USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 103
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Daniel Furbush, born in Chelsea, Mass., in 1791, settled in Dummer when many of the best farms of to-day were an unbroken forest. He was twice married, his first wife was Nancy Grapes, the second, Betsey, daughter of William and Mary Leighton. Mr. Furbush had eight boys and four girls, six of whom and twenty grandchildren, now live in Dum- mer. Since 1840 the name has been changed to Forbush. John M. Bick- ford, who has always lived in town, was born in Dummer July 12, 1818; married, October 13, 1839, Catharine, oldest daughter of Daniel and Nancy Furbush. Daniel Forbush, Jr., was born in Stark, March 6, 1826, he mar- ried Lydia, second daughter of William Lovjoy, and, except a few tempo- rary absences, has always lived in Dummer. His industrious habits and peaceable disposition when a boy earned him the sobriquet of "deacon." His wife devotes a large share of her time in ministering to the sick and afflicted. Jotham S. Lary, Ransom Twitchell, Jonathan Leavit, Jonathan Nichols, George W. Forbush, Clayton Twitchell, and many others with their estimable wives will long be remembered as industrious and respect- able citizens of Dummer.
John B. Lovejoy, son of William and Rebeckah Lovejoy, was born in Dummer December 5, 1839. He has always lived here except while in the
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army from August 15, 1862, to October 6, 1864. Occupations, farming, lumbering and book agent. [Mr. Lovejoy has often been called to fill responsible positions in his native town, and has performed the duties of the several offices with scholarly nicety, and to the satisfaction of his townsmen. He is a gentleman in all his instincts; and, in the language of a friend, " He is truly one of nature's noblemen."-EDITOR. ]
Thomas Wentworth, of Conway, came to Dummer in 1847, married Melissa Sessions. He was one of the first selectmen of the town. About 1849 his three brothers, Isaiah F., Richard O .. and Ephraim F., located here, settling at Newell bay. The "veteran pioneer," William Sessions, settled in Dummer in 1843, and cleared two farms; one, at Newell bay, the other, on Bay hill, where he carried boards on his back a mile and a half to build his house.
John R. Briggs, a native of Paris, Me., emigrated from Woodstock, Me., to Milan in the spring of 1843, and, in October of the same year, moved to Dummer. He represented the town in the legislature of 1851, and was its first representative. Four of his sons and two grandsons served in the great civil war. Alfred H. and Luther (sons of John R. Briggs) enlisted September 10, 1861, in the 10th Maine Infantry, served nearly two years, were discharged May 8, 1863, enlisted the second time in the 7th Maine Battery, December 22, 1863, and were discharged June, 1865.
Horace Chandler went during the Rebellion as a substitute from Dummer. He served three months lacking three days. He was in the action at Chapin's Farm, Va., where there were but two others surviving of his company when the action was over. He resides in Berlin.
Leonard E. Dunn came here about 1866. He was the trusted agent of Coe & Pingree (lumber dealers) for many years, and paid out large sums of money in the lumbering business, which gave employment to many, and added to the material wealth of the town. He was an impulsive, energetic man, liberal to all objects he deemed worthy. His wife, whose maiden name was Ellen Chandler, daughter of John Chandler an early settler, is much interested in the Sunday school, giving both time and money to it. Mr. Dunn died September, 1884.
Inventory of Polls and Personal Property, 1849 .- Joseph Leighton, one poll. 400 acres of land, mills, value $300, stock in trade $700, twenty neat cattle over eighteen months old, twenty-seven sheep. Barker Bur- bank, $500 stock in trade. William Leighton, 300 acres of land, eleven neat cattle, twenty-one sheep. William Leighton, Jr., one poll, fifty acres of land, five neat cattle, six sheep. Ezra Horn, one poll, 100 acres of land, three horses, six neat cattle, seventeen sheep. John Hodgdon, one poll, twenty five acres of land, one horse, two neat cattle, three sheep. Lorenzo Wentworth, one poll. two neat cattle. Jonathan Leavitt, one poll, seventy- five acres of land. one neat cattle, nine sheep. Hepzibar Leavitt, 100 acres
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TOWN OF DUMMER.
of land, nineteen sheep. Jonathan Nichols, one poll, one horse, five neat cattle, fifteen sheep. John M. Bickford, one poll, 102 acres of land, five neat cattle, thirteen sheep. George Forbush, one poll, fifty acres of land, three neat cattle. five sheep. Daniel Forbush, one poll, forty acres of land, one horse, five neat cattle, eighteen sheep. John L. Bickford, one poll, ten acres of land, two neat cattle. Levi Forbush, one poll. Sullivan Leavitt, one poll. William Lovejoy, one poll, 100 acres of land, one horse, eight neat cattle, eighteen sheep. Marinda Leighton, two neat cattle. Daniel Forbush. Jr., one poll, fifty acres of land, two neat cattle, six sheep. Jacob Newell, one poll, four neat cattle. Daniel Coffin, one poll, 100 acres of land, four neat cattle, five sheep. Charles Burk, one poll, 200 acres of land, five neat cattle, twenty sheep. Jotham S. Lary, one poll, 200 acres of land, seven neat cattle, twelve sheep. Elijah Griffin, one poll, 100 acres of land, one neat cattle. Levi York, one poll, 100 acres of land. one neat cattle, eight sheep. Aaron Wight, one poll, 200 acres of land, four neat cattle. Thomas Wentworth, one poll, 200 acres of land, three neat cattle. Ephraim Wentworth, one poll. two neat cattle. William Sessions, one poll, 100 acres of land, one neat cattle. George W. Phelps, one poll, 100 acres of land, one neat cattle. Lowell Coffin, seventy-five acres of land.
CHAPTER CV.
Petition for Incorporation-Civil List: Town Clerks, Treasurers, Selectmen, and Representa- tives-Schools.
I N 1848 a petition was presented to the legislature asking for incorpora- tion, also a remonstrance. The first was favorably considered and the town was incorporated, the act being approved December 19, 1848. William Lovejoy, John Hodgdon and Jotham S. Lary were authorized by said act to call the first meeting, which was held on the 20th day of Feb- ruary, 1849, at the dwelling house of Jonathan Leavitt. Whole number of inhabitants February 20, 1849, 151; number of voters, twenty-eight.
Civil List .- 1849, John Hodgdon, clerk; John Hodgdon, treasurer; Joseph Leighton, Thomas Went- worth, Aaron Wight, selectmen; William Lovejoy, superintendent.
1850. John Hodgdon, clerk; John Hodgdon, treasurer; Joseph Leighton, William Lovejoy, Elijah Grif- fin, selectmen.
1851. William Lovejoy, clerk; William Lovejoy, treasurer; Joseph Leighton, Ephraim Forbush, George H. Leavitt, selectmen.
1852. John Hodgdon, clerk; John R. Briggs, William Lovejoy, Isaac C. Wight, selectmen.
1853. William A. Willis, clerk; William Lovejoy, treasurer; William Lovejoy, Clayton Twitchell, Joseph Leighton, selectmen.
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
1854. William Lovejoy, clerk; William Lovejoy, treasurer; Clayton Twitchell, Joseph Leighton, Jacob Ellingwood, selectmen.
1855. Clayton Twitchell, clerk; Clayton Twitchell, treasurer; Clayton Twitchell, John M. Bickford, Isaac C. Wight, selectmen.
1856. Gilman Twitchell, clerk; Gilman Twitchell, treasurer; John M. Bickford, Thomas J. Lary, Abial Walker, selectmen.
1857. William A. Willis, clerk; Elijah Griffin, treasurer; Joseph Leighton, John L. Bickford, William A. Willis, selectmen.
1858. William A. Willis, clerk; William A. Willis, treasurer; John Chandler, Ransom Twitchell, John S.
Bickford, selectmen.
1859. William A. Willis, clerk; William A. Willis, treasurer; Gilman Twitchell, John S. Bickford, Lo-
1860. William A. Willis, clerk; John M. Bickford, treasurer; Isaac C. Wight, Alfred N. Twitchell, John renzo Jewett, selectmen.
M. Bickford. selectmen.
1831. John B. Lovejoy, clerk; William A. Willis, treasurer; John M. Bickford, Joel Emery, Clayton Twitchell, selectmen.
1862. Isaac C. Wight, clerk; William A. Willis, treasurer; Clayton Twitchell, Joel Emery, George H. Leavitt, selectmen.
1863. Gilman Twitchell, clerk; John H. Chandler, treasurer; Clayton Twitchell, Alfred N. Twitchell, Thomas J. Nichols, selectmen.
1864. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; Gilman Twitchell, treasurer; Isaac C. Wight, John H. Chandler, Henry Abbott. selectmen.
1865. Rinsom Twitchell, clerk; Carlton W. Muzzy, treasurer; Clayton Twitchell, John M. Bickford, Ransom F. Twitchell, selectmen.
1866. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; Carlton W. Muzzy, treasurer; Clayton Twitchell, John M. Bickford, John B. Lovejoy, selectmen.
1867. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; Carlton W. Muzzy, treasurer; John M. Bickford, Lorenzo Jewett, Clayton Twitchell, selectmen.
1868. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; Carlton W. Muzzy, treasurer; William A. Willis, Cyrus E. Bickford, Clay- ton Twitchell, selectmen.
1869. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; John H. Chandler, treasurer; William A. Willis, Cyrus E. Bickford, Isaac C. Wight, selectmen.
1870. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; John H. Chandler, treasurer; William A. Willis, Isaac C. Wight, Cyrus E. Bickford, selectmen.
1871. Ransom Twitchell, clerk; J. H. Chandler, treasurer; Clayton Twitchel, Charles H. Gates, Ransom Smith, selectmen.
1872. R. Twitchell, elerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer: I. C. Wight, J. H. Chandler, John B. Lovejoy, selectmen.
1873. Carlton W. Muzzey, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; I. C. Wight, J. B. Lovejoy, Nelson W. Bean, selectmen.
1874. C. W. Muzzey, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; I. C. Wight, George W. Blanchard, T. J. Lary selectmen.
1875. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, N. W. Bean, C. W. Muzzey, select- men.
1876. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, F. J. Lacy, P. L. Goud, selectmen. 1877. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; I. C. Wight, J. D. Carlton, P. L. Goud, selectmen. 1878. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; I. C. Wight, C. N. Bickford, C. W. Muzzey, seleet- men.
1879. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; S. B. Coffin, treasurer; C. N. Bickford, C. W. Muzzey, N. W. Bean, select- men.
1880. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; J. B. Lovejoy, treasurer; C. N. Bickford. G. M. Forbush, N. W. Bean, selectmen.
1881. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; J. B. Lovejoy, treasurer; C. N. Bickford. N. W. Bean, G. S. Gould, selectmen. 1882. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, C. W. Muzzey, C. N. Bickford, selectmen.
1883. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, C. W. Muzzey, Lorenzo Jewett, selectmen.
1884. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, Walter Philbrook, L. C. Jewett, selectmen.
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TOWN OF DUMMER.
1885. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, C. W. Muzzey, N. E. Barnet, select- men.
1886. T. A. Twitchell, clerk; W. A. Willis, treasurer; J. B. Lovejoy, C. W. Muzzey, N. E. Burnet, selectmen.
1887. George S. Twitchell, clerk; John B. Lovejoy, treasurer; Charles Emery, Nelson W. Bean, Frank I. Twitchell, seleetmen.
List of Names of Representatives from Dummer while Classed with Stark .- 1851, John R. Briggs: 1853, Ezra Horn; 1855, John R. Briggs; 1857-59, Rev. Elijah Griffin; 1861 63, Gilman Twitchell; 1865-67, John M. Bickford; 1869-71, Cyrus E. Bickford.
Dummer was classed with Stark for the election of representatives till 1873. The district meeting having been holden in Stark the preceding year, the duties of warning the meeting devolved upon the selectmen of Dummer. On reaching the place where a copy of the warrant was usually posted in Stark, they found a copy of the warrant for the annual town- meeting already posted, containing an article to elect a representative; after a brief consultation they returned, and inserted an article in the war- rant for the town-meeting in Dummer to choose a representative. The result was very singular; while it was the first time either town had elected a representative independently, it was the first time that a Republican had been chosen in either town to fill the office; in this case both were earnest Republicans.
Representatives .- List of Representatives sent by the town of Dummer alone .- 1873-74, John B. Love- joy; 1875, Charles H. Gates; 1876-78, Isaac C. Wight; 1879-80, William A. Willis. Classed Dummer, Errol, Cambridge, Wentworth's Location, &c., &c. 1882, C. N. Biekford; 1886, Nelson W. Bean.
Schools. - It was nearly twenty years after the first settlement in Dum- mer that the first school was organized. Daniel Furbush's barn served for a school-house, and here Miss Sophy Bickford diligently performed the duties of a school-teacher six weeks for thirty-seven and one-half cents per week and board. All parties were so well pleased with this school that another term of six weeks was taught by the same teacher the following summer, and her wages raised to fifty cents per week. Another term, two years later, was taught by Miss Miranda Hildreth, and from that time to 1850 there was generally one short term each year. The first male teacher was Harwood Pike. Length of school eight weeks, wages of teacher $10 per month and board. While a majority were in favor of edu- cation. there were some opposed to raising money to pay the teachers, which led to a petition to the legislature for incorporation.
The first board of selectmen, William Lovejoy. John Hodgdon and Jonathan Leavitt, divided the town into four districts to be known as Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4. At the first annual meeting March 13, 1849, it was voted to raise $70 for the support of schools, which was equal to ninety-three and one-third cents for each scholar between the ages of four and twenty-one years. During the year the districts organized by choosing the necessary officers, but failed to expend the school money; and, in 1850, only $25 were assessed. At the annual school meeting in 1850, of district No. 1, it was
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
voted to raise $130 for the purpose of building a school-house. Ezra Horn contracted to build the school-house, and the location being made by the voters of the district, and the grounds for the yard prepared, it surprised a majority of the district to learn that Horn was erecting the house nearly half a mile from the location agreed upon. This so enraged a portion of the inhabitants that they petitioned the selectmen to divide the dis- trict. At a town meeting called for this purpose the district was divided, each part to have the tax assessed on that part. By this movement two school-houses were built where there should only have been one, and two schools maintained where one would have been much better for the scholars.
At the annual town meeting, March, 1851, the town voted to raise $50 for the support of schools; in 1852, 875 were raised, which, by individuals contributing board and fuel. enabled each district to maintain a school. It was the common practice for each family to board the teacher in pro- portion to the number of scholars sent to school, and furnish fuel the same number of days. William A. Willis had now become a permanent settler. Being a gifted teacher, and deeply interested in the advancement of edu- cation, his influence had a beneficial effect on the schools. In 1853 he was elected chairman of the school committee. New settlements, remote from school-houses, made it necessary to re-district the town, and, at a meeting called for this purpose, held on the 6th day of May, 1854, a committee of seven persons was chosen, who proceeded to divide the town into eight. districts. The amount raised for the support of schools was gradually in- creased till it reached $200 in 1868. At the annual meeting, March, 1869, on the motion of Leonard E. Dunn, it was voted to raise $1,000, being about. $10 to each scholar.
The old feud that grew ont of the change of location of the school-house in district No. 1 having died out, the original lines were restored in 1866, one school-house sold, and the other enlarged. School-houses had been built in four other districts, Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 8; and, in 1870, there being an unexpended balance of school-money, $400 was deemed a sufficient sum to raise. From 1870 to 1887 there have not been more than $600 nor less than $500 raised yearly by tax. The literary fund, railroad tax and interest on a fund derived from the sale of school lands amount to about $100 more.
In 1879 a movement was started by Isaac C. Wight, Timothy A. Twitchell, Carlton W. Muzzey, and others to have the town re-districted with a view of uniting two or more districts; believing that fewer schools and longer terms would more than offset the increased distance of travel; consequently, the selectmen and school committee again changed the dis- trict lines, uniting district No. 9 with No. 7, and forming two districts from Nos. 4, 6 and S. During the next three years commodious houses were built in each of the three districts thus formed, and usually two terms.
Isaac C. Wright
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TOWN OF DUMMER.
of school a year have been maintained in each of the seven districts. Under the new law, the school board has built one new school-house and main- tained six schools. For the year 1886 the entire amount of school revenue was $628.44: number of schools, six; average length, sixteen weeks; whole number of different scholars attending school not less than two weeks, 122 -- boys seventy-five, girls forty-seven; not attending any school. five; number of scholars attending academies and not registered in town, three; amount paid teachers. $540.35; amount paid for building, repairing, and furnishing school-houses, including rent of school-room. $688.81; amount paid school board for services for schools, 833: for buildings, 824.55.
Ministers .- Francis Lang, one of the carly settlers in Dummer, was a Free- Will Baptist, and preached in his own and adjoining towns. Elijah Griffin settled on one of the first ministers' lots before the town was incor- porated. and moved to the state of Maine in 1863 or 1864. He was an ordained Free-Will Baptist minister, and highly respected. Although there is as yet no church edifice in Dummer, the inhabitants are a Sabbath-loving people, and religious services are held in school-houses and other suitable places for public worship. During the winter of 1880-81, a Sunday-school was organized, and attended by seventy to one hundred pupils. Isaac C. Wight was superintendent.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ISAAC CARLTON WIGHT.
The record of a successful and useful life is always instructive. The processes and influences by which the character was formed and strength- ened, the efforts put forth for the results reached. the obstacles met and overcome, are valuable lessons to the young.
Isaac Carlton Wight, son of Aaron and Rebecca (Carlton) Wight, was born in Milan. December S, 1830. His father, Aaron Wight, was a native of Dublin, N. H., born 1795, son of Daniel Wight, of Needham. Mass., who emigrated to New Hampshire, and, in 1798, became a resident of Bethel, Me. At the age of seventeen Aaron enlisted for one year in the War of 1812, serving at Lake Champlain. Having been honorably dis- charged. he enlisted again for forty days at Portland. In 1822 he came to Paulsburg, and commenced a farm in the wilderness. On this farm he raised one year 500 bushels of wheat. He assisted in organizing the town of Milan, and was chosen one of the early selectmen. In 1844 he moved to Dummer, and again commenced a farm. This was four miles from any highway. He aided in organizing this town, and was on the first
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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
board of selectmen. He was for many years deacon of the Free- Will Bap- tist church in Milan and Dummer. He lived a consistent Christian life, and died at the age of eighty-one years, whispering with his last breath "God is good." His wife, Rebecca (Carlton) Wight, whom he married in 1827, the first marriage in Milan on the river, was the daughter of Isaac Carlton, a native of Boxford, Mass., who emigrated to Shelburne about 1795, married Sarah Messer, and was one of the first settlers upon the Conner place, where Rebecca, the oldest of eight children, was born in 1801. In her young days she supported her father through eleven years of illness, and during the time acquired sufficient education to teach school, receiving her first certificate from Barker Burbank. She taught first in Shelburne (Col. R. I. Burbank being among her pupils); afterwards in Shelburne Addition and Milan. To Aaron Wight and wife Rebecca were born seven children, of whom Isaac and Sarah are now living. Mrs. Wight's death occurred in Dummer, December 10, 1880, at the age of seventy-nine. She 'was a devoted daughter, a faithful. loving wife and mother, and a Christian woman.
Isaac was the second child in the family, and the only boy. He was four- teen years old when his father moved to Dummer, and there were no schools in the town. Prior to this he had attended the local schools in Milan; afterwards he was obliged to go to Berlin or Milan to attend school, which he did for three terms, and here, working for his board, he obtained his last school education; but in the school of experience, trial, adversity, and discouragement he labored long years, and deserves great praise that by his own exertions he so manfully overcome the obstacles, hardships, and deprivations, and stands to-day among the representative, self-made men of Coös county. At the age of seventeen, owing to ill-health in the family. the burden of its care and support came upon him. Two of his sisters, who were ill away from home, returned, and died after a lingering sickness of a year. At the age of eighteen he commenced working at lumbering, receiving $10 per month. When nineteen he worked, in com- pany with Jotham S. Lary, hauling pine. He cut, "fitted," and helped load about 75,000 feet, -thus earning his first $50. While in his minority he "cleared up" a farm from the primeval forest; built a frame barn, 40x40 feet, doing the work himself; buying the lumber and nails, and working out in the winter to pay for them, and nailing on all the boards and shingles without assistance. This laborious work was accomplished by the young man, who was known as "Little Ike Wight," from the fact that before he was twenty-one he never weighed over 135 pounds, although to-day his weight is 150, and his height "five feet ten." For two haying seasons he worked at Westbrook, Me., where he first received $1 per day. He walked the distance (about 100 miles) in three days, his expenses being less than fifty cents a day. After haying at Westbrook, he walked home
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TOWN OF DUMMER.
and cut his own grass. In this way his haying season was from six to eight weeks in length. At the age of twenty-one he bought the place on which his father had lived as a squatter for over seven years without even a permit. Besides purchasing the farm he paid all his father's debts; and, at the age of twenty two, he owned the farm, some stock. and owed "no man anything."
At this time he seemed on the road to prosperity. Little did he dream of the misfortune he was to meet. He entered into company with three others and run in debt to the amount of $3,000 for wild land in Dummer. Mr. Wight managed to pay his part, one-fourth, but was held for the payment of the other three-fourths, his partners being insolvent. He was sued, all his property attached, sold at auction, and the little he had accu- mulated seemed liable to be lost. At this critical point he was not dis- couraged, but with diligence and economy provided for his family, and by the timely assistance of Adam Willis, father of William A. Willis, of Dummer, and D. A. Burnside, of Lancaster, he was enabled to pay for the remainder of the land, and received a deed of it. The earnest endeavor, patient industry, and perseverance, of Mr. Wight had brought him good friends and help in his hour of need. At the age of twenty-nine he married Melissa, daughter of Amos R. Cross, of Stark, by whom he had two children. During the diphtheria scourge which prevailed a few years later. he was bereaved of his beloved little family by that disease, and came near losing his own life, being sick nearly six months. Sorrow now seemed to almost overwhelm him; with two sisters ill, father and mother out of health, dependent upon hired help, doctors' bills to pay, badly in debt, and, in addition, just at this time. when leaving home was an impossibility, he was drafted into the United States service, and had a large sum to pay for a substitute. Can we wonder that Mr. Wight was discouraged now, and almost ready to lay down his burden in dispair ? But " the darkest hour is just before dawn," and with the war came inflated prices; timber brought large sums of money, and from one winter's lumbering he was able to pay his workmen and his debts, and have a surplus in hand. Since then he has not been financially troubled.
January 1, 1865, Mr. Wight married Philantha L., second daughter of Joseph Howard, of Hanover, Me. They have eight children: Joseph How- ard, Aaron Carlton, Rebecca Carlton, Adam Willis, Isaac Henry, Daniel Roberts, Mary Philantha and Alice Iantha. J. Howard and A. Carlton are graduates of Maine Wesleyan seminary, the former in the classical, the latter in the commercial course.
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