Ohio annals : Historic events in the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Valleys, and in other portions of the state of Ohio, Part 25

Author: Mitchener, Charles Hallowell, ed
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Dayton, Ohio : Thomas W. Odell
Number of Pages: 380


USA > Ohio > Ohio annals : Historic events in the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Valleys, and in other portions of the state of Ohio > Part 25


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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The blood of these two pioneers was now at a red heat, and Laf- fer being appointed sheriff of the county, it may be presumed that Knisely feared he would use official influence to injure him. At all events he was ready to continue the war, and sued Laffer for cutting down and carrying away some white-oak, black-oak, and hickory trees from Knisely's woods, elaiming two hundred dollars damages. The jury gave him fifty dollars. Thus embittered against each other by bad men, they remained hostile for years, Laffer being all the time honored with office, whilst Knisely was equally respected in private life. After Laffer removed to the Sandy, and laid Sandy- ville out, he met Knisely one day in the road near the old Canton ford, both being on horseback. " Who stole the hay ?" said Laffer. " Not you," replied Knisely; and then he asked, " Who bribed the commissioners, and sold the people?" "Not you," answered Laffer. " That's the truth, and no lie," said an old fisherman sitting close by, and whom they had not seen. His testimony made them laugh, get off their horses, shake hands and bury the hatchet, with a drink of cool water at Federal Springs. From that time until they died they remained friends.


ABRAHAM SHANE


Came to New Philadelphia about 1806, from Pennsylvania, where he was born. He was about twenty-one years of age. One of the first hotels at the county-seat was kept by him. In the war of 1812 he raised two or three companies, and served on the frontier ; after. which he served as justice, and in other township offices many years, and also served in the general assembly. In the war of the State of Ohio against the United States bank, about 1816, the bank had established a branch in Ohio, and refused to pay any taxes. The State treasurer broke open its vault, and forcibly took therefrom its quota of taxes. For this he was arrested by the bank, and the State sued, the bank claiming that under its charter it could hold property and do business in any State without being amenable to


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the State laws for taxes. The Ohio assembly sustained its State treasurer, and an excitement was the consequence throughout the State. General Shane raised a squad of men in the Tuscarawas valley to go to Chillicothe and blot the branch bank out of exist- ence ; but the United States court sustaining the bank, the State refunded the taxes, and the war ended.


General Shane was at the time, and for a long period before his death, a citizen of Dover, and in the early days shipped flour and other articles in arks down the Tusearawas and Muskingum, thence to New Orleans. He died much esteemed as one of the most prom- inent of the early pioneers.


WALTER M. BLAKE


Came to New Philadelphia about 1817, and died in 1865. He was engaged in building the eanal, the county courthouse, and served in many civil positions-sheriff, treasurer, county auditor, State sena- tor, associate judge and presidential elector. Was one of the most energetie men of his day and generation, carrying with him to the grave the respect of all men. Was acquainted with all the public men of the State, and was particularly distinguished as the most indefatigable of opponents of all double dealing and chicanery, either in or out of office. This trait, coupled with remarkable sagacity, as well as independence of character, made him some enemies, more than he otherwise would have had, but at the same time it saved him many troubles. Over all things he prized manly firmness and dignity, as well as the remembrance of gratitude for favors received. In this connection he often related an incident which happened in the carly days, in the courthouse at New Phila- delphia. Judge Alexander Harper had been placed on the beuch through the friendship and instrumentality of John M. Goodenow, as the latter elaimed. Goodenow and Harper afterward became estranged, for some cause or other, and on the occasion of a trial in which Goodenow took the leading part as attorney, he was ordered, for some remark made, to take his seat, which he did, but immedi- ately arose again and began addressing the jury, but was set down a second time. He then asked Judge Harper if he might say a few words to the jury in the way of repentance. "Certainly," said the judge, supposing an apology was coming. Goodenow raised to his full height, looking at the jury, and pointing with a quivering fin- ger to the judge, said : "Gentlemen of the jury, God made man,


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and then he repented," alluding in that way to the alleged fact that he had made Harper judge, and now he repented of it.


General Blake, when young, had been in the war of 1812, and afterward a land warrant was issued to him In the Mexican war he raised a company, but failed to get it mustered into the service. In the State militia he became a colonel and general, and in all respects he was a noble specimen of a settler of the early times in the valley. Having never married, his property, some thirty thou- sand dollars, passed mainly to brothers and sisters.


ALEXANDER M'CONNELL


Came to New Philadelphia about 1810, and worked at his trade. He was of Irish descent, and worked a while at tailoring. After- ward, in the war of 1812, he raised a squad of cavalry for frontier defense, but did not get into action. During the war, three Mohi- can Indians, armed, came to Goshen Mission, and picked quarters on Zeisberger island. Some whites having been murdered beyond Wooster by Indians, these were suspected. McConnell's cavalry went down, captured and lodged them in jail. They would have been killed by the cavalry, but for McConnell's courage in prevent- ing it. While in jail, a company of forty armed men from the West came to the jail to kill the Indians. McConnell again interfered to save their lives, and, with the assistance of John C. Wright and Sheriff Laffer, succeeded. The Indians were then sent out of the county, and it turned out that they simply visited Goshen to see some Indian relatives, who were converts there. After the war, McConnell had a suit in court, in which the celebrated lawyer, John M. Goodenow appeared against him, and belabored McConnell in his argument. Meeting in Albert's Tavern, McConnell, then in liquor, asked Goodenow if he knew where the lawyers all go when they dic. Goodenow confessed his ignorance, and asked to be in- formed. " Well," said McConnell, " they all go to h-11." "Ah !" replied Goodenow, "that is better than to go where drunken tailors do." " And where is that?" asked McC. " Why," said Goodenow, " they go to Heckely Barny, five miles below h-Il." "And what is done with them there ?" inquired McConnell. "Oh !" said Goode- now, " the devil, finding them saturated with whisky, makes his mince-pies out of them, without having to mix in liquor." Finding himself beaten, McConnell retired.


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Mr. McConnell in after times resided in Dover, became a justice, and, by reason of his capacity and integrity, did a heavy business as magistrate. He died in Dover, in 1839.


JOHN COVENTRY


Came to Tuscarawas from Pennsylvania, and settled, about 182-, at New Philadelphia, where he for some time carried on mercantile business with James Patrick, Sr., under the name of Coventry & Patrick. He then turned his attention to farming, which he fol- lowed very successfully, adding tract after tract to his first pur- chase ; and at his death, in 1872, he was the owner of about eight hundred acres, estimated in value at one hundred dollars per acre. Close in his business matters, he insisted always in having the last cent due to him; and in settling with men he made it his rule to pay the last fraction of a cent due to them. By virtue of this rigid adherence to upright dealing, he acquired the name of " Honest John." His personal life was unspotted, and by reason of his pc- culiarities he was known far and wide. He was always opposed to holding public positions, but occasionally the citizens would force him into a township trusteeship, and rather than pay the two dollars fine, he would always discharge the duties, with such rigid honesty as to acquire sufficient unpopularity, designedly, to insure exemp- tion from office for years afterward. The only public position he is known to have held, outside of the township, was on the occasion of hunting for Funston, the murderer of Cartwell, the mailboy. At that time Mr. Coventry was detailed by Sheriff Blake as one of the posse to make a night raid on a house where Funston was suspected to be. On arriving at the place, and after surrounding the house, Sheriff Blake ordered a search of the house, but without success. Coventry and another were ordered to ascend to the loft, up a lad- der, and having got up, the light went out, and some one pulled away the ladder, so that Coventry was in the dark in a strange garret hunt- ing for a murderer, and no means of escape left to either. Pulling out the ouly weapon he had, a dirk knife, he and his companion groped about, and found nothing but a pair of men's stogies, wet and muddy. By this time Blake had restored order below, put up the ladder, and Coventry descended with his comrade and the stogies, and the posse came away, but not until an unsuccessful attempt was made by a relative of Funston to get possession of the stogies. In the melee Coventry drew his dirk, and threatened death to any one


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touching the leather foot-gear, which deterred the inmates from any further interference. It afterward turned out that the stogies fitted the footprints in the carth near the spot where Cartwell was shot, and after Funston's arrest they were found to fit him, and belong to him, and that settled his fate. Honest John, in recounting the incident to the writer of this sketch, twenty years ago, said he made up his mind in that dark garret that nobody would ever see him acting as a county officer again, and he kept his word.


GEORGE SLUTHOUR, SR.,


Was born in Pennsylvania between 1780 and 1790, and came to New Philadelphia as early as 1811. Followed the avocation of a carpenter, putting up more of the houses in the carly times of New Philadelphia than any other carpenter. He died, universally re- spected, in 18-, leaving descendants. It is related that when the first bank in new Philadelphia was started, Sluthour had his shop on the south-west corner of the public square, where he was en- gaged at the house then on the lot, where Bury's store now is. Jacob Blickensderfer was president, and Abraham Shane cashier of the bank. Like all other banks of that day in Ohio, it was hon- estly run on paper money only, although the bills promised to pay in gold or silver on sight. It was started to build up the town, but met with a sad accident. One day a stranger stepped in with ten thousand dollars of the bills of the bank and demanded the coin. The officers told him to call in again in a short time. This gave- them time to hide. They shut the bank and adjourned to Sluthour's shop. He told them he had not many shavings made, and that they had better separate; that he would hide the cashier in the shavings, while the president, having on a pair of leather or buckskin breeches, had better go into the red brush, near the pres- ent stable of J. C. Hance, and stay until the stranger left. Thus they kept shady until he was out of town. In a very short time he returned to the bank, and having no specie for him. they let the bank go up higher than a kite, and it never came down. About 1852 or '54, Peter Hines found the bank safe in a garret. It was an old-fashioned hair trunk, lined with newspapers, and behind which he found two Spanish quarters, dated 1796 and 1800. which the writer purchased for a dollar, so that he could boast of having all the specie of the first bank in New Philadelphia when it bursted.


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JAMES PATRICK, SR.,


Came to New Philadelphia about -, and started the Chronicle, the first newspaper in the county, which he controlled, except for a short period, for a quarter of a century. He has held the offices of county recorder, county auditor, associate judge of the common pleas, under State laws, and was appointed government agent to sell the Moravian lands; also filled the office of postmaster, under United States laws, always discharging every trust imposed upon him faithfully. As a politician he was a warm partisan, and at the time of Jackson's election, being postmaster at New Philadelphia, he commented in his paper severely on the conduct of Major Barry, of Kentucky, appointed by Jackson postmaster-general, and who traveled to Washington in a "coach and four," with negroes " be- fore and behind," contrary, as Patrick justly thought, to the ideas of American simplicity in the early times. Some one sent Barry a copy of the paper containing the strictures, and in a few weeks. Patrick lost his official head, and was P. M. no more. He relates in his paper of that day how he lost the recorder's office. While a candidate he let this man and that man have a little spare cash on loan, until it got abroad that Patrick was full of money, when dozens rushed to New Philadelphia, and bled him dry. Still they came, and failing to get a loan of a few dollars, the disappointed ones turued on him. To make all things even, and be fair all round, he called in his small loans, and this turned the other set on him, and he was defeated, with a hip, hip, hurrah! by both sets of money- borrowing voters, furnishing a practical illustration of the adage, "a little money is a dangerous thing," to a candidate for office. Judge Patrick is yet living, at the ripe age of - years, surrounded by his daughters and his three sons, whom he made printers, but who, refusing his advice, departed from his ways ; and one, Andrew, has become a banker; while the other two, James and Abraham W. Patrick, have become prominent lawyers.


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DEATH ROLL OF FOUR HUNDRED EARLY SETTLERS, FARMERS, MECHANICS, AND PROFESSIONAL MEN.


Died in 1820, Christian Blickensderfer, one of the first settlers.


Died in 1821, George Gimlans, one of the pioneers.


Died in 1822, Abraham Mosser, Samuel Slutts, Peter Walter, all belonging to the pioneers.


Died in 1823, llenry Benfer, Jacob Butt, Jeremiah Gard, Jacob Houek, Sr., David Seldenright, Isaac Simmers, Henry Sells, Henry Van Lehn, Joseph Hock- steller, Sylvester Johnston, Frederick Maish, John Rebstock.


Died in 1824, Leonard Baer, William Becher, Sr., Grodfrey Huga, Jr., Philip Minich, William Warford, all original settlers.


Died in 1825, Moses Ayres, one of the first settlers.


Died in 1826, Jacob Benope, Daniel Booth, Aquilla Carr, George W. Canfield, Ernest Deitz, Abraham Forney, Cornelius O'Donnell.


Died in 1827, Henry Baker, Samuel Lappin, father of Judge Lappin James McSweeny, John Switzer, John Welty.


Died in 1828, Henry Sliffe, Michael Ronk, Thornton Whitacre.


Died in 1829, Patrick Bennett, Francis Garnant.


Died in 1830, Conrad Bremer, Christian Banghman, Jacob Correll, Deardorff Isaac, John Fulk, George K. Gray, William Gibbs.


Died in 1831, Philip Baker, Philip Foreman, Annanias Randall.


Died in 1832, David Foreman, Michael Kollar, Lewis Knaus, Nathan McGrew, George Wallick.


Died in 1833, Michael Doll, Jacob Knisely, Henry Keller, Jr.


Died in 1834, Charles Birmbaum, Richard Boon, Nicholas Crites, Jacob Ca- ble, Samuel Dearde off, John Shull, Benjamin Shearer, Abraham Snyder, Henry Stauffer.


Died in 1835, Samnel Casebeer, Justin Clark, Valentine Fleck, Christian Gar- ber, Peter Joss, Henry Saffer, Sr., Isaac B. Lee, John Knisely, Sr., the founder of New Philadelphia.


Died in 1836, Peter Cribbs, Peter Cramer, Casper Engler.


Died in 1837, William Albert, Peter Black, Stokey Craig, Thomas Conwell, Jacob Flickinger.


Died in 1838, John Emerson, Jacob Kuhn, John Moffit, Abraham Mihsch, Leonard Parrish James H. Stow, Caleb Stark, Merret Seely.


Died in 1839 Richard B. Carr, Henry Davy, Jacob Lanning.


Died in 1840, Benjamin Cable, Jehu Eckman, James E. Hampson, David Farger, David Ramsay, Andrew Seaton, Philip Trupp, William Neighbor, Sr.


Died in 1841, Benjamin Bear, Gabriel Cryder, William Coleman, Frederick C. Pfersick, David Peter. Henry Shaffer, Elisha Stockdale, Samuel Shuster, Godfrey Westhoffen.


Died in 1842, Robert Harmount, Frederick Hummell, Michael T. Kohr, James B. Morrow, Thomas Sargent, William Sproul, Oliver Bosenbury, Peter Walter.


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Died in 1843, George Binkley, James Stewart, Sr.


Died in 1844, Jesse Hill, Robert McMurray, Philip Suiter, Milton Smith, Wil- liam Nebaugh, Richard T. Burrell, Joseph Huff.


Died in 1845, Edwin Booth, John P. Larimer, William S. Myers, Jesse Neigh- boor, William Slutts, John Silvins, John Benfer, Thomas Bays.


Died in 1846, David Casebeer, Jacob J. Miller, Henry Ankeny, Henry Dear- dorff, William Gordon, Peter Good, John F. Garnant, George Grabam, John P. Heacock.


Died in 1847, Michael Hoff, George Ilyenfritz, Robert M. Kilgore, Jacob Kol- lar, Nathan Leggett, James Met'ne, William Silvins, Heury Albright, Abra- ham Forney, Henry Murphy, Charles Meldean, Abrahan Overholtz.


Died in 1848, George Bugher, Sr., Ira Bates, Robert M. Dawson, Jolin Gra ham, Thomas Price.


Died in 1849, John D. Cummins, Henry Fackler, George II. Fogle, Henry Kel- ler, Samuel C. Wright, John Davy, Jacob Uhrich, George Sees, Medad Vinton


Died in 1850, William Gordon, George Gonter, George W. Kuhn, Lepold Fox, Robert Hursey, Henry Laffer, Jr.


Died in 1851, Matthew Croft, Christian Deardorff, James B. Gray, Benjamin Gorsuch, Edward Lafferty, Samuel McGragor, Abraham Shane. Peter Widener, Michael Uhrich.


Died in 1852, Jacob Foreman, Jacob Frisbly, Joshua Simmons, T, Sargent.


Died in 1653, Peter Houseman, Martin Keller, Rezin Pumphrey, James B. Parrish, David Rassler, David Riggle, Henry Shaffer, Christian Stocker.


Died in 1854, Philip Dotes, George Fernsell, Oliver Rosenbury, Paul Roberts, George Sluthour, Elijah Welty, John Ripley.


Died in 1855, Charles Van Buskirk, Michael Swagler.


Died in 1856, Philip Gharky, Nathaniel Gilmore, John Hummell, Jacob Blickensderfer, John Tucker.


Died in 1857, Jonathan Chandler, Charles Hagan, David Kitch, George Mezer.


Died in 1858, Henry Cramer, William Butt, Jacob Kitch.


Died in 1859, John Hoagland, John Baltzly, Henry Kail, Daniel McGregor. James Nugen, John Sheets, Samuel Thomas, Plin Vinton, John Welch, Samuel Wright.


Died in 1860, John Garver, James Gribble, Jacob Kuldenback, Alfred Pum- phrey.


Died in 1861, Andrew Creter, Bazill D. Downey, Jolın Domer, Samuel Fry, James Forbes, Benjamin Blickensderfer, Henry Macbaman, Walling Miller, Robert B. Wilson.


Died in 1862, Daniel Ashbangh, Francis Gilmore, John Butt, Robert Baker, Beriah Jones, Martin Keller, John Mitchell.


Died in 1863, Daniel Anderson, Prettyman Conwell, John Domer, John Hildt, Sr., Philip Bremer, M. H. Bartilson.


Died in 1864, James Eakey, John Farber, Conrad Gentsch, William Hodge, Andrew Bremer, John Brisben, Ezra Brainard, Peter Hoopingamer, Charles M. Sherrod, Ralph Winspear.


Died in 1865, William Conts, Sr., Jacob Casebeer, George H. Dent, Walter


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M. Blake, George Hoopingamer, Abijah Robinett, James Rutter, A. W. Sargent, George Welty.


Died in 1866, John Brady, John Langhead.


Died in 1867, Harlan Beal, Edward Boyd, George Hursey, Gersham Kilgore, Philip Knappenberger John Sparks.


Died in 1868, Joseph Demuth, Peter Williams, Francis Scott, Valentine Fleck, George Chadwell, Peter Helmrich. Joseph Stout, George Stoody, John Laffer, C. F. Espich.


Died in 1869, Henry Cramer, D. W. Stambaugh, John Gray, Hebbard Hill, Robert Seaman, John Dearth, Peter Suawk, Abraham Nebert, Daniel Bear


Died in 1870, Thomas Hardesty, Solomon Hoover, Nelson Hogland, John Minnich, Jacob Miller, Jacob Myers, Daniel Hoopengarner, Jacob Romig, Philip Rank, Robert McCoy, Michael J. Bennett, Andrew Peters.


Died in 1871, John Dickson, Adam Fackler, Ephraim Sparks, Joseph Kep- linger, John Hensel, John Coventry, Peter Edmonds, Thomas Williams, John Lower.


Died in 1872, John M. Roberts, Robert M. Nugull, Martin Mummna, John Heller, Sr., Matthew Grace, David Sells, Joseph Helmich, Joseph Fox, Charles Koms.


Died in 1873, William Neighbors, John Allshonse, Israel Ricksecker, Ben- jamin Walton, Henry Zimmerman, John Belch, Adam Berkley, John Tomer, Jesse O. Piper, Lems Peter, Robert McConnell, Elijah Hank.


Died in 1874, Andrew Lytle, Martin Kitch, Christian Gross, Thomas Fox, Peter Leutherman, William Reidenbach, Frederich Crater, John Walter, Dan- iel Christy, Joseph Slingluff, Vance P. Bonham.


Died in 1875, Francis Render, Edward Edwards, Benjamin Warfel, John Andrews, Joshua Blickensderfer.


SKETCH OF ZOAR-BIMELER'S MODEL WILL.


About the year 1817 a colony of religious Germans set- tled in Lawrence township, and named it Zoar. In Europe they were known as "Separatists," having seceded from the main church of their community, and on account of the perseentions entailed upon them, left for the United States. On board ship they made the acquaintance of a passenger named Joseph M. Baumler, of intelligence and education, and, being young, was smitten, as is said, with one of the young females, whom he married, and united his fortunes with the society.


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They were poor, and were assisted to the West by the Quakers, and other philanthropic sects. Baumler became manager, and negotiated with Jonathan Dayton, of New Jersey, for four hundred acres of land, on credit, to which they made additions from time to time, and paid for the whole by their united labor, thrown into a common fund. At first they had rude bark and log huts, but in time built comfortable houses, kept up a store, hotel, and shops for mechanics, besides farming, mining and milling.


Mr. Baumler's name being pronounced in English Bime- ler, he assumed that name, and was afterward known as Joseph M. Bimeler. At an early day he organized the colony into a close corporation under the laws of Ohio, of which he remained the master mind until within a few years of his death, which happened August 27, 1853, his wife Dorotha having died September 16, 1852. He was assisted by trustees, chosen by the members annually, the females having the voting power the same as males.


The colony was divided into families, for convenience, with a chosen head for each, who became measurably re- sponsible for the good conduct and morals of those under his or her charge.


In 1830, Joseph M. Bimeler's family consisted at one time of three males and four females. Stephen Hoover's · family consisted of two males and twelve females. Joanna Mock's family consisted of fifteen females, and no males. Christian Platz's family had in it nine males and one female. George Goesele's family consisted of two males and two females. Barbara Shock had in her family seven females, and no male. Maria Sink had two females only. Magda- lena Auck had three females only. John Breymeyer had in his family seven males and one female. Margaret Ack- erman had in her family one male and fourteen females. Casper Fetter had in his family eight males and two females. Jacob Shearing had in his family eight males and two females. John Miller had in his family ten males and three females. Dorethea Dietz had in her family fourteen females,


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and no males. Maria Kuehule had in her family fourteen females, and no males. Jacob Kimmerly had in his family four males and two females. Christian Mitchely had in his family one male and two females. George Groetzinger had in his family five males and two females. Frederick Klotz had in his family three males only. Godfrey Lentz had in his family four males and four females. Making in all 67 males, and 106 females. Of the males, 17 were under 21; 13 between 20 and 30 years; 15 between 39 and 40 ; 10 were between 40 and 50; 10 between 50 and 60; 1 between 60 and 70; and 1 between 70 and 80 years of age. Of the females, 18 under 20; 22 between 20 and 30; 24 between 30 and 40; 20 between 40 and 50; 17 between 50 and 60: 4 between 60 and 70 ; and one between 70 and 80.


As the society became prosperous, attempts were made to divide the property by seceding members, but all failed. When a member secedes, is expelled, or dies, his rights merge in the surviving members, and by reason whereof the society can never be broken up, unless by common con- sent, and the dissolving corporation acts.


It has existed about fifty-seven years, and the society owns 6,989 acres of land, the real value of which is about $500,000, or an average of $70 per acre. Its personality, moneys, and credits do not exceed $200,000.


In its history of nearly three score years, no instance is known of a member in good standing, ever having violated a law of the State.


In the course of a long life of business, a large amount of property became legally the property of Joseph M. Bimeler, but ten days before his death he willed it all to the society, heeding in all probability the Bible admonition that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.


The following is a copy of his will, inserted here for the benefit of all heads of corporations, and others whom it may concern, in preparing for the life to come :




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