USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 51
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RAILROADS.
The Fort Wayne, Muucie &. Cincinnati Railroad was finished to Fort Wayne in the autumn of 1869. Distance 109 miles south to Connorsville, where it connects with the C. & I. Junction Railroad, running thence to Cin- cinnati.
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was completed to Fort Wayne in the spring of 1864. The terminus is at the Straits of Mackinaw, Mich.
The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad was completed from this city 100 miles north to Jaekson, Mich., in 1870, there connecting with the į cars per day, ready for the paint-shop.
Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad, thence north to the Straits of Mackinaw via Saginaw City.
The Cincinnati, Richmond &' Fort Wayne Railroad was completed from this city to Richmond, Ind., 91 miles south, in December, 18-, there connecting with the line to Cincinnati.
Ohio & Indiana Railroad .- In January, 1850, the contract for building the entire road from Crestline, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Ind., 136 miles, was let to Samuel Hanna, Pliny Hoagland and William Mitchell for $740,000, this to include all necessary buildings and fixtures, but no iron or ears. In January, 1852, they sublet the entire route. The firm name was William Mitchell & Co. In 1852, Allen Hamilton donated six acres for depot grounds on the present site of the south depot. In the same year, Samuel Hanna donated five acres for shop ground on the present site of the shops. This railroad was completed to this point in the autumn of 1855, about one year after the expiration of the con- tracted time. The track was laid down on La Fayette street from a point on the main line west of Clay street. The depot and freight grounds embraced all lands between the eanal and the north side of Columbia street, west of La Fayette and cast of Barr streets. The first locomotive brought here was towed up the canal from Toledo, Ohio, on a flatboat, under charge of R. W. Wohlfort, engineer, who landed it at the head of Columbia on La Fayette street, and there set it up and took charge of it, running it over the road for some time after. bis pioneer engineer still survives. His faitliful old servant has gone into the " scrap heap," alas ! old " Ohio." In 1857, this road was consolidated with the Fort Wayne & Chicago and the Ohio & Pennsylvania to make the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, 469 miles long. The depot, freight- house, etc., were moved to their present locations and the track was taken up on LaFayette street. The first engine-house, on the canal cast of Barr street, was an old frame building formerly used as a store. The gable end was torn out and the building fitted for this purpose. The new buildings on the present site of the south depot were frame, and consisted of a depot and freight house. The depot was subsc- quently demolished to make room for the present building. The freight-house was burned some time later, and the present building was reared immuedi- ately after. In September of this year (1857), Jones, Bass & Co. sold their shops on the south side of Elohuan strect immediately east of Barr, to this Com- pany, and they added additional buildings, blacksmith-shop, etc., and began the work for the railroad company. Thus was inaugurated the present extensive Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad shops, of which we give the follow- ing sizes, capacity and extent :
PITTSBURGH, FORT WAYNE AND CHICAGO RAILROAD SHOPS.
These shops, under the general superintendence of Master Mechanic James M. Boone, cover some squares in the heart of the city, and give employment to men as follows: Car-shops, Israel Lee, foreman, 250-this includes 50 men em- ployed in tbe lumber-yard ; blacksmith-shop, Harry Campbell, foreman, 119; boiler and copper shops, John Doty and S. C. Henderson, foremen, 45 ; machine- shop, S. B. Bradley, foreman, 75; tank-shop, T. J. Hedges, foreman, 10; round- house, D. B. Strope, foreman, 75; employed in offices and miscellaneous, 40 ; total, 614.
The amount invested in this property, and the annual value of the products of the shops, could not be aseertained definitely, as the data are not available. A careful estimate, however, places the sum annually expended for the labor alone employed in these shops, at from $350,000 to $400,000, which vast amount is in turn distributed by the recipients among our retail business men, supporting a great many branches of trade, and affording a livelihood to large numbers of people.
The sbops are now running in full blast. The products include loeoruotive engines, palace day and sleeping coaches and cars of all descriptions, box cars, stock cars, flat cars, refrigerator ears, express and baggage ears, ordinary passenger cars, etc. All of the locomotives used on the Western Division of the Pittsburgb, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway are built here, as well as a large proportion of the ears of all deseriptions used by tbe Pennsylvania lines. In addition to this, locomotives and cars are built for many other roads.
Round- House .- Size of building (eircle with open space of 150 fect diause- ter), 300; capacity (nuuber of locomotives), 38; number of men employed, 75. A new bouse is in contemplation east of the city, witb, complete circle; open space ; will bave a capacity of fifty locomotives. D. B. Strope is foreman.
Blacksmith. Shop .- Size of building, 100x300 feet; size of engine-room, 40x50 feet ; horse-power of engine, eighty, stroke and bore, 16x30 feet ; one perpen- dicular steam-bammer, stroke 2,500 pounds ; one furnace and locomotive boiler in connection ; one hoizontal steam-hammer, stroke, 1,000 pounds; one furnace and locomotive boiler in connection. "These hammers combined use twelve tons of' scrap-iron per day ; total amount of iron consumed in this shop per day, fifty tons; total number of fires, sixty ; total number of men employed, 120; one pair of steam shears; one bydraulic up-setting machine ; one steam-bolt machine ; one steam up-setting machine; three additiond hammers; two additional fur- naees ; a steam fire engine, perpendicular, direet action, capable of tbrowing a stream of solid water to a perpendicular height of 120 fect-tbis is for tbe gen- eral protection of the shops ; onc Sturdevent blower ; one drill press ; three derricks. The first blacksmith-shops, loeated east of La Fayette street and immediately north of the track, were burned on May 27, 1865, and the present shops on the south side of Holman, between La Fayette and Barr streets, were creeted imuie- diately after.
Setting- Up Shop .- Size of building, 75x125 feet ; capacity for cars at one time, seven ; capacity for car-trucks at one time, seven. In this shop a freight car is constructed in all its details, and turned out at the maximum rate of ten
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
Paint Shop .- This shop is ahout 75x80 feet, and has a capacity of seven cars ; the standard weight of a grain car is 20,880 pounds.
Iron Working Department .- Four axle lathca; two horing-mills for car wheels; one single; one eross hesd feed; one hydraulic wheel press gauged to 150 tons to the square inch ; seven drill presses, perpendicular ; five holt cutters ; one small lathe ; two small horizontal eap drills; three tapping machines for cutting taps, etc .; one extra grindstone ; one emery shsft.
Second Floor .- Ouc hand saw ; one emery wheel ; one surface shaper ; two tenoning machines, one jig saw; two tahle ssws, circular ; one perpendicular mortising machine; three turning lathes ; one sticking machine; two cast-iron formus for grain-door construction ; one cork crushing machine ; nne glue range.
Upholstering Room .- This room is on the second floor, at the east end, and has in connection one tow and hair-cutting machine, and one large size Howe sewing machine, togetlier with storerooms, etc.
Car-Construction Shops, Wood- Working Department .- Size of building. two stories, 90x240 feet ; one perpendicular boring machine, special huild extra size, four sets of hits; on perpendicular horing machine, special huild, extra size, five sets of hits ; one perpendicular horing machine, special build, extra size, one set of bits ; two horizontal tenouing machine, special build, extra size ; one double shaping machine, special build; one trehle shaping machine, special huild; one double jig-saw machine, special build ; one double forming machine, special huild : one horizontal mortising machine, special huild; two setts of double swinging saws, special build ; three tahle saws, circular; two revolving saws, cir- cular.
LOCOMOTIVE, CONSTRUCTION AND MACHINE SHOPS.
Planers of various sizes, total number, 11; lathes of various sizes, total number, 20; lathes of extra sizes, total number, 3; perpendicular drilling machines, total number, 7.
Special Machinery .- Two truck- wheel horing-mill; one hydraulic wheel press, Industrial, No. 120; one thread-cutting machine, Sellers', No. 141 ; one thread cutting machine, Wood & Light ; one double emery-wheel, one milling machine, one test-gauge apparatus, three derricks, one extra size grindstone.
Horse-power of engine, 80; hore and stroke, 16x36. Size of building, construction and machine shop proper, 150x300 feet ; size of engine and hoiler- room, 50x60 feet. Master Mechanic's office and supply depot, in connection with the main building, two stories, 50x150 feet; total number of men employed, 75 ; S. B. Bradley, foreman.
Locomotive Tank Construction Shops .- Size of building, immediately west and adjoining blacksmith-shops, 80x100 feet. Machinery : One pair steam shears ; two perpendicular drill presses; one planer ; one traveling crane. Num- ber of men employed, 10. T. J. Hedges, foreman.
WATER.WORKS.
These works are located on the south side of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad track, on the east bank of the St. Mary's River. The huild- iugs are of hrick, as is also the well and stand-pipe. The following is an exhibit of the size and capacity : Steam eylinders, two, each 48x22 feet; water cylia- ders, two, each 12x48 feet ; hoilers, two, each locomotive huild ; hoilers' average pressure in pounds, 40; fnel, eoal, in pounds, per day, 22,000. Pipe : Size discharge, 12 inches to roundhonse; from roundhouse to stock yards, 8 inches ; suction, 14 inches; pressure, to roundhouse, one and one-half miles, square inch, 32 pounds; pressure, average to stock yards, two miles, square inch, 42 pounds. Stand pipe, 93 feet high, 22 inches diameter; hoiler, iron, hrick exterior.
Pumps, Special Cameron Build .- Maximum capacity in twenty-four hours, 500,000 gallons: minimum eapacity in twenty-four hours, 200,000 gallons. Tanks, located at roundhouse: Capacity, each, 6,250 gallons, four in number ; total capacity, 25,000 gallons.
THE LAKE ERIE. WABASH & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY
was organized at Logansport, Ind., July 23, 1852, with a capital stock of $4,000,- 000, consisting of 80,000 shares of $50 ench. The Eastern terminus was the Ohio State I'ne; the Western terminus, Illinois State liae. Fifty thousand dollars' worth of stock suspended on the day of meeting, on the spot. William Rockhill, Chairman.
WABASH RAILROAD SHOPS.
In 1859, the tben T. W. & W. R. R. Co. signified their preference to Fort Wayne as a point to locate their car and macbine shop, and, in consequence, and as an inducement tu hriag ahout such an end, a subscription was started to raise an amount required by the Company, representing $15,000, nearly all of which sum had heen subscribed, when they postponed for the time any action. In 1860, however, Fort Wayne was settled upon as the point, and during that year and the one following (1861), the present works were huilt and put into operation, Pre- vious to those years, however, and shortly after the completion of the road to this point, the round-top engine-house was huilt, also the shops of frame, immediately to the east of the old roundhouse. In the latter, were carried on a general repair- shop, using the necessary machinery, engine, etc., to construct and repair cars and machinery. This shop hecame to he known over the road as " the hospital."
The car construction shops were subsequently moved to Toledo, Ohio. We give heluw the machinery, etc., of the shops, and the various heads over them, as well as the number of men employed in the several departments.
Machine and Setting-up Shop, huilt in 1861 .- One large planer, two medium planers, two " donkey " planers, one large swing lathe, two axle lathes, twelve intermediate lathes, six perpendicular drill presses, one hydraulic punching machine, ne hydraulie car- wheel setter, une car-wheel horing mill, one hoz horing machine,
one compound hox and cylinder horing machino, one compound puacher aud shears, two thread-cutting machines, two hurr-entting machines, one horizontal oylinder horing machine. Horse-power of engine-16x30-eighty. Two loco- motive hoilers.
Blacksmith-shop, huilt in 1861 .- Eighteen fires, one pair of power shcars, one horizontal steam hammer, one perpendicular steam hammer, one pair of boiler shears, one smelting oven, one crane.
Roundhouse, huilt in 1856-57, capacity for twenty engines. Roundhouse immediately west of Fairfield avenue, has a capacity for sixteen engines. The old roundhouse and the shops are located south of the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. and east of Fairfield avenue, the buildings are one story, and of brick. The wood. working shop is frame, and at this time is run without any steam power.
The following is a list of the men employed in the several departmcuts : Machine-shops (J. B. Barnes, foreman), 85 men ; hoiler- shops (C. F. Lape, fore- man), 40; blacksmith-shops (Dan Camphell, foreman), 38; coppersmith shop (L. Newroth, foreman), 5 ; hrass moulders' foundry (James Kuukuck, foreman), 3; carpenter-shops (H. Poyser, foreman), 30; roundhouses (J. C. Mills, fore- man), 47 ; master mechanic's office (W. Wilson, M. M.), 3; total (exclusive of engineers and firemen), 251.
These shops consist of five very large buildings. The principal work is the building of locomotives, and the repair of engines and cars. The hulk of the repairs for the Wahaslı road, hetween Danville and Toledo, is done in these shops,
WATER-WORKS OF THE WABASH RAILROAD.
These works are located on the east bank of the St. Mary's River, on the north side of the Wabash Railroad. The buildings are frame. The pumps, two in numher, are known as the Worthington Duplex. The following is an exhibit of their capacity, etc .: Two steam hoilers, locomotive huild, used alternately ; discharge pipe, four inches ; suction pipe, six inches ; water pressure, 120 pounds to the square inch ; one tank, with a capacity of 1,200 harrels, located near the water-works; one tank, with a capacity of 2,800 harrels, located near the round- house. Ten tons of soft coal are used per week ; about 200,000 gallons are pumped per day ; the pumps are used in turu ahout every three days.
THE MUNCIE SHOPS.
The Muncie shops were established in this eity about five years ago. They are located in the Ninth Ward, near the Feeder Canal, and gives employment to sixty-eight men. William McPhail is the Master Mechanic, William Knight, Master Car-Builder, and Joseph Gair, Foreman of the blacksmith-shop. In this shop is done the repair work of the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati and Whitewater Valley Railroads. In consideration of the location of the shops at Fort Wayne, and the completion of the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Rail- road, the city, by a vote of the people, appropriated $100,000, hesides suhse- quently donating a portion of lands known as the City Park. On these lands they, in 1874, huilt the present shops, located in the Ninth Ward, on the east side of North Calhoun street, south of the Feeder Canal. No machinery, how. ever, is operated as yet. The engine-bouse, located a short distance southeast, is a frame, and has a capacity for five eagines. The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Sagi- naw Railroad engine-house is located hard by and has a capacity for three engines. Both use the same turn-table. The depot and freight offices of these roads jointly are located in the Ninth Ward, near the junction of North Harrison and First streets. Both are frame. The tracks of each of these roads may he said to he a continuity of each, joining, seemingly, to make one road.
Fort Wayne is possessed of six railway lines: The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago; Toledo, Wabash & Western; Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw ; Fort Wayne & Muncie ; Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne.
AMUSEMENTS.
Colerick's Hall .- This hall was built in the summer of 1853, by E. F. Coleriek. It is located on the north side of Columnhia street, cast of Clinton, Lot 37, original plat. This, the first public hall, was opened to the public on the 26th of December, 1853, and was for many years the popular resort. In 1864, it was refitted, improved and named Colerick's Opera House, as it has since heen called. It is now fast falling into disusc, having passed out of the hands of Mr. C. some time since ; the present owner is J. B. White.
Olympic Theatre .- This building is on the southeast corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, Lot No. 58, original plat ; was built hy the exceutors of the estate of Washington Ewing, in the year 1868, and was opened to the public in winter of this year. This is a commodious nud very convenient hall, having the patent chair, raised floor, and other conveniences suited for its use.
Rink .- In 1868, an organization was formed called the Rink Association ; this company let a contract to Heroy Bros., who built, during the autumn of this year, on the north side of Berry street, cast of Clinton, Lot 95, original plat, one of their patent skating rinks, and opened it to the public at the beginning of the skating season. It was finally sold, aud, in 1878, it was refitted for a public hall, a raised floor and stage, besides the other necessary improvements were made; at this time its name was changed to the Academy of Music, hy which name it is at this time known.
INDIAN AND OTHER TRADERS.
J. B. Richardville, afterward chief, was licensed to trade with the Indians at Fort Wayne in 1815. He had, also, a trading liouse on his reserve, below the County Infirmary, near the forks of the Bluffton and Winchester roads.
Antonie Bondie was an Indian trader and interpreter; was here as early as 1812-13; was at one time the only white man that lived here outside of the fort. He was located at the landing, i. e , about immediately north of the gas factory, near the St. Mary's River bridge, in a log house.
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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
Samuel Hanna and James Barnett were Indian traders in 1819. Hanua huilt a log house on the northeast corner of Columbia and Barr streets ; and, in 1820, he and Barnett opened a trading-house. Their goods were purchased in Boston, Mass., and came hy water to New York, thenee by way of Alhany to Buffalo, then hy lake to Detroit, and from there via Swan Creek (Toledo), to Maumee Rapids; heing hauled around the Rapids, they were conveyed up the Maumee River, hy pirogues, to Fort Wayne.
Francis Comparet came here, in 1820, from Toledo, Ohio. He engaged in the Indian trade at once; was located on Columbia street, south side, het ween Clinton and Calhoun, on original plat, in 1823. He engaged in same business with Henry Colerick in 1832-33, and subsequently with Peter Kiser, under the firm naure of Comparet & Kiser. This firm were agents for the North American Fur Company ; they also built the only distillery ever huilt here ; it was located on the south hank of the canal, immediately east of Comparet's residence.
J. B. Bourie was an Indian trader, and was among the first. He was located on the northwest corner of Columbia and Calhoun streets, on Lot No. 46, origi- nal plat, the present site of Drier Bros' drug store.
John B. Bourie and John Peltier, Indian traders, were located on the north- west corner of. Columbia and Calhoun streets, in a two-story hrick (the first huild- ing in town when built), on Lot No. 46, original plst.
George W. and William G. Ewing were licensed to trade at Fort Wayne in 1822; they were located on the southwest corner of Columbia and Calhoun streets, until the building was destroyed hy fire in 1828, when they removed to the south- east corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, where they continued in business for several years.
The American Fur Company was located here in 1822. Francis Comparet, Alexis Coquillard and Benjamin Kercheval were agents. They were located here hefore, about the year 1820.
Peter Kiser eame here in 1823, from Ohio, and located as a butcher. He issued rations to tho Indians at their several payments here, at the " forks of the Wahash " and on Eel River. He subsequently, in 1846, engaged in the mercan- tile husiness, on Lot No. 76, original plat, where he has continued until this day.
Allen Hamilton came here in 1823; was appointed Deputy Register under S. C. Vanee. About a year afterward he engaged in the mercantile husiness. Soon after tbis he formed a partnership with Cyrus Taher, under the firm name of Hamilton & Taher. He was the confidential adviser of Chief Richardville, receiving and dishursing large sums of money, etc. Previous to his connection with Taher he was associated with Barnett & Hanna, about the years 1826 to 1832, on the northeast corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, on Lot No. 39. Thomas Hamilton was engaged in the store as clerk.
Frank Lassalle was engaged here as a merchant, on the south side of Colum- hi i street, hetween Barr and Clinton, on Lot No. 61, original plat. He after- ward sold his establishment to the Miami Indians, and the establishment was conducted hy Shapeenee Richard Chute, who was a trader and connected with the Ewings.
William S. Edsall was a trader ; was associated with the Ewings at an early date.
James Arelinie was engaged as a trader with the Ewings, on the southwest corner of Columbia and Calhoun streets, on Lot No. 51, original plat. Was in husiness about 1828 to 1835.
James Godfroi, a Frenchman, was a trader, located on what was called " Little River Reserve," ahout eleven miles from Fort Wayne, in La Fayette Township, from 1830 to 1835.
Heuderson, the father of Zene Henderson, built a frame huilding on the northeast corner of Columbia and Calhoun streets, on Lot No. 45, original plat, the present site of George De Wald's store. In 1833-34, Mr. Henderson occupied this as a trading-house, and continued until 1835-36, when he formed a partnership under the firm name of Henderson, Britton & Stapleford, who huilt a hrick addi- tion. This copartnership was unsatisfactory and a dissolution followed soon after. The house was then sold and converted into a tavern.
Scott & Sten .- Joseph Seutt and John Sten-were the successors of Henry Colerick, in the dry-goods trade. They were located on the sontli side of Columbia street, hetween Clinton and Calhoun streets, on Lot No. - original plat.
Peter Jeho was engaged with the Ewings in the manufacture of jewelry, such as hrooches, crosses, ear-rings, etc.
Zene Henderson was an Indian trader, and was located on Lot No. 45, orig- inal plat, the present site of George De Wald's store. He was engaged in the trade from 1828 to ahout 1835, succeeding his father.
Benjamin Smith had a grocery on the southeast corner of Columbia and Calhoun streets, on Lot No. 52, original plat.
INDIAN CAMP GROUND.
In 1830, and prior thereto, the Indians assemhled in great numbers on the west side of Calhoun street, from ahout the Methodist Church to the canal. The space between the descrihed houndary, and even farther to the west, was covered with a small growth of oak, to which the Indians were accustomed to hitch their ponies. During the imprisonment of Big Leg, the chief, for murder, large numbers of them were encamped on these grounds.
CHIEF RICHARDVILLE'S REMAINS
are huried ahout fifty feet east, and about fifteen feet south of the southwest corner of the cathedral at Fort Wayne. His monument, however, was taken away when the excavation for the building was made, nnd set up in the old Cath- olie graveyard on the east hank of the St. Mary's River.
MISCELLANY.
In a carefully prepared speech, delivered before the late lamented Chsmher of Commerce in 1876, Mr. Henry G. Olds estimated the amount of capital invested in our manufuetories at from $10,000,000 to $12,000,000; the numher of men employed at 3,000; the annual value of the products at $20,000,000 ; the cash disbursements for lahor at from $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 annually ; and for material, from 8700,000 to $1,000,000 monthly. It is certain that the figures are larger now than then, for our manufacturing interests are in a much more flourishing condition in 1879 than they were in 1876.
The information herewith presented is not so full or complete as could be desired. But the article is hy no- means intended to he exhaustive, and the subject will be recurred to agsin by the Sentinel.
W. Davis, of Terre Haute, Ind., in August, 1839, asked our Postmaster for a description of Fort Wayne for a gazette of Indiana, and received the following reply : " It contains 7 preachers of the Gospel, 9 lawyers, 8 physicians, 10 master carpenters and joiners, 6, stone snd hrick masons, 5 blucksmiths, 3 wagon and enach makers, 3 cahinet-makers, 6 tailors, 3 painters and glaziers, 3 hakeries, 4 shoemakers, 3 saddlers and harness-makers, 2 hreweries, 1 tinner, 1 hatter, 1 tanner and eurrier, 2 butchers, 1 jeweler, 1 pottersware, 1 hoat-yard, 1 mill manufactory, printing office. It contains 17 dry-goods stores, 3 hotels, 10 grocery and pro- vision stores, and 4 drug stores. It contains 1 hank, 4 houses for public worship, a market-house, court house, county jail, and 1 fire-engine. It contains 6 relig- ious societies, to wit : 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopalian, 1 German Lutheran, 1 Catholic. It contains an academy and several public schools, their numher varying with circuinstances. There are 55 to 60 dwelling-houses and stores being built the present season. The amount of taxahle real estate in town is $544,583, and in the county, $987,346, hut a small portion of the lands of the levy yet subject to taxation. Tho Wahash & Erie Canal passes through the town ; it is completed to Logansport, ahout eighty miles west, and packets and freight-boats ply daily hetween the two places. It is expected to he completed to La Fayette, in that direction, and east to Ohio State line, during the approach- ing autumn. The Michigan & Erie Canal, now in course of construction, unites with the Wahash & Erie one mile west of town, and, when completed, will form, in conjunction with the latter, an inland water connection between the heads of Lakes Michigan and Erie."-[ Fort Wayne Sentinel, Angust 24, 1839.]
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