to Indiana, had a nice farm cleared. Their children - Will- iam (now deceased), Joseph, Matilda, Sarah and Mary (twins, and now deceased), Andrew and Cyrus, were born upon that farm. James, John G. and Milo J. were born prior to their removal to Ohio, February, 1832. Mr. Gorrell, with his family, settled on section 21, Jefferson Township, September, 1845, he having made a purchase of the entire section and half of section 28. Not a tree had been felled upon the entire tract. With the aid of the three eldest sons a nice eabin was soon built, and in a short time the family were settled in their new home, and the work of clearing a new farm was commenced. Their goods were transported with teams, one of which was the third span of horses in the township. Oxen were in almost universal use in an early day. They were preferred to horses on account of their living being mostly secured by browsing. Quite an Indian village was located in the southwest corner of Allen County, and the Indians hunted during the winter season. They were very friendly to the new-comers and freely shared their veni- son with all who desired. White Loon, the chief, was quite an intimate friend of Mr. Gorrell, and remained upon his reservation in Allen County until his death. Although White Loon was a great friend to the whites, yet it was currently reported that he had stored away the dried tongues of ninety-nine white men. This was not improbable, as all the Indians in this county were under the control of the noted Indian chief, Teemisch, and nearly all of them were engaged in the
great battle of Tippecanoe, near Lafayette, Indiana, during the Indian war of 1812-'13. In 1847 ague became prevalent, and there were not well people enough in the neighbor- hood to care for the siek. The winter brought relief, and year by year prosperity became more general. The impetus given to elearing land by the coming of Mr. Gorrell and his brothers-in-law, James and John Glass, was marked, there having been a few of the early settlers who continued to live upon the prod- . nets of their rifles and their traps. Game of various kinds furnished not only the meat, but the pelts brought cash enough to pay taxes and secure a few other necessary artieles. Wildeat money was plentiful enough, but it would not pass in other States, consequently, men were not anxious to obtain it. In 1847 Mr. Gorrell was elected justice of the peace, his commission bearing the name of Presi- dent Van Buren. Instead of trying to make official fees, most of his time was spent in trying to arbitrate the eases brought before him. During the twenty-nine years in which he served the people, at least three-fourths of the cases that came before him were success- fully arbitrated, and many personal friend- ships were thus brought about. Only two appeals were ever made from his decisions in all those years, and both decisions were sus- tained in the higher courts. He has admin- istered twenty-seven estates in this county, some of them far up into the thousands of dollars, all of which was done without the loss of a dollar. James and Andrew Gorrell en- tered the service soon after the breaking out of the war. They enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, of which James was First Lieutenant. Joseph, then a graduate of medicine from the Buffalo Medi- eal College, enlisted as Surgeon of another regiment which was formed in De Kalb County where he resided. Cyrus enlisted in
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Company C, Seventy-fifth Regiment, in 1862. lle served during the war and lost the sight of his right eye. James resigned and re- turned home the second year of his enlist- ment, the other son remained until the close of the war. All served in the most important battles of the war. All of Mr. Gorrell's children are happily married and all have families. IIis estimable wite, after a long and well-spent life, was laid to rest in Ossian cemetery, April 25, 1879. Her re- mains have since been placed in the new cemetery at Ossian. Mr. Gorrell resides in the village and has a competency for his de- clining years. No man has ever lived in Jef- ferson Township who has done more to cultivate and promote harmony and enter- prise than our subject. For sixty-two years he has been a member of the Presbyterian church, and since 1533 has been an ordained elder. Continuously, sinee 1846, he has served this church in that capacity, and his life has been such as proclaims the Christian as well as the gentleman.
A. SPAULDING, M. D., was born in 1847 in Blackford County, Indiana. lle was reared a farmer boy. At the age of nineteen he entered the high school at Liber College, Indiana, and remained two years; afterward attended college at Ridge- ville, Indiana, two years. The next three years were spent as traveling salesman in the Western States. In 1873 he began the study of medicine at Montpelier, Indiana, under Dr. William Ransom. After attending one part and one full course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, he located at Barber's Mills, Indiana. lle was married in the summer of 1877 to Miss Nan- nie J. Shelton, of Hartford City, Indiana,
and in the fall of the same year returned to the Ohio Medical, and graduated in the spring of 1878. Ile then continued his practice at Barber's Mills until the tall of 1882, at which time he located in Bluffton, Indiana, and has continued in a successful practice to the present.
OHIN STANLEY LOCKWOOD, farmer, Nottingham Township, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, February 2, 1844, son of Alonzo and Eliza (Stanley) Lockwood. Ilis father was born in the State of Maine, and followed boating during his residence in that State and previous to his removal to Ohio. In 1848 the family re- moved to Indiana, locating in Nottingham Township, Wells County, where they still reside. Ilere John Stanley, or Stanley, as he is usually called, was reared to manhood, and has always made his home in Nottingham Township since coming to the eonnty. In 1865 his father gave him forty aeres of land, which he afterward sold, and bought eighty aeres where he now lives, to which he has since added forty acres more. The land was covered by a heavy growth of timber when he purchased it; he now has about eighty- five acres cleared. May 1, 1865, he was mar- ried to Miss Margaret E. Gibson, born in Noble County, this State, and a danghter of George W. and Mary (Michaels) Gibson. Iler parents died in Noble County when she was a child, and she was reared by her uncle in Champaign County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood have had six children, for of whom are living- John Wilbur, Eva Janetta, William Ulysses and Pearl Edwin; the de- ceased are Hettie Mevilla and Rosetta. In 1861 Mr. Lockwood volunteered his services in behalf of the Union, and on the 1st day of
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
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March became a member of Company 1, Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He joined his regiment in this eounty. its members being home on a veteran furlough, and went with it directly to the front, and ten days after leaving Indianapolis they met the rebels at Alexandria, Louisiana. Ile remained with his regiment in Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana until after the battles of Forts Spanish and Blakely, and the capture of Mobile, which was the last engagement of the civil war. Ile was mustered out at Baton Ronge, discharged there October 23, 1565, and returned home via Cairo and Indianapo- lis. lle lost his health in the service, and has never entirely recovered. Politically he is a Republican.
¿ EVI OSBORN, of Ossian, was born in Canfield, Trumbull County, Ohio. An- gust 12, 1827, son of Jacob and Eliza- beth M. (Harris) Osborn. James Harris, father of Elizabeth M., was probably born in the town of Milford, MitHlin County, Penn- sylvania, of Irish ancestry, His wife was Alice Woodard, and they reared a large fain- ily of children, some of whom are living- Elizabeth M., Mary, John, Thomas (deceased), Margaret, James, Ann and David (deceased), Hannah, Joseph, Robert and Rachel. Mar- garet. Ann, James and Hannah came to In- diana and settled in Wells County; John settled in Adams County; the latter and Margaret are now deceased. John Osborn, grandfather of onr subject, was a son of Nicholas Osborn, who came to America from England prior to the Revolutionary war. He was accompanied by two brothers, and all were soldiers in that war; but no trace of the two brothers has ever been found since the elose of the war. Mrs. John Osborn was
a German lady; they had ten children-Con- rad, Nicholas, Jacob, John, William, Jonathan, Amos, Andrew, Margaret and Elizabeth. Jacob Osborn was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was twice married. ITis first wife was Annie Babbitt, and their children were -Elias, Harmon, Mary A. (deceased) and Aaron. After the death of his wife, Jacob married Elizabeth IIarris, and their children were-Levi, James, Margaret and Elizabeth (twins), Eliza J., Anna and William; all are living and married exeept Anna, who married William Gorman, and Elizabeth, who died in infaney. The death of Jacob Osborn occurred when our subjeet was twelve years of age, and when he was twenty-one years old he eame to Wells County and pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 24, Union Town- ship. He built a pole shanty on the land the day before it was entered, ate and slept in it. This was the western boundary of settlement at that date. Ile ent and burned the first pile of brush to cook his supper, and may be said to have made the first clearing in his immediate neighborhood. During the first eight months of his stay in the county Mr. Osborn worked by the month for William W. Cotton, who brought his family to this coun- ty at the same time our subject eame. Levi returned to his old home in April, 1849, and remained until September of the following year, then returned to his home in the new country, bringing his wife, Catherine Ash- burn, whom he married June 13, 1530. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ilart) Ashburn. Iler father's people were German, and her mother's were Irish. They removed to this county in April, 1884, to make their home with their children. Mr. Ashburn died at the home of Mr. Osborn October 12, 1886, aged eighty-six years. Ilis wife is still living with Mr. Osborn's family, and has reached the mature age of eighty
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years. Their children were -- Catherine, Will- iam, Mary, Jesse, Nelson and Prossor. Mr. Osborn erected a log cabin on the spot where his fine farm house now stands, and they oc- eupied it October 28, 1850. Under its roof all their children were born except the youngest-Joseph N. married Albina Long- shore; Elizabeth E. married O. C. Krewson; Jacob W. married Paulina Sowle; Mary E. became the wife of Orland J. Krewson, and after his death married his brother Thomas; Elias E., William W., Etta M. and Anna M. are unmarried and reside with their parents. Our subject made all the furniture with which they commeneed housekeeping. Blank- ets served for doors, and not a sawed board was used in the construction of the house, except the lid of a chest which was used in making a window. The bedsteads were made of poles, the seats of puncheon slabs, the table of clapboards and the floor of the same material. Mr. Osborn worked for some of his neighbors by the day, for which he re- ceived corn and potatoes. Although the woods were full of game, he never hunted, or even killed a deer or turkey, but devoted all his time to the cultivation of his land. They became members of the first Methodist Episcopal church organized in the neighbor- hood; this church is still in existence. Mr. Osborn has been an officer in the church for alnost a quarter of a century. During the progress of the war he was drafted, but after being in camp two weeks at Indianapolis he was released, the township having filled her- quota. In 1853 he was elected trustee of the township, and during his term of service the Centre school-house was built and several new roads laid out. Politically he is a Re- publican, and was one of the founders of that party in this eounty. January 1, 1885, he was injured by a saw falling upon his left foot, which resulted in its amputation by Dr.
Stemen, of Fort Wayne, at St. Joseph's hos- pital. This disables him from active farm work, but his general health is unusually good.
ILLIAM MCKENDREE MADDOX was born in Chester Township, Wells County, March 1, 1858, son of Wes- ley Harvey and Eliza Ann (Grove) Maddox. Ile was reared in this county and educated in the schools of Chester Township, and also at Bluffton. He was married August 17, 1881, to Miss Laura Alice Twibell, also a native of Chester Township, and daughter of John J. and Amelia (Boyd) Twibell. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox are the parents of one ehild-Harry. Mr. Maddox owns sixty-five acres of land, all of which is cleared. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
RS. JOIIN G. AND GEORGE E. FUL- TON are great-great-grandsons of James Fulton, who immigrated to this country from Ireland in the year 1765, ac- companied by his brothers, viz .: Joseph, Robert and Abraham, and their two sisters, Margaret Fulton Quin and Pollie Fulton Boyd, the latter being the honored mother of Revs. John, James, Benjamin and Abraham Boyd, many descendants of whom are to-day enumerated in the devoted ranks of Presby- terianism. James, the great-grandfather, was the father of five sons and one daughter, viz .: James, Abraham, Robert, Cochran, Ben- jamin and Sarah; the second son being the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was married to Ann Smith, unto whom were born seven sons, all of whom grew to man- hood, were married and have families, viz .:
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
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James, the eldest, died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, near Murray, Wells County, Indiana, leaving his wife, Margaret Mabon Fulton, a childless widow to mourn her loss; Robert died at the age of seventy- eight years, in Kansas, leaving a large fam - ily; Abraham, yet living at the age of eighty years, is hale and hearty and proud to know that three of his sons were among the worthy who went to the front in the late war, one of whom gave his life for the cause of freedom, and another maimed for life at the battle of Chickamauga. David and Cochran, each near the age of seventy years, are living, the for- mer in the State of lowa; the latter is a prominent physician still continuing the practice of medicine in Bueyrus, Ohio. An- drew, the youngest son, died at the premna- ture age of thirty-three years, of typhoid fever, in Bucyrus, Ohio, he being a very large and powerful man and weighing 350 pounds. John Fulton, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Greensburg, in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1813. Ile was married in 1838 to Saralı Egbert, of Fulton, Wayne County, Ohio. The young couple came to Wells County, In- diana, in the year 1840, locating in Jefferson Township, and immediately commenced the ardnous task of clearing and improving a farm in what was then a howling wilder- ness. At the end of five years of strug- gling with ehills and fever, the gaunt wolf of poverty and various other kinds of wolves, coupled with the many hardships incident to frontier life, they returned to Stark County, Ohio, to spend the winter and procure the needful supply of provisions and clothing. During the period of this temporary sojourn in Ohio Dr. J. C. Fulton was born, and the following spring they returned to their for- mer home in Wells County. They soon sold this farm, however, and bought another near
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