USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 40
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 40
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HENRY DEAL came to this county with his parents, Conrad and Elizabeth Deal, in 1834. His birth occurred in Marion County, Ohio, Febru- ary 22, 1832, and that of his wife, Helen, in this county, May 1, 1838. They were married on the 1st day of January, 1855. Her parents, Robert and Jane Wade, were English people. Mr. and Mrs. Deal have two children-Alice E., now Mrs. J. A. Spearow, and Willis H. ; both are school-teachers. Mr. Deal, at the age of twenty-one, commenced carpentering, and continued that occupa- tion until in 1857, when he invested in property in this township, 100 acres of wild land. This is now his home, and is all well improved. Mr. Deal, with his son, attended the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. He has held the
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office of Assessor four terms, being first elected in 1877, and also has served as Supervisor a number of terms, and has executed the duties satisfactorily.
WILLIAM DUNBAR is a native of Summit County, Ohio, born in 1829, May 7. In Milford Township, on the 7th of September, 1838, Mary Perkins was born. She was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah A. (Phipps) Perkins, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of German and English de- scent. She was married to Mr. Dunbar, April 12, 1857. He is the son of David and Mary (Rhodenbaugh) Dunbar, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and English descent. David Dunbar, at the time of his death, was living at the home of his son William ; the former first came to this county in the spring of 1853, and the subject came in the fall of the same year, remaining near Wolcottville until in March, 1862, when he located on the farm of 200 acres, entered by John B. Clark ; he now owns 280 acres, and is worth proba- bly $15,500. His dwelling-house was erected at a cost of about $3,000. From the clear, running spring on Mr. Dunbar's farm, the township received its name, and 'twas here the first town-meeting was held. Mr. and Mrs. Dun- bar are parents of two children, Jacob and William A.
JOHN F. FRELIGH is a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and the son of John I. and Mary (Latta) Freligh ; both parents were natives of New York, his father of German and his mother of Irish descent. October 29, 1823, John Freligh was born, and in the fall of 1845 came to this county, where he was variously employed until 1850, when he was married to Miss Susan A. Shepardson, the ceremony being performed by a Mr. Newton, Justice of the Peace. They soon after settled on her father's farm, that has since been purchased by the subject, and is yet their home. It comprises 187 acres of improved land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Freligh-Eva J., now Mrs. Joseph Geddes, of Oregon ; Ida M., now Mrs. Richard Hopkins ; Ella F., now Mrs. Fleming Barr; Arthur P. and Frank L. Mrs. Freligh is a native of Vermont, where she was born in February, 1832. Her parents were Otis and Susan Shepardson, of Vermont, and Scotch and English ances- try. They came to this county in the fall of 1835, and lived the first winter in a log-house with puncheon floor and no windows. Mr. Shepardson died in 1843, of quick consumption, at the age of fifty-one, having secured a com- fortable home for his wife and family of seven children. Mrs. Shepardson died at the age of eighty-four, in the fall of 1880. Mr. Freligh has served in the offices of Assessor, Road-master and School Director.
ELSLEY W. FULLER is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., where he was born January 10, 1818. In 1836, having saved $50, from laboring in the school-room, he started for the West, taking passage on the steamer " United States ; " and while crossing from Dunkirk to Erie, the vessel struck a rock and sunk ; but the passengers-eight hundred in number-were saved by being landed on a ledge-rock, where they remained all night, in a driving rain-storm. Mr. Fuller succeeded in reaching main land by means of a large tree that had fallen over the rock. He then proceeded overland to Erie, thence to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he taught one term of school ; on to Calhoun County, Mich., then to this county, where he made a limited sojourn, returning to Gilead, Mich., to re-engage in teaching. Mr. Fuller was one of the members of the La Grange Association, at Lexington, until it disbanded. For seven years, or thereabouts, he lived on a farm in Milford Township, this county, that he bought in 1849; then purchased 260 acres in this township, but soon after found himself bank- rupt. After having rented five years, he was able to buy the 100-acre farm
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where he yet lives, in this township. For many years Mr. Fuller has manufact- ured large quantities of cider jelly and sorghum molasses. He has been mar- ried three times ; first to Keturah Sanders, of Branch County, Mich., in 1839. They had a family of three children-Mary J., Harriet M. and Melinda. After his wife's death, in 1852, Mr. Fuller married Mrs. Lois Hayward ; she was the daughter of Stephen Severy, and died in 1878, leaving two children -- Alice and Lucina. His present and third wife, to whom he was married in 1878, was Mrs. C. L. Rosell, the daughter of Abijah and Maria (Shoff) Brown. By her first marriage Mrs. Fuller had two children-Charles B. and Florence M., now Mrs. James L. Kingsbury, of Lima. Mr. Fuller is the son of Ezekiel and Eunice (Wyman) Fuller, natives of Massachusetts.
G. F. HALL is a native of Clark County, Ohio, born April 2, 1832. His parents, William H. and Lucinda (Hull) Hall, came to this township in the year 1835, locating on Brushy Prairie. His father subsequently entered land in Section 16, also in Kosciusko County, which he traded for 130 acres near Lexington ; increased this to 616 acres and sold for $27,000 ; his home at present is near Kendallville, where he purchased land in 1867. With $1,000, the subject, at the age of twenty-four, went to Michigan and contracted for a $10,000 farm. Through misfortunes he was compelled to resign this farm, and with $600 returned to Greenfield Township. Since coming to this township, in 1860, he has prospered, and is the owner of 256 acres of land, improved. His residence was the first brick house built in the township and cost the owner about $3,400. The present Mrs. Hall, to whom he was married Decem- ber 31, 1865, was Mrs. Mary A. Appleman, the daughter of D. L. Popino. Flora is their only child. Mr. Hall's first wife died in December, 1862; she was Lucinda Bradford, daughter of Elder Bradford, of this township. By their union, which was consummated in September, 1857, three children were born, viz .: Charles, Franklin and Lucinda, deceased. Mr. Hall is a Repub- lican and an enterprising man.
GEORGE W. HALL, son of William H. and Lucinda (Hull) Hall, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in March, 1834. His father came to this town- ship in 1835, and is residing now near Kendallville. The subject, in 1855, November 8, was married to Miss Margaret Pickles; her death occurred November 15, 1880; she was born in England in 1833, and was the daughter of Robert and Jane Pickles. In the' spring of 1856, Mr. Hall began farm- ing on rented property, and two years later paid $1,600 for 120 acres of wild land in Greenfield Township; this he traded for other land in Greenfield and Springfield Townships ; subsequently sold and purchased farm of eighty acres near Kendallville, that he finally exchanged for 160 acres in this township. Mr. Hall is living with his second wife, to whom he was married December 1, 1881; she was Mrs. Susan E. Selby, widow of Joseph Selby, by whom she had four children. Mr. Hall, by his first wife, had seven children. Although of limited education, Mr. Hall is behind the times in nothing, readily adopting new ideas and methods that are superior to old ones.
WILLIS HASKINS is next to the oldest man in his township, and one of the oldest settlers ; he came here with his parents, Erastus and Mary (Moore) Haskins, in August, 1836, and has ever since lived on the farm where they located. His father died at the age of seventy-two and his mother at seventy. Mr. Haskins is now in his eighty-fifth year; he has always been a leading farmer, and owns 208 acres of land, acquired by economical industry. He was one of the early Township Trustees. November 21, 1830, Willis Haskins and
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Miss Jane Jackson were united "for better or for worse." This lady died April 5, 1856, having borne her husband eight children, viz., Elizabeth, Franklin, Charles, George, Albert, Mary J., Edith and Willis. Mr. Haskins' second marriage was to Mrs. Clarissa L. Murray, daughter of John Kemp, October 25, 1858 ; they had two children, Eugene and Ella, deceased. Three sons of Mr. Haskins served during the late war, Franklin, Charles and Albert; the former never lived to return, but rests in a soldier's grave at Nashville, Tenn. Previous to his advent in this county Mr. Haskins farmed in New York, his native State, being born in Cayuga County August 21, 1797.
CHRISTOPHER L. HAWK, son of Christopher and Ellen Hawk, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in March, 1821. Mrs. Ellen Hawk died in 1823, and in 1825 Mr. Hawk was married to Lena Bopp. The subject, with his father and step-mother, came to America in 1831; after living three years in Holmes County, Ohio, they moved to Hancock County, thence in 1858 to De Kalb County, Ind., and after a sojourn of ten years came to the village of Mongo, where they are yet residing with their eldest son, the sub- ject, at the respective ages of ninety-two and seventy-six years. C. L. Hawk was married, in 1847, to Miss Sarah Wyckoff, the daughter of Casper B. and Catharine (Johnson) Wyckoff, New Jerseyites, of German descent. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: William C., a miller ; Charles F., a merchant; John L., Eli Z., Mary E. (now Mrs. O. G. Long) ; Anna S. (now Mrs. Charles E. Dickenson), of White Pigeon, Mich., and Sarah E. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are both members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hawk is quite an experienced miller, that having been his chief occupation since eighteen years of age; at that time he received $6 per month, and until 1845 gave all his earnings to his parents, and when he married had $60. In about 1850, he bought 80 acres of land, sold it in 1858 for $2,300, then came to this State and purchased a flouring-mill in De Kalb County, on the St. Joe River, pre- vious to buying his saw and grist-mill and town property in the village of Mongo, where he is now located and respected as a prosperous business man and citizen.
JOSEPH J. HOLTON, son of James and Susan Holton, came to this township in about 1859, for the purpose of spending the winter with his brother-in-law, Dr. Spalding; but, being pleased with the country, has made it his permanent abiding place. Since twelve years of age, he has been de- pendent on his own resources. During the summer of 1860, he learned the carpenter's trade, but the two years following was employed in painting at La Grange, then began farm work, in the employ of Mr. Seaburn. In 1866, he commenced farming for him on shares. Two summers previous, he worked for Mr. Millis. Since then Mr. Holton has been engaged in farming and stock- raising to some extent. At the time the war opened, he had $96, but paid $76 to exempt the township draft. March 13, 1869, Mr. Holton and Miss Sarah Deal were united in matrimony. His birth occurred in Morrow County, Ohio, in September, 1843, and hers in this county in 1845. Her parents-Conrad and Elizabeth (Rawles) Deal-were among the first to locate in this township, coming here in 1834. Their humble cabin home was adorned with home-made furniture and an orchard raised from seed brought here by them. They had a family of twelve children, eight now living, viz .: Harrison, Elisha, Henry, Melinda, Frank, Teressa, Hadley and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Holton have an only son, Frank Vern, born January 5, 1880.
PHINEAS T. HUNTSMAN is the son of Jesse and Lucy (Jones) Hunts- man, natives of Pennsylvania and Vermont, who moved with their parents at
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an early date to Ohio, and, shortly after the event of their marriage, came to this township in 1831, where Phineas T. was born December 29, 1832. Mr. Huntsman, Sr., took an active part in the organization of the township and the La Grange Phalanx or Association. He first located on Section 28, but subsequently sold and moved to Sections 20 and 21. That was his share in an association farm when it disbanded. Here he died in December, 1860. His wife died in May of the same year. Phineas Huntsman, after his father's death, purchased the homestead farm of 220 acres and fairly improved. On the 1st of January, 1863, he was married to Orissa Jennings, whose birth occurred in Jefferson County, N. Y., October 25, 1832. Her parents-Ben- jamin and Eliza (Hunt) Jennings-came to this township in 1854. Mrs. Jen- nings was born in Vermont. She is seventy-one years old and is living on the homestead farm. Pennsylvania was Mr. Jennings' native State. He died in Allegan County, Mich., in October, 1878, having lived there ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Huntsman have had two children. Mary E. (deceased) was born January 30, 1867, and Jessie L., born November 22, 1869. Mr. Huntsman is a Republican and a man of good standing in society.
MRS. HANNAH E. KINGSLEY, the daughter of Hustis and Eliza Cronkite, of New York, was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1826. Her parents were a mixture of English, German and French descent. In 1845, Miss Hannah Cronkite was married to Lorin Kingsley, now deceased. They removed from Monroe County, N. Y., to Orleans County, same State, thence to Indiana in 1857, and located on the old association farm, their goods being lost on the way, leaving them almost entirely destitute of bedding and cooking utensils. They moved into a house about two hundred feet long and lived there about six weeks. Mr. Kingsley, from a poor boy, became one of the leading farmers and stock dealers of the township, owning at the time of his death, December 10, 1879, $30,000 worth of property or more. He was a thoroughly good man, and is mourned by his family and large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley had six children-Nettie, Elizabeth, Carrie, Eva, Kate P. and Charles E. Mr. Kingsley was born in Monroe County, N. Y., May 20, 1814, and by his first wife, Mary Lilly, had five children, four living, viz .: Jennie, Marcia, Minnie and William H.
EDWARD MILLIS is among the early settlers of Springfield Township. His father, Levin Millis, was a native of Maryland and twice married. By his first marriage there were born four children, and by his last wife-Ruth Leonard, also a native of Maryland-there were born three children. After his second marriage, Mr. Millis, in 1837, emigrated to Wayne County, Ind., where he had friends. After living in Wayne County two years, he moved to Springfield Township, where he engaged in farming until his death, August 2, 1840. His widow died March 9, 1874. Edward Millis was born February 6, 1831, in Talbot County, Md., to his father's second wife. He assisted in the labors of pioneer life at home, receiving but a common school education, and was married March 28, 1855, to Eleanor M., daughter of Robert and Mary (Pollman) Griffin, who were natives of England and who came to the United States in 1829 and 1834 respectively. They came to La Grange County in 1841, and moved to Steu- ben County in 1842, where Mr. Griffin died the same year. His widow died in 1856. In 1856, Mr. Millis purchased a farm in Clay Township, but after four and a half years sold out and returned to Springfield Township, where he purchased a farm and resided until his removal to La Grange. By hard labor and economy, they have made additions, until they now own 210 acres of land
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on Sections 23 and 24. They are the parents of five children-Emma E. (deceased), Frank E., Marian M., Louis M. and one that died in infancy. In 1879, Mr. Millis moved to La Grange, for the purpose of giving his children better school advantages. They resided there until March, 1882, when they removed back to their place in Springfield Township, where they still reside. Mr. Millis is a Republican. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Millis was born in Niagara County, N. Y., July 6, 1835.
MATTHEW MYERS is a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., and son of John F. and Elizabeth Myers, natives also of the same State. John Myers was a shoemaker, and his son Matthew naturally acquired a taste for that pur- suit, and worked at it when a boy ; but for some time previous to visiting Indi- ana, in 1853, he drove a stage team. Since coming to this township, in 1855, with his family, Mr. Myers has accumulated property worth over $6,000. For the first two years after arriving here, he was engaged in stage driving, while his family kept the toll-gate on the plank road ; subsequently worked at shoe- making seven years, then bought his farm of 150 acres that has proven a good investment. Mr. Myers has been three times married. By his first marriage, in 1836, to Lucy Hopkins, he had one child-William H. In 1852, he was married to Cornelia Dunham ; they had an only son-Frank. His third wife was Zoe M. Scoville, daughter of Josiah Richard. They have an only daughter, Libby.
SAMUEL H. NEWNAM was born in September, 1841, on the farm in this township where he has ever since resided. He was married in December, 1870, to Miss Emma Faulkner, a native also of this township, where she was born in November, 1841. Her parents were William P. and Nancy (Pearson) Faulkner, both natives of Maryland, and descendants respectively of the English and Irish ; he came to this township in 1837 with his brother Elsby, locating on Section 31, where he was engaged in farming many years, subse- quently removing to La Grange, where his death occurred in March, 1878 ; he was a member of the Methodist Church. Samuel Newnam, when of age, started with a capital of $100; he rented the old homestead until after the death of his father in 1876, when he purchased a portion of it, comprising 214 acres. For ten years past he has dealt largely in stock, buying and shipping in the spring. In 1881, he shipped two car loads of sheep that averaged 155 pounds per head, and one double-deck load that averaged 140 pounds per head. For the past three years his farm has yielded an annual profit of $3,000. Mr. Newnam is a leading farmer of his township, and is the son of Nicholas B. Newnam, who came to this township in 1836, and was married to a second wife in 1840-Susan Greenfield, the daughter of Robert and Ann (Austin) Green- field, of Maryland, who moved to Ohio in 1818, thence to this township in 1835, where Mr. Greenfield died, leaving a wife and six children.
WILLIAM S. NEWNAM, the son of Benedict and Rachael (Benson) Newnam, was born October 5, 1808, in Talbot County, Md., that being the State of his parents' nativity, who were of English descent. In the spring of 1836, William Newnam and family started for the West, stopping about one month in Franklin County in June, thence to this township via Indianapolis, South Bend and White Pigeon. Here he entered 120 acres of land, living in his wagon until he completed a log cabin, where he lived until the death of his wife. Soon after sold his place, having cleared forty acres and improved with new buildings. For four years he was variously employed, and about 1854 purchased land in Milford Township that was subsequently exchanged for his
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present farm of 130 acres, that is in an improved condition. In May, 1832, he was married to Sarah H. Clark, of the same nativity as himself and the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Clark. They had four children-Edward B., Rebecca A., John C. and Sarah S. His second marriage was consum- mated in 1856. His wife, Jane Bryan, the daughter of William Cochran, came to this county in 1837 with her parents. She died in 1867, and Mr. Newnam has since lived with his daughter H. (now Mrs. Frank Lewis), on the homestead farm. The subject while in the employ of Capt. Barry, in 1840, husked seventy bushels of corn in one day. Previous to coming to Indiana, he was a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and is a charter member of the Regulator Society, in which movement he was actively engaged. He is a Republican, and was once a Free-Soiler ; he was accompanied to this county by three brothers and two sisters-Gerry P., Daniel I., Francis A., Rebecca and Ann, and another brother, Nicholas B., came in the fall. William Newnam is now the only living representative of the family. He is known and respected as an old pioneer that has endured much for the sake of the country's good. His son, John C., during the war, enlisted in Company H., Forty-fourth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, in the fall of 1861, and served three years, receiving a wound at the battle of Chickamauga.
PHILO NICHOLS, born in Connecticut in 1815, is a son of James Nichols, of the same State, and one of five brothers who located in this county -Drusus, in 1833, John, in 1836, Thaddeus, in 1837, Augustus, in 1838, and the subject in 1839. Augustus previously had lived in Texas about four years ; Philo Nichols stopped with his brother about three years at Union Mills (Mongo); the following ten years resided in Steuben County, then bought his home of eighty acres in this township in 1852, it being then partially cleared ; is now finely cultivated, and worth $70 an acre. Mr. Nichols' first wife, Melinda Carr, of New York, to whom he was married in 1848, died in 1851, leaving one child-Alice (now Mrs. Joseph Talmage). His present wife became Mrs. Nichols on the 17th of March, 1857; she was formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart, widow of William Stewart and daughter of Levin Millis. Mr. Nichols has twice been chosen to serve as Township Trustee. His first election was in 1854. Farming and stock-raising principally engage his time and attention.
DAVID PAULUS, son of David Paulus, in 1841 was united in mar- riage to Miss Catharine Babb, who was born in Pennsylvania November 25, 1820, and her husband in Stark County, Ohio, August 11, 1817. She was the daughter of John Babb, both parents being of German descent and natives of Pennsylvania. David Paulus, Jr., when of age, learned carpentering, receiving $24 for his first year's work, and that has occupied the principal part of his time until within the past seven years. He came to this county in 1844, and since buying eighty acres of land in this township, in 1847, has followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Paulus belong to the Church of God, and have had seven children-William H. (deceased), Mary S., Charles E. (deceased), Albert A., Elnora (deceased), Ella and Harvey E. Mr. Paulus was Trustee of his township three years, and is recognized as a valuable citizen. His son William (now deceased), served during the war of the rebellion, first enlisting in the spring of 1861 in the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, re-enlisting in 1864 as a veteran, and remaining until the war closed.
HON. WILLIAM PRENTISS, one of the representative men of the township, comes from pioneer stock, and was born in pioneer days, April 18,
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1835, on the old homestead farm, where he now lives. He inherits in a large degree the sterling qualities of his parents-Judge William S. and Jane Pren- tiss, who filled so honorable a place in this community. Young William in his boyhood gathered his book knowledge as best he could from the limited oppor- tunities of those primitive days. He continued to live with his parents after he was twenty-one years old, and after working a couple of years for his father, en- tered partnership with him in running the farm. Subsequently, he went West during the Idaho excitement, but returned at the end of about five months, just in time to vote for Abraham Lincoln for his second term of the Presidency. In the autumn of 1872, he was elected by the Republican party as Representative to the State Legislature, serving his constituency in a creditable manner. Upon the death of his father, he was made executor of the estate. Since 1876, he has been serving as a member of the Republican Central Committee, performing an influential and active part in home politics. At present, he is filling the position of Township Trustee. Mr. Prentiss was married February 27, 1866, to Hermie S. Coffinberry, daughter of S. C. Coffinberry, of Constantine, Mich .; five children have been born to them-James F., May 27, 1867 ; William S., November 3, 1868 ; Margaret E., October 31, 1871; Mary J., February 12, 1876, and Helen L., September 15, 1879.
JUDGE WILLIAM S. PRENTISS (deceased) was an early pioneer of La Grange County, having entered land on Section 34, and settled in what is now Springfield Township in the fall of 1832. He was a native of Massachu- setts and of English descent. Born of poor parents, he was thrown upon his own resources in his boyhood days, and went to live with a Mr. Chandler as clerk in his store for his board and clothes, conditioned that he should remain until he was twenty-one years of age. At the expiration of his time, he engaged to re- main with his old employer at a small salary, with whom he continued for two years. He then entered college, and, notwithstanding his self-dependence, by assisting himself with teaching school at intervals, he secured a good education and attended Cambridge University, Massachusetts, until 1826. He then took up civil engineering under Col. Baldwin, of Boston, continuing until the fall of 1832, when he came West to locate a home. Here Mr. Prentiss at once entered upon an intelligent and useful career. December 25, following his arrival here, he was united in marriage by Judge Seeley with Miss Jane M. Clark, and the next day he drove to White Pigeon and purchased their housekeeping outfit, which he packed in a barrel and returned home. A peculiar coincidence oc- curred in connection with this couple. A short time previous to their first meeting, Mr. Prentiss was taking a view of the surrounding country on horse- back with a view of locating, and when just west of where his home now stands his horse became mired and was extricated with difficulty. Notwithstanding this episode, Mr. Prentiss was so attracted by the beauty of the scenery that he decided to make his home in the neighborhood. A few days subsequently, Miss Clark was riding for recreation in the vicinity, when her horse became mired in the same mud-hole. A short time after this, they met at Judge Seeley's, where they became acquainted. Among the early improvements made by Mr. Pren- tiss was a saw-mill built by him in 1838, on Turkey Creek, which is still in operation. Being a man of superior education, with a mind far above the aver- age, and possessed of those sterling attributes, integrity and moral rectitude, he soon took a decided position as a leader in his township and county. All enter- prises that had in view the advancement of the public interests, found in him an able, earnest and uncompromising advocate. In politics, he was a Whig, and,
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