Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 115

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820


USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 115
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 115
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 115
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 115


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term as county commissioner and has shown him- self to be a man of capability, sound judgment, broad intelligence and progressive ideas.


Oscar Roeser is engaged in the grocery business in Grand Island, Neb., and although he has only been established in the grocery business since 1882, he has built up a trade and founded a reputation equal to any of the oldest houses in the city. He was born in Saginaw, Mich., January 4, 1852, and is a son of William and Theresa (Vasold) Roeser, who were born and reared in Germany, but who were married in Saginaw, Mich., where they still reside. In a family of ten children born to them, eight were sons and two were daughters, and the eldest was the subject of this sketch, he being one of the eight children who are living. He attained manhood in his native city and there received a good education in the public schools. When not pursning his studies he worked in his father's gen- eral mercantile establishment, the latter having started this business in 1851, and still continues it, but after acquiring a sufficient education he gave up this work and engaged in wielding the ferule, continning for two terms near Saginaw. In 1877 he left his native county and came directly to Grand Island, Neb., where he has ever since made his home, and in this city he is now a leading busi- ness man. During the first five years of his resi- dence here he was employed by Fred Hedde as manager of a lumber yard, but in 1882 he took the money he had earned and saved and invested it in groceries, and this business has continued to re- ceive his attention up to the present time. He has been unusually successful, and holds the confidence of the citizens of Grand Island for integrity and sound judgment. His efforts on behalf of supply- ing dealers with the best quality of goods at little money are fully appreciated, and have gained for him an enviable name in the mercantile circles throughout the county. On December 6, 1884, his marriage occurred to Miss Minna M. Stolley, a daughter of William Stolley, a pioneer settler of the county. Mrs. Roeser was born on the old Stolley homestead, one mile south of Grand Island, and her union with Mr. Roeser has resulted in the birth of a son, Emil F. In his political views Mr.


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Roeser is a devoted member of the Republican party.


Emerson Rogers. One of the neatest and best- kept farms in Hall County, Neb., is that owned by Mr. Rogers. It comprises 280 acres, situated about four miles from Grand Island. Mr. Rogers was born in Casco, Me., in the month of August, 1827, and there grew to manhood, receiving a good common-school education. In 1855 he came west and settled in Aurora, Ill., where he engaged in contracting and building, and there met and mar- ried Miss Jennie Pierce, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Pierce, of Denbigh, North Wales. Mrs. Rogers was born, reared and educated in Wales, and in 1857 emigrated to the United States with her unele, John Pierce, Esq., of Big Rock, Ill., and after her marriage she and Mr. Rogers resided in Aurora for about fifteen years. The latter, in addition to contracting and building, worked in the railroad shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company. In 1871 the family settled in Hall County, Neb., and have since made their home on his present farm, all of which is in a good state of cultivation. He has a large two-story house, good barns and other outbuildings, a fine, large grove, and raises a considerable quantity of small fruit. Mr. Rogers is a Republican in politics, and has held a number of local positions of trust and honor in the county, and has served as a delegate to the county and State conventions. They have three sons: Adin M. (who is married and resides on the farm), Lew Wallace (who is in the express business in San Francisco, married, and has one child, two years old, Earl Emerson) and Ernest P. (who is on the Union Pacific Railroad). They also have an adopted daughter, Mamie M. Genong (who has lived with them since she was six years of age, with the exception of four years away at school). The family attend the Episcopalian Church of Grand Island, but Mr. Rogers is a Universalist in faith. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have traveled considerable during their married life. While living in Aurora (1868) they spent the summer in Maine, visiting Mr. Rogers' parents and brothers and sisters, and in 1873 Mrs. Rogers spent several months in Enrope, visiting her parents and sisters, and in


1880 both spent eight months in Europe, traveling in England, Scotland and France, visiting Liver- pool, Manchester and London in England, Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland, and Dieppe, Rouen, Paris and Versailles in France, also Denbigh, North Wales, Mrs. Roger's birth place, and in 1888 Mrs. Rogers passed eight months in Cali- fornia, spending most of her time in San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda, and in 1889 Mr. Rogers spent six months in California. Both are so de- lighted with the lovely climate of the Pacific coast they intend to spend their winters there in future.


H. A. Rose is a pioneer settler of Alda Town- ship, Hall County, Neb., having entered land here as early as November, 1863, amounting to 160 acres. He came here in the month of April from his native State of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Geauga County in 1835, he being the eldest of ten children, eight sons and two danghters, born to Augustus and Elizabeth (Robb) Rose. He was born in Burton, Geauga County, Ohio, November 17, 1809, and his wife in Pennsylvania. Augustus Rose became familiar with farming in his youth, and also learned the wagon-maker's trade in Con- necticut. Then he returned to Ohio, and that con- tinued to be his home until his death, which occurred in Austinburgh, Ashtabula County, in 1875. He was an active Republican in his polit- ical views, and was a member of the Sons of Tem- perance. His wife survived him four years. H. A. Rose was educated in the common schools of Geauga County, and learned the details of farm work from his father. He was married in Ohio in 1871, his wife being a Miss Minnie W. Wiggins, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Sanford Wig- gins, of Ashtabula County, who, in 1849, erossed the plains to California in search of gold and passed over the land where Mr. Rose now farms. The latter's farm is finely improved with buildings of different kinds. He spent many of his early years in Nebraska in freighting between Fort Kearney, Omaha and Council Bluffs, as there were no rail- roads at that time and were none until three years after his arrival. He is a Republican in politics, and from 1866 to 1868 served as county sheriff, his territory extending over a very large area. He


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joined the I. O. O. F. lodge in Ohio. Mr. Rose has seen the complete growth of Hall County, and can well remember the time when immense herds of buffaloes roamed the prairies, and has often seen bands of Indians a hundred strong. He has always taken an active interest in the advancement of the county and has done his share to aid in its devel- opment. Although he has been moderator of his district school board his wife, until her recent death March 15, 1890, filled that position. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her union with Mr. Rose resulted in the birth of one child, Augustus Henry, who is now attending school in Grand Island.


Henry S. and Joseph T. Ross are the represent- atives of an old and highly respected family, and the grandsons of Alexander and Sarah (Tipton) Ross, who became the parents of the following children: William (born May 12, 1799), Alexander (July 4, 1801), Nancy (October 6, 1803), John (February 20, 1806), Mary (November 6, 1808), James (January 17, 1811), David (June 4, 1813) and Sarah (May 3, 1817). The only one of this family now known to be living is Nancy, wife of John Heron, now residing in Quincy, Ill. To the parents of the subjects of this sketch, whose names were James and Catherine (Spohn) Ross, the fol- lowing family was born: Henry S. (born January 27, 1833), Alexander (June 14, 1835), Mary A. (in 1837), Barbara (in 1839), Hannah (in 1841) and Joseph T. (June 15, 1843). Henry S. Ross, the eldest member of this family, was married in 1853 to Miss Annie Miller, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara Miller, of Ohio, and a family of five children were born to their union: David A. (who was born February 19, 1854), William H. (Janu- ary 27, 1857), Schuyler C. (May 26, 1862), Solo- mon A. (March 15, 1869) and Rose E. (November 1, 1872). The mother of these children died on March 12, 1882, and September 6, of the same year, Mr. Ross espoused Miss Mary P. Stanley, a daughter of A. L. and Phœbe (Cook) Stanley, of Iowa. She was born in 1849, and is the mother of one child, James A. (who was born September 10, 1883). Upon the breaking out of the Rebel- lion Mr. Ross joined the Union army, enlisting in


the Eighty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. H. G. Shryock, and was mus- tered into service August 31, 1862, at Indianapolis, and arrived at Lonisville, Ky., on September 1. On October 1 they started in pursuit of Bragg, and on October 6 they had a skirmish with Bragg's rear guard at Springfield. On the memorable October 8, 1862, when the wavering columns of Gen. McCook were so hotly pressed at Perryville, Ky., by the superior numbers of the rebels, the Third Brigade, commanded by Gen. Steadman, and of which the Eighty-seventh was a part, rallied to his support and ended the unequal conflict. His command discontinued its pursuit of Bragg at Crab Orchard, October 16, 1862, and on the 20th arrived in Lebanon, Ky., and on November 3 arrived in Bowling Green, reaching Mitchellville, Tenn., on the 8th. After moving to many differ- ent points in this State, they had a sharp skirmish with Van Dorn's Rebel Cavalry, on March 5, 1863, and were afterward in the battles of Mur- freesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Buz- zard's Roost, were with Sherman at Goldsboro, N. C., from there went to Richmond, thence to Washington, D. C., where he received his dis- charge and returned home. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Ross came to Hall County, Neb., and took up a claim, but in the fall of 1868 he moved to Cher- okee County, Kas., where he resided until the fall of 1889, when he returned to Nebraska. Joseph T. Ross emigrated to Hall County, Neb., in the spring of 1867. took up a claim and here has made his home up to the present time. In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Burmood, a daughter of Philip and Catherine Bur- mood, and she is an earnest member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ross is a Repub- lican and has taken an active interest in local pol- itics, and has served six years as constable and three years as justice of the peace. He is the owner of a fine farm, every acre of which is till- able, and he has it well improved with good build- ings and well stocked. In the year 1861 Joseph T. Ross joined the Federal army, becoming a member of the Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment, nn- der Col. G. N. Fitch, and served three years and


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eleven months in Company K. This company was recruited in Fulton County, was organized at Logansport, Ind., October 17, 1861, and was mus- tered into service in November, 1861, under Lieut. Phelps. Soon after he found himself in Kentucky, and still later in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas. Mississippi and Louisiana, and during his term of service he participated in the following engage- ments: New Madrid, Mo., in 1862; Ruddle's Point, in 1862; St. Charles, Ark .. the same year, and in 1863 the battles of Fort Pemberton, Miss., Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, siege of Vicksburg. Jackson, and in May, 1864, was in the battle of Mansfield. He was mustered into the Veteran Volunteer service, January 2, 1864, at Algiers, La., and was mustered out of service September 18, 1865.


Henry Rosswick, farmer and stockman, of Hall County, Neb. Of German birth and antecedents, Mr. Rosswick possesses to a remarkable degree the qualities which seem to be characteristic of those of German descent-frugality, industry, persever- ance and strict attention to business. His parents were people of like habits .. He received a good education in the common schools of his native country, and after completing his studies learned the tailor's trade. When a young man he came to the United States, arriving in New York City in May, 1854, being then seventeen years of age, and worked at his trade for about one year, after which he located in Philadelphia, remaining there some two years. The two following years he spent in Freehold. N. J., and August 29, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifth New Jersey Infantry for three years, and served until he received his discharge at the expiration of his term. He was promoted from a private to a corporal, and was in a number of hotly contested engagements, the most important of which were: Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, the second battle of Bull Run, and a number of others. He lost his right arm at Bull Run, being permanently disabled. and after receiving his discharge went to Pitts. burgh, Pa., where he made his home for about three years, then returned to Newark, N. J. From there he went (three years later) to Milwaukee, Wis., thence to Nebraska in 1872, locating in Hall


County, where he took up a homestead-claim and began improving his farm, but sold out after a time and purchased his present farm, which consists of 120 acres of good tillable land, on which is a good frame residence, barns, etc. He is a Republican in politics and has held a number of local offices. He was married in Hall County, April 1, 1879, to Mrs. Tabitha Farmer, a native of Ohio, reared and educated in Washington County. She is a daughter of Seneca Cowee, of that county, and was first. married in her native State, moving west with her husband in 1873, settling on a homestead of 160 acres in Hall County, Neb., which place Mrs. Ross- wick now owns. Her first marriage resulted in the birth of five children: Alice (wife of Frank Per. den, of Grand Island), C. C. (who is married and resides in Illinois), H. W., Retta M. (a successful teacher of Hall County) and Florence. A son has been born to her last marriage, George Henry, a lad of ten years. Mr. Rosswick is a member of the G. A. R. organization and also the Farmers' Alliance.


George Lothrop Rouse is accounted, and justly so, one of the successful farmers of Hall County, Neb., and is one of the early settlers of Center Township. He was born in Ottawa County, Ohio, June 17, 1846, but his father, who also bore the name of George Lothrop, was born near Rochester, N. Y., September 18, 1809, and was a son of Lothrop and Sabra Rouse. The father of the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Mary Knapp, born in the "Nutmeg State " September 18, 1817, their union taking place in Ottawa County, Ohio, abont 1837, and resulting in the birth of eight children, of whom George Lothrop was the fifth. Their names are: Mary Sabra (born Jannary 8, 1839), Laura (Angust 3, 1841), Clara Lucretia (January 10, 1843, deceased), Betsey Wilson (September 24, 1844, and died November 20, 1864), George Lothrop, Ida Iantha Irene (April 24, 1848), Joseph (born July 30, 1850, and died February 26, 1854) and Deborah Ann (born De- cember 20, 1851). The father, who was a car. penter by trade and followed farming and stock- raising throughout the latter part of his life, died in Ottawa County, Ohio, May 26, 1851. Some


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two or three years later his widow married Robert Killey, with whom she now resides in Ottawa County, and by whom she has three children: Frances, Blanche and William H. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth on the old home farm on which he was born, and during the winter months attended the district schools and during the summer assisted in tilling the soil. When sixteen years of age he entered Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, but after attending this institution two terms he entered Oberlin College, of Oberlin, Ohio, which institution he attended two terms. When twenty-one years of age he entered upon the avocation of a teacher, and alto- gether taught five consecutive terms, the second term being in his old home district in Ottawa County, and the first, third, fourth and fifth in Whiteside County, Ill. His last two terms were taught during the winters of 1872-73 and 1873- 74. Meanwhile, in the fall of 1872, he came to Hall County, Neb., and bought 320 acres of land in what was then Alda Precinct. November 13, 1873, he was married in Whiteside County, Ill., to Miss Susanna Angusta Rexroad, she having been born in that county May 8, 1851, being a daughter of Henry and Mehulda (Hoffman) Rex- road. The father was a Virginian born June 7, 1815, a son of Henry Rexroad, who was also born in that State, being the son of another Henry Rexroad. The mother of Mrs. Rouse was born in the " Old Dominion" in 1825, and was a daughter of Michael and Susanna (Sommers) Hoffman, who also belonged to the F. F. V.'s. Mr. and Mrs. Rexroad were married in Whiteside County, Ill., about 1845, and reared a family of three children, of whom Mrs. Rouse was the youngest, only two being now alive, the other member being Adam Francis. Eliza Ann died at the age of five years. The mother of these children died in May, 1853, and in 1857 the father wedded Mary M. Thomp- son, with whom he now resides in Morrison, Whiteside County, Ill. Mrs. Rouse spent all her early life in her native county and received a very good early education. During her early woman- hood she taught school for three years in White- side County, her first term being taught at the age


of eighteen years. In the spring of 1874, or just after closing his last term of school, Mr. Rouse, in company with his wife, came to Hall County, Neb., and began housekeeping, seven and a half miles west of the county court-house at Grand Island. Ever since that time Mr. Rouse has given his attention to agriculture, and is now considered one of the leading farmers and stockmen of the county. He has made a number of additions to his original purchase of land, and is now the owner of a magnificent farm of 640 acres. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, she having joined at the age of sixteen years, and Mr. Rouse is a member of the Masonic Lodge, in which he has reached the degree of Knight Temp- lar. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and organized the third Farmers' Alliance in the State, and was sent as a delegate to the first State Alli- ance. He has always been a stanch Republican in politics, and in November, 1885, was elected a member of the county board of supervisors and has served in that capacity ever since, having been re-elected in 1886-87-88 and again in 1889. During the past three years he has served as chairman of the board. He is at present chair- man of the Republican County Central Committee, having been elected in the fall of 1889, and takes a lively interest in political affairs, and is one of his party's most active workers in the county. He is an intelligent and influential man, and as a citi- zen holds a prominent place. He and wife are highly respected and have many warm friends. Their family is as follows: George Lothrop (born March 24, 1875), Mabel Margaret Augusta (born April 15, 1877), Henry Francis (born May 19, 1879), William Wayne (born March 30, 1881), Blake Howard (born May 10, 1883), Mary Laura (born January 31, 1885), Ida Agnes (born Feb- ruary 12, 1887) and an infant son (born August 24, 1889, and died unnamed).


George Chester Roys is one of the successful business men of Grand Island, Neb., and by trade is a mason, contractor and builder. He was born in Worcester, Mass., November 27, 1856, and is a son of John Benedict and Lucy D. (Aldrich) Roys, the former of whom was born in Waterbury, Vt., and


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was a builder by occupation. His father, Benedict Roys, was a blacksmith by occupation. The Roys are of Scotch descent, and settled in Vermont prior to the Revolutionary War, coming from Canada. The maternal grandfather, Simon Aldrich, was a farm- er, whose ancestors first settled in Rhode Island. George Chester Roys received his education and grew up to manhood in Boston, Mass., and in that city he learned the mason's trade. Thinking to better his financial condition, and under the im- pression that the West offered better inducements to a man of enterprise and industry, he came to Nebraska in 1879, and located at Sutton, where he was engaged in farming until the spring of 1882, when he came to Grand Island, and has since iden- tified himself with the building interests of this place. He was married in Toledo, Ohio, in 1883, to Miss Elizabeth Slater, a native of Boston, Mass., and a daughter of James Slater, and their marriage has resulted in the birth of a son and daughter: Alice and Chester Stanley. The mother of these children passed from life September 25, 1889, and is buried in the cemetery at Grand Island. Mr. Roy is a Select Knight in the A. O. U. W. He is a stockholder in the Grand Island Improvement · Company.


George F. Ryan, one of Grand Island's most worthy and esteemed citizens, is a leading under- taker and furniture dealer of that place. Nowhere within the limits of Hall County is there to be found a man possessed of more energy, determina- tion or force of character, and being honest to a fault in all his business transactions he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., March 15, 1841, and was the eldest, and he and a brother are now the only ones living of a family of three children born to the marriage of Benjamin F. Ryan and Minerva Goodale, who were born in the house in which the subject of this sketch was born May 20, 1817, and in Jefferson County, N. Y., December 16, 1816, respectively. Their nnion took place in the early part of 1840. The paternal grandfather emigrated from the State of Ver- mont and settled in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he followed the occupation of a farmer and


reared a family of twelve children, Benjamin F. being the next to the youngest in the family. The maternal grandfather, Aaron Goodale, was also a tiller of the soil. George F. Ryan spent his early days at farm work in his native county, and also at- tended the district school untilhe reached the age of sixteen years, at which time he entered the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, which institution he attended three terms, and at the age of nine- teen years he became a school-teacher in his home district. October 5, 1861, he entered the Union service, becoming a member of Company C, Sixtieth New York Regiment, with which he served until the close of the war, having re enlisted December 25, 1863, and during his service he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Antietam and Get- tysburg. He was wounded May 26, 1864, in the engagement at New Hope Church, Ga., by a ball in the left leg, and was in the hospital at Jefferson- ville, Ind., until January, 1865, at which time he had recovered sufficiently to again enter service, and joined his regiment at Raleigh, N. C., April 24, 1865. As to his rank it should be said that he enlisted as a private, but, upon the organization of his company he was elected a corporal, and was promoted to sergeant in November, 1862, becom- ing in the fall of 1863 orderly sergeant. He was commissioned first lieutenant December 19, 1864, to rank from September 17, 1864, but did not re- ceive his commission until after he had rejoined his regiment the following April. From the time he was mustered in as first lieutenant until he was discharged he commanded his company, its cap- tain during this time being absent. The war being closed the Government had no further use for his services, and his final discharge was issued July 17, 1865, after which he returned to his home in New York. His military service, which covered a period of nearly four years, was characterized by loyalty, courage and devotion to the cause he espoused, and in whatever capacity he served he acted in a mun- ner becoming a brave and faithful soldier. From August, 1865, until the following November he re- mained at home on the farm, but he then entered Eastman's National Business College, at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., in which institution he completed a


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full course, graduating March 12, 1866. After spending the summer of that year at home on the farm, in September he accepted a position as book- keeper with the firm of Beach & Dodge, proprie- tors of a tannery at Harrisville, N. Y., and re- mained in their service two years. For a few years following the inost of his time was spent in laboring on the home farm, but he was also en- gaged a portion of this time as book-keeper. May 24, 1872, he started for the State of Nebraska and reached Grand Island June 6. Shortly after he took up a homestead claim in Merrick County, about eight miles northeast of Grand Island, and here resided, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1877, moving in April of that year to Grand Island, where he has since continued to make his home, and of which he is a prosperous and influential business man and a worthy and honored citizen. From April, 1877, until May 1, 1881, he acted as book- keeper for E. R. Wiseman, a lumber and grain dealer, but for one year follow- ing was employed in the same capacity in the dry goods establishment of H. H. Glover. May 1, 1882, he engaged in the grocery business, in part- nership with W. E. Lorenzen and H. Thomas, the name of the firm being Thomas & Co. He retired from this business in January, 1887, and Decem- ber 16, of the same year, engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, in partnership with A. H. Böhne, the firm name being Böhne & Ryan. They have been doing a successful business ever since and are now one of the leading firms of the kind in this part of the State. Both Mr. Ryan and his partner are among the very best citizens of Grand Island and possess the full confidence of the public. They are men of unimpeachable honesty, and being of pleasant and sociable dispositions they have many warm friends. Mr. Ryan is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and takes a very active part in all the workings of that order. He is also a member of the K. of L., and in pol- itics is a Democrat. In the fall of 1887 he was the candidate of his party for the office of county clerk, but failed to overcome the large opposing majority. He is a man of good habits and his life is wholly above reproach.




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