USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 128
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assumed the appearance of a cultivated country. Framed houses superseded log ones on all the princi- pal roads, and in time even the byroads showed the same signs of thrift and prosperity. The population steadily increased. The deer disappeared before the advancing waves of civilization. A small village slowly grew up at Solon Center, whither the farmers brought a portion of their products, while the re- mainder was furnished a ready market by the re- markable growth of Cleveland. A steam sawmill was built at the center before the war of 1861 by - John- son, which is still in operation there, being owned by John Cowen. Another steam sawmill with a large cheese-box factory connected with it was erected by Calvin Gilfert, and operated by him until it was de- stroyed by lire a few years since.
At length came the war for the Union, when the youth of Solon promptly responded to their country's call. The deeds of the regiments in which they were embodied are recorded in their appropriate place in the general history, and the names of the gallant sons of Solon are to be found with their comrades from other towns appended to their respective regiments and batteries. A detachment of the first recruits joined the Twenty-third Ohio, President llayes' regi- ment. Each of these was presented with a pistol by the patriotic ladies of the township. An interesting incident, growing out of this circumstance and cou- nected with Corporal Sheridan E. Bull, son of Loren- zo S. Bull and grandson of Samnel Bull, the pioneer settler, is narrated in the sketch of that regiment in the general history.
Aside from war, the most important event in the history of the township in later years has been the construction of the Cleveland branch of the Atlantic and Great Western Railway, which runs diagonally across the township from northwest to southeast. The establishment of its depot about a fourth of a mile northwest of the original "Center," has caused a considerable extension of the village in that direc- tion.
Great attention has always been paid to education in Solon, and it still ranks among the foremost rural townships of northern Ohio in that respect. In 1867 and '68 a very fine brick school-house was elected at the center designed for the use of the village district, and as a high school for the township. There are two teachers in it, and about seventy scholars.
In 1828 a narrow gange railroad was completed from Chagrin Falls to Solon. Its effeet in increasing the business of the latter place 's yet to be seen. The business places and shops of Solon now comprise the following list: Four general stores, one drug store, one tin shop, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop and one steam sawmill. Of late years dairying has become a leading business of the farmers, and there are now five cheese factories in the town- ship.
The remainder of the township history will be de- voted to brief sketches of the three churches which
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have been organized in it, and to a list of the principal township officers.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
As before stated, this church was organized in 1834 or '35, the presiding minister having been Rev. John Seward, of Aurora, Portage county. The first mem- bers were Joseph Patrick and Amanda, his wife: Bax- ter Clough and Hannah, his wife; Samuel Gerrish and Betsey, his wife: John Morse, his mother and his sister Prudence: Asa Stevens and Susan, his wife, and R. M. Hanaford and Nancy, his wife. Probably William Pillsbury and wife, and Horace Merry were also among those present at the organization: if not, they joined shortly afterward. Asa Stevens was one of the first deacons.
For about a year the church usually met at the house of old Mrs. Morse, a mile or so northwest of the Center. At the end of that time the framed church. still in use, was erected at the Center. Dur- mg eleven years there was no settled minister, the pulpit being filled by professors from Western Reserve College, by occasional supplies, by lay readers, etc. In 1845 Rev. John Seward, the same who had or- ganized the church, became its permanent pastor, and remained so until 1861. The church has since main- tained itself in a condition of steady prosperity. There are now about one hundred persons whose names are on the roll, of whom at least eighty are regular communicants. Rev. James Webster is the present pastor, Ists.
THE DISCIPLE CHURCH.
Disciple meetings were held at Solon as early as 1840. On the 29th of November, 1841, a church was fully organized there, with thirteen members. It has flourished and increased ever since, having now about a hundred members. Among its ministers have been the following: J. H. Rhoads, J. H. Jones. T. B. Knowles, James A. Garfield, II. W. Everest. John Smith, O. C. Hill, John Atwater, A. B. Greene, and the present incumbent. C. W. Henry. The elders are 1. S. Bull, H. P. Boynton and C. S. Carver; the deacons, F. HI. Baldwin, M. J. Roberts and W. W. Robbins; the trustees, F. IL. Baldwin, W. W. Rob- bins and J. J. Little.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
There was Methodist preaching at the school-house on " the ledge " in the north part of the township as early as 1840, and soon afterwards at the school- house at the Center, but it was not until 1854 that a church edifice was built, and regular service estab- lished. There was then quite a flourishing congrega- tion, but it has since become so enfeebled by removals, deaths, etc., that it is impossible to learn the details regarding its early history.
Preaching was regularly maintained from the erec- tion of the church edifice most of the time until about 1869. Rev. Mr. Vernon was the pastor in 1866,
Rev. Mr. Latimer in 1868, and Rev. Mr. Burgess in 1869. Since then, the congregation have had to de- pend principally on transient preaching.
PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS,
The township records down to 1838 are destroyed or lost: so that we can only give the names of the officers elected from that time to the present, with the addition of those chosen the first year. who were as follows: Trustees, Jason Robbins, Samuel Ball and Ichabod Watkins: clerk, Jason Robbins; treas- urer. Pitkin S. Bull; overseer of the poor. Pitkin S. Bull: constable, Pitkin S. Bull; justice of the peace, Oliver Wells.
1838. Trustees, Samuel Glasier, James M. Hickox Jarvis McCon- oughy : clerk, Joseph G. Patrick ; treasurer, Freeman Mcclintock; over- seers of the poor, Collins Reed, William Highy.
1-39. Trustees. S. Glasier, Wm. Higby, Ralph Russell: clerk, J. G. Patrick: treasurer, Reuben M. Hauaford; overseers of the poor, Col, lins Reed, Seymour Trowhrdge.
1840. Trustees, S. M. Hickox, J. G. Patrick, Theodore S Powell: clerk, Archibald Robbins; treasurer, R. M. Hanaford; overseers of the poor, Wm R. Richards, James MeCononghy.
1841. Trustees, Morris Bosworth, Obadiah B. Judd: clerk, John M. Ilart: treasurer, S. Trowbridge: overseers of the poor, Wm. Higby, Henry Hillman.
1442. Trustees. Ebenezer Gove, Daniel Morse, Caleb R. Fletcher; clerk, H. W. Hart : treasurer, S Trowbridge; assessor, Arch. Robbins: overseers of the poor. W. W Robbins, Asa Stevens.
1843. Trustees, Leander Chamberlin, Joel Seward, Wm. Highy ; clerk. A. Robbins: treasurer, Asa Stevens; assessor, J. M. Hart: overseers of the poor. Sanmel Glasier, Geo. Mann.
1844. Trustees Simeon T. Shepard, Sanford H. Bishop, Seymour Trowbridge: clerk, A. Robbins: treasurer, Joel Seward: assessor, J. G. Patrick: overseers of the poor, John MeClintock James Smith.
1445 Trustees, S. H. Smith, W. W. Richards, L. S. Bull; clerk. A. Robbins: treasurer, S. T. Shepard; assessor. R. M. Hanaford: over- seers of the poor, John MeClintock, S Trowbridge.
1446. Trustees, Joel Seward, H. W. Hart, E. Cook: clerk, L. S. Bull; treasurer, \. Robbins: assessor, O. B. Judd.
1847 Trustees, C. R. Fletcher, Simon Norton, S. H. Bishop: clerk, John Deady : treasurer, J. M. Hickox; assessor, Almon Case.
1848. Trustees, Daniel Morse, Wm. W. Richards, Norman 1. Bull; clerk. Wm. R. Robbins: treasurer, John M. Hart; assessor, R. M. nan- aford.
1849. Trustees. Henry G. March, Leander Chamberlain, E. Gove; clerk, W. R. Robbins: treasurer, J G. Patrick; assessor. L S. Bull.
1850. Trustees, H. G. March, Wm. R. Sill, S. Trowbridge; clerk, Ed- mund Richmond: treasurer, A. Robbins; assessor, S. H. Bishop.
1851. Trustees. S. Trowbridge, Richard Dewey, Francis Pettibone: clerk. W. R. Robbins; treasurer, A. Robbins; assessor, O. B. Judd.
1852. Trustees, Robert Smith, C. R. Smith, W. W. Robbins; clerk, W. W. Barnard; treasurer, J. J. MeClintock ; assessor, Austin Blackman. 1853 Trustees, W. W. Richards, Norman A. Bull, Orris B. Smith; clerk, Win. R. Robbins: treasurer, Geo. S. Hickox; assessor, F. Petti- bone.
1854. Trustees, J. M. Hickox, Dexter MeClintock, Wm. Highy ; clerk, John Deady; treasurer, Wm. B. Price: Assessor, F. Pettibone.
1855. Trustees, Calvin T. Reed, H. G. March, S. T. Shepard; clerk, Jobu Deady: treasurer. W. B. Price: assessor, F. Pettibone.
1856. Trustees, --- Daniel, Calvin Gilbert, Augustus Pettibone; clerk, S. B. Smith: treasurer, W. B. Price: assessor, G. Gove.
1858. Trustees, R. M. Hanaford, C. H. Baldwin, L. Chamberlain; clerk, Wm. K. Ricksecker: treasurer, C. Gilbert; assessor, Norman A. Bull.
1859. Trustees, R. M. Hanaford, S. T. Shepherd, O. B. Smith: clerk, W K. Ricksecker; treasurer, W. R Robbins; assessor, H. A. Smith. 1860. Trustees, H. N. Slade. James Wester, R. Dewey : clerk. R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, C. B. Lockwood: assessor, H. A. Smith.
1801. Trustees, H. N. Slade, C. Chamberlain, G. G. Hickox: clerk, Hiram Chapman; treasurer, C' B. Lockwood ; assessor, A. Blackman. 1862. Trustees, G. G. Hickox, Alfred Stevens, Royal Taylor 2nd; clerk, W. R. Robbins; treasurer, C. B. Lockwood; assessor, C H. Baldwin.
1863 Trustees, Royal Taylor 2nd, O. B. Smith, Alfred D. Robbins; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, J. C. Webster: assessor, C. JI. Bald- win. 1864. Trustees, O. B. Smith, A. N. Slade, J. N. Blackinan; clerk, A. M. Smith; treasurer, A. D. Robbins; assessor, L. S. Rull.
1865. Trustees, H. N. Slade, J. M. Hickox, S. P. McConoughy ; clerk, A. M. Smith; treasurer, E. C. Blackman: assessor, C. T. Reed,
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THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
1866. Trusters ( H. Carmon, Fender Bosworth, J. M. Hickox ; clerk, J. L. Chamberlain; treasurer, E (. Blackman: assessor, H. A. Smith. 186%. Trustees, J. M. Hickox, F. Bosworth, H A. Smith; clerk, J. L. Chamberlin; treasurer, E. C. Blackman: assessor, L. Chamberlain.
1868. Trustees, (. L. Chamberlain, H. A. Smith, James Webster; clerk, J. S. Chamberlain ; treasurer, E. C. Blackman ; assessor, L. Cham- 1 erlain.
1869. Trustees, C. L. Chamberlain. N. A. Bull, F. Bosworth; clerk. W. F. Hale: treasurer, E (. Blackman: assessor, Wm. J. MeConoughy. 1870. Trustees, N. A. Bull. Thomas Potter, H. Haster; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, R. W. Collins; assessor, Win. J. MeConoughy.
18;1. Trustees, Thos. Potter, H. A. Smith, J. N. Blackman; clerk, R. R K. Merrill: treasurer, R. W. Collins: assessor, W. J MeCononghy. 1822. Trustees, J. N. Blackman, Richard Davey, O. B. Smith: clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, W. J. MeConoughy. 1873. Trustees, O. B. Smith, W. W. Robbins, R. Dewey ; clerk, W. F. Hanaford: treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, L. S. Bull.
1474 Trustees, Walter W. Robbins, Chester S. Carver: clerk, John Deady : treasurer, Erskine Merrill; assessor. L. Chamberlain.
1875. Trustees, Francis Pettibone, Daniel MeAfee, Richard Dewey; clerk, John Dwrady ; treasurer. E. R Merrill; assessor, L. Chamberlin. 1876. Trustees, I. D. Hanaford, J. N. Blackman, D. MeAfee: clerk, W. F. Hanaford; treasurer, W. F. Hale: assessor, W J. MoConoughy. 1827. Trustees, J. N Blackman, H. L. March. ( H. Baldwin: clerk, F. A Hale: treasurer, W F. Hale: assessor. W. J. MeConoughy.
1878. Trustees, A. Pettibone, James Harper, I] L. March: clerk, F. A. Hale; treasurer, W. F. Hale: assessor, W. J. M. Conoughy,
1579. Trustees, C. H. Buldwin, Fenner Bosworth, A. H. Chamber- lin; clerk, W. C. Lawrence; treasurer, W. C. Lawrence: assessor, W. J. MeC'ononghy.
CHAPTER LXXXVI. STRONGSVILLE.
When Settled Its Surface Its Early Owners-J. S. Strong. Agent- The First Pioneers-First Woman and Child The Survey Unwelcome Intruders An Indian Visitor The Second Family-Going after Grain First Marriage -- First Birth -Emigrants of 1817 -Progress First Church-Township Organization -First Officers The First Physician -Emigrants of 1818-Underbrushing the Road First Framed Build- mg First Death-Emigrants of 1819-First Tavern and Gristmill Arii- vals of 1-20-Panther ." Owl Good Health Indians Second Grist mill-A Check on Emigration-The Vote of 1824-Scarce Money
"Black Salts "- A Potash Campaign - First Store Building-The Town Hlouse Etc .- Log Raisings-Bark Torches-A Bear Hunt-Settlement at Albion Flush Times Carding Machine, Woolen Factory, Etc .- The Borough of Albion Extinct Churches The Great Fire-Subsequent Business Final Decline-The Quiet Center The War for the Union- Since the War-List of Official and Professional Men -The Free Con_ gregational Church -- The List of Township Officers.
Fins township, which in the survey of the Western Reserve was number five, in range fourteen, though it was sold by the Indians .in 1805, and though its boundaries were surveyed in 1806, as related in the general history of the county, was not settled by white men until the elose of the war of 1812. Situated on the southern line of Cuyahoga county, its twenty-five square miles were composed chiefly of high, dry land, covered with beech, maple, oak, elm, etc., somewhat broken, but not too much so for tillage, and nearly all capable of being converted into excellent farms. Through it meandered, in a northwesterly direction, the east branch of Rocky river, with several small creeks, all finding their way into that stream.
In the allotment of the western part of the Reserve among the members of the Connectieut Land Com- pany as individual owners, number five, in range four- teen, was assigned to Hon. Oliver Ellsworth, an emi- ment Connecticut statesman, Governor Caleb Strong, of that State, and to two other gentlemen who owned only extremely small fractions. The shares of Mr. Ellsworth and Governor Strong were about equal,
the former owning to the amount of $13,673, and the latter to that of $12,000, while both the other shares amounted to only four hundred and fourteen dollars. Mr. Ellsworth having died, his interest passed to his heirs, William W. and HI. L. Ellsworth. In 1815 the owners appointed John Stoughton Strong, an en- terprising citizen of Conneetient, already arrived at middle age, but full of the vigor and courage of youth. to act as their agent in the sale and settlement of number five.
It was in the month of February, 1816, that the first band of settlers, having made their tedious way from Connectient in sleighs, entered the territory afterwards known as the township of Strongville. It was led by JJohn S. Strong, the gentleman just men- tioned, a small, active, nervous man, full of untiring energy, well suited to the task of opening a new coun- try, and was composed, besides him, of Elijah Lyman, Guilford Whitney, William Fuller, Obadiah Church, and - Goodell. Mr. Strong selected a point only a few rods northwest of the center of the township, where the village of Strongville is now located, as the place for his own residence and the headquarters of the infant colony. Axes were speedily ringing in the forest, and a log house was soon erected to serve the party for shelter while surveying the township into lots.
To that cabin in the forepart of March, 1816, came John Hilliard, accompanied by his wife (the first white woman who ever resided in Strongsville township), and his young danghter, Eliza. Mrs. Ililliard took up her residence in the log mansion and became the housekeeper of the party. A surveyor was obtained from Newburg, and the work of subdividing the township into lots was speedily begun. Whitney, Goodell, Church and Fuller acted as chain-men. The lots were made half a mile square, thus containing a hundred and sixty acres each. Had the townships been just five miles square, as was originally intend- ed, there would have been just a hundred lots of that size. A hundred lots were actually surveyed, but the five miles east and west did not quite hold out, and the lots in the westernmost tier were only about a third of a mile wide. They were numbered, begin- ning with number one in the southwestern corner, thence running north to number ten, in the north_ western corner, thence baek in the next tier on the east to number twenty, and so on forth and back, closing with number one hundred in the northeastern corner.
The survey was the principal business of the season, though two or three small clearings were made. Mrs. Hilliard, who was then only twenty-one years old, was the only woman in the township throughout the spring and summer, and had her share of the adven- tures natural to such a situation. One morning after breakfast, while sweeping the rough floor of the cabin, she heard a sharp rattle and saw a large snake lying on the warm hearth, whither it had just crawled from under the floor. She called some of the men who
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were working net the house. why speedily came in and dispatched the intruder. It was formul to be an enormous specimen over five feet in length. After it had been duly examined and then thrown out of doors, the men returned to their work and Mrs. Hil- liard resumed her sweeping. Ere it was completed she heard another angry rattling beneath the floor. The men were again summoned. the loose floor was opened and another large rattlesnake, the mate of the former, was killed and dragged out.
Indians frequently came wandering over their former hunting-grounds. One day during the sum- mer in question while the men were all gone to a raising in the adjoining township of Columbia (now in Lorain county, but then a part of Cuyahoga). a huge warrior, armed with gun, knife and tomahawk, sauntered into the cabin where Mrs. Hilliard was alone with her little daughter and gruftly asked: " Where is the man?" She answered indefinitely that he was not at home. The visitor made no hos- tile demonstrations, but the numerous stories of In- dian atrocities during the recent war were enough to make any mother's heart beat with unwonted quick- ness under such circumstances. The warrior, unbid- den. seated himself in a chair, when the little girl, with all the Fearlessness of infaney, toddled up and offered him the piece of bread and butter which she was cating. He promptly accepted it, and, while cating, took the little one upon his knee and caressed it. The mother looked on with trembling, but, after finishing his bread and butter, the savage soon left the house to her very great relief.
About the first of October, another family was added to the little settlement: Guilford Whitney then bringing from Connectient his wife and his four chil- dren. Flavel, Futbal. Vina and Betsey-also a young lady named Charlotte Wallace. Later in the same month Abial Haynes, then a young man, came from the same "land of steady habits." to examine the lo- cality. llis report must have been favorable, for a year later his father. Ahijah Haynes, Sr., located in the new colony with his family including a younger brother, Ahijah Ilaynes. Jr. Both Abial and Ahijah Haynes, Jr., still live at Strongsville Center, being two of the very oldest surviving residents of the town- ship.
Not only was there no grain in the new settlement, but it was extremely scarce in the older localities around, owing to the cold summer of 1816. Mr. Abial Ilaines mentions that in January, 1817, he was compelled to go as far as Harrisville, (now on the south line of Medina county) some thirty miles dis- tant from Strongsville, to obtain wheat. The road conld with difficulty be traveled by a yoke of oxen with a sled: the wolves came in sight after dusk, showing their angry teeth, but declining to come in reach of young Haines stout elub, and after he arrived in Harrisville he had to thresh his wheat and winnow it with a "hand-fan" before he could get it. The price was a dollar a bushel.
During the winter of 1816- 11 the first marriage took place in the township; the groom being Hollis Whitney and the bride being the Miss Charlotte Wal- lace before mentioned as accompanying Guilford Whit- ney's family the preceding autumn.
Early in 181; came Chipman Porter, whose son Edwin. born shortly afterwards, was the first white child born in town. John Hilliard's eldest son. Frank, who came into the world only a few days later. was the second one.
The other immigrants of this year, so far as known. were George F. Gilbert, James Nichols, David Good- win, Seth Goodwin, Wheeler Cole, Thatcher Avery, James Bennett, Thaddeus Ball, and John and James Smith. This was a large immigration for a single township, and great prosperity was expected. Peo- ple came much more readily to the high, but dry and healthy, land of number five than to the more level. but damper, ground of Middleburg. Axes were heard in every direction, and log houses rose in various parts of the township in quick succession. John Bosworth cleared fifty acres for Mr. Strong, thirty of which were sown to wheat that fall. Numerous smaller clearings were made, many tracts were sown to wheat, and the township bade fair to be speedily independent of the outer world, so far as food was concerned. The religions habits of old Connectient were imported by the colonists, and on the 10th of October the First Congregational Church was organ- ized, of which a separate sketch is given a few pages farther on.
Such rapid progress incited the principal men to apply to the county commissioners to ereet number five into a separate civil township. Their petition was granted, and the name of Strongsville was given to the new township, in honor of its most prominent citizen, John S. Strong. On the 18th day of Febru- ary, 1818. the first election was held for the purpose of organizing the township. It was presided over by Ephraim Vaughn, Esq., a justice of the peace of Middleburg. The judges of election were James Nichols, David Goodwin, and Chipman Porter. The following officers were elected: Trustees, John Dins- more, James Nichols, James Smith; clerk. Seth Goodwin: treasurer, Guilford Whitney: fenee-viewers, James Bennett. Benjamin G. Barber; constables, Jas. Nichols and G. F. Nichols; supervisors of highways, John Bosworth, John Dinsmore, and B. f. Barber. The last-named official declined, and Abial Haynes was appointed in his place. At a special election the following June. James Nichols and Ahijah Haynes, Sr., were elected the first justices of the peace.
In the spring of this year Mr. J. S. Strong brought his family from Connecticut-except those who, having reached man's estate, h. d already emigrated to Strongsville. The whole list embraced the names of Warner C., Lyman W., John, Chipman, Emery, Benda, Franklin, and Lavinia. Another large tam- ily which settled in Strongsville this year was that of Joseph Olds, among the members of which were Ed-
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THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
son B. Olds (afterward celebrated in Ohio politics), G. L., L. W., C. N., and Dr. Benj. B. Olds. The last- named immediately began practice at " the center," becoming the first physician in Strongsville. Still other emigrants of 1818 were Liakim Lyon and fam- ily, Josiah Carpenter and family (including his sons Caleb, Zachary, David and Rufus); Zara D. Howe and family (including Manser, A. P. and Z. D.); Otis and N. D. Billings, Mrs. MeNeil, Mrs. G. G. Olds, and Apollo S. Southworth. A young man named Ansel G. Pope also came the same year, and estab- lished the first blacksmith shop in the township. Mr. Pope, sixty-one years later, still resides at Strongsville, in a remarkably hale and vigorous old age.
One of Eliakim Lyon's family, D. S. Lyon, then a boy of eleven, is also still a resident of the township. Ile says that when he came there was hardly a stick of timber cut between Strongsville and Cleveland. The same autumn of their arrival the main road, which afterward became the turnpike, was " under- brushed out" four rods wide, all the brush and sap- lings under six inches in diameter being cut away. As for the larger trees, travelers were expected for a year or two more to make their way between them. Mr. Eliakim Lyon settled a mile west of the present residence of D. S. Lyon, and about a mile from the south line of the township. The Goodwins and a Mr. Bennett were all who had then penetrated thus far to the southwest. Mr. Lyon for a long time oc- enpied Mr. Bennett's house. The wolves were so thick and so sancy around them, that one evening when Mr. Lyon, tired of their howling, let his big dog ont into the woods, in hopes to scare them away, they quickly chased him back, almost to the very threshold of the cabin.
During the same summer Mr. J. S. Strong erected a framed barn, the first framed building in the town- ship. The raising was a great event, attended by all the men of Strongsville, and probably by some out- siders from Middleburg and Columbia. When the work was completed the men ranged themselves on one of the plates, in accordance with the ancient custom, passed a bottle of whisky from mouth to mouth until all had partaken, and then gave three rousing cheers, while the last man flung the bottle as far as his arm could send it.
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