USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 54
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Father Quilter at once took steps to re- place the second church, and on Aug. 5, 1876, the cornerstone of the present edifice was laid by Bishop Domenec of Pittsburgh. The church was finished the next year and dedicated by Very Rev. R. Phelan of Allegheny.
During the charge of Father Quilter oil was struck on the farm belonging to the church, and this together with the renova- tion of the old buildings and the care of the large farm engaged his attention until 1889, when he was transferred to Carnegie. Fathers John Burns, John O'Callaghan, F. McKenna and Rev. O'Connell succeeded Father Quilter.
Rev. William D. Fries, brother of Frank T. Fries, editor of the Kittanning Times, came in 1902 and remained until 1905, when he went to Charleroi, Pa., where he is still stationed. During his term of service a se- vere windstorm blew out the rear end of the church, raised the roof and twisted the steeple partially around. The damages were repaired the same year at an expense of $2,000, the
amount being raised by the sale of timber from lands belonging to the church.
Father Patrick Diskin is the present pastor, coming here in 1905, and under his care the church is still thriving, and will uphold the proud position she has held in the past 109 years. It was during the second year of his pastorate that the centennial anniversary of the church was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies.
A list of the old heads of families of the first church is of interest as an historical rec- ord. It is as follows: Patrick Boyle, John Coyle, Charles Duffy, James Denny, Thomas Dugan, John Durneigh, John Enipich, John Gillespie, Peter Gallagher, Patrick McBride, Neil Murray, Jeremiah Callihan, Archibald Black, Matthias Cypher, Michael Carven, Hugh Dugan, Neil Dugan, George Dougherty, Edward Ferry, Hugh Gillespie, Robert Han- lin, Charles McCue, Hugh McElroy, David Boyle, Elanor Coyle, Mary Ann Cypher, Peter Croosils, Michael Dugan, Andrew Dugan, John Duffy, John Forquer, John Gallagher, Charles Hunter, Daniel McCue, Connell Rodgers, Philip Hartman.
SCHOOLS
The first schoolhouse, a simple log struc- ture, was located near Foster's Mills in 1812, and its first teacher was Hugh Rogers of Kit- tanning. Dr. Samuel Wallace, who was the first physician to locate in this section in 1827, resided in the southeastern part of the town- ship, on Long run. He was interested in erect- ing the schoolhouse here, which was named after him, and which was probably built at or before the date of the one above mentioned.
Another schoolhouse stood a little lower down the run, at the intersection of the Wat- terson ferry road and that to Brady's Bend. It was built before 1829, and the earliest teachers were Matthew Brown and Cyrus Kil- gore.
1860-Number of schools, 9; average num- ber months taught, 4; male teachers, 9; aver- age salaries per month, $20; male scholars, 196; female scholars, 163; average number attending school, 204 ; amount levied for school purposes, $884.88; cost of teaching each scholar per month, 56 cents; received from State appropriation, $143-35; from collectors, $520 ; cost of instruction, $720; fuel, etc., $90; cost of. schoolhouses, $20.
1876-Number of schools, 9; average num- ber months taught, 5 ; male teachers, 5, female teachers, 4; average number of salaries per
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month, both male and female, $30; male schol- ars, 143, female scholars, 129; average num- ber attending school, 200; cost per month, The assessment returns for 1913 show : Number of acres, 16,633, valued at $161,231 ; houses and lots, 25, value, $2,290, average, $1.06; tax levied, $1,860; received from State $91.60; horses, 235, value, $10,650, average, appropriation, $227.85; from taxes, etc., $2,327.90; paid teachers, $1,350; fuel, etc., $771.75. $45.31; cows, 242, value, $4,770, average, $19.71 ; taxable occupations, 334, total amount, $4,160. Total valuation, $341,849. Money at interest, $44,581.14.
The number of schools in 1913 was 9; aver- age months taught, 7 ; male teachers, 4, female teachers, 5; average salaries, male, $45, fe- male, $40 ; male scholars, 80, female scholars, 75 ; average attendance, IO1 ; cost per month, $2.80; tax levied, $1,672.24; received from State, $1,500.96; other sources, $2,018.46; value of schoolhouses, $5,400 ; teachers' wages, $2,660 ; fuel, fees, etc., $811.95.
The school directors were: D. O. Kam- merer, president; Samuel Shearer, secretary ; H. A. Hedrick, treasurer ; M. W. Foster, Thos. R. Steele.
POPULATION
The first census taken after Sugar Creek was reduced to its present area was that of 1860, when its population was 1, 10I. In 1870 it was: Native, 969; foreign, 54. Its number of taxables in 1876 was 287. The assessment list made in the last-mentioned year shows the occupations of the inhabitants, exclusive of the agricultural portion, to have been : Laborers, 25; carpenters, 6; blacksmiths, 3; merchants, 3; miller, I ; shoemakers, 2.
The population according to the census of 1880 was 1,018; of 1890, 1,070; of 1900, 885 ; of 1910, 790.
GEOLOGICAL
The surface rocks in this township consist largely of the lower barrens. This is evident from the smooth conditions of its upland farms. The lower productive rocks skirt the eastern edge of the township, and in the north- east corner where the river touches the ferrif- erous limestone are above water level ; also for a short distance on Little Buffalo creek near Foster's Mills. The upper Freeport coal is small and unimportant in this section. Fur- ther west, below the Catholic church, it ex- pands to four feet thick, and has its limestone underneath it.
The Kellersburg anticlinal axis extends across the southeast corner of the township, so that, westward from this past Adams, the dip is to the northwest, which explains the absence of coal and the presence here of the lower barrens.
The most elevated portion of this township above sea level is at the line of Washington township, in the southeastern part, and its alti- tude is 1,570 feet. It is located directly on the crest of the Kellersburg anticlinal.
CHAPTER XL WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
FORMATION-FIRST LANDOWNERS-"OLD MARTIN JOHN HOUSE"-INDUSTRIES OF OTHER DAYS- "VAN BUREN"-WATTERSONVILLE-WEST MAHONING-CHURCHES-NATURAL GAS-SCHOOLS -POPULATION AND OCCUPATIONS
In the formation of this township in 1858 Campbell and George Claypoole, overseers of Sugar Creek was deprived of a considerable amount of territory. The first petition to di- vide the townships failed and another one substituted the same year was passed.
the poor; George C. Claypoole, James F. Cowan, John A. Foster, Philip Templeton, David Wolf and Jacob Woods, school direc- tors; George W. Cousins, assessor; Jacob Woods, judge ; and John A. Foster and Absa- lom Wolf, inspectors of election. Place of holding elections, home of Henry Helzel.
The first election held in Washington town- ship in February, 1859, resulted thus : Leonard Fair and David Wolf were elected justices of the peace; George W. Cousins, constable ; Samuel H. Dickey, treasurer ; George L. Davis, EARLY SETTLERS AND LANDOWNERS Jacob Woods and David Wolf, auditors; James F. Cowan and David Yerty, supervis- The following were original owners or set- ors ; John A. Foster, town clerk; William S. tlers of the lands in the territory now included
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in this township: Michael Red, David Henry, Jonathan Bowser, who was at that date (1912) John McGarvey, Charles McClatchey, Alexan- seventy-three years of age. A present di- rect descendant of Martin John is Mrs. W. C. Marshall, wife of the well known editor of the Dayton News. der Denniston, Archibald Dickey, Peter Mob- ley, John Sutton, Christopher Foster, John McGarvey, James B. Morrison, John Kerr, Paul Morrow, Nathaniel Stewart, Joseph Taylor, Matthias Bulheimer, Alexander Col- PIONEER INDUSTRIES well, Michael Fair, Simon Fair, William Mc- Clatchey, Nicholas Clark, James Cowan, John W. Littey, James F. Cowan, David Hays, John Donnell, William Donnell, James Nichols, David Graham, James Mateer, Wil- liam Gibson, John Green, John Remer, Allen McGregor, Jacob Helm, William Dickey, James Porterfield, Philip Templeton, Jacob Steelsmith, John Leard, Anderson Truitt, Elijah Mounts, John Beatty, Robert Beatty, David Rankin, Oliver Leard, George H. Fos- ter, Allen McCard, John Mounts, Leonard Hearley, Christian Ruffner, Daniel Ruffner, Solomon Ruffner, Martin John, John Crisman, Arthur Denniston, William Freeman, Henry Heltzel, Valentine Bowser, John Ellenberger, Emanuel Roudabush, William F. Johnston, Gideon Morrow, Alexander Chilcott, Dr. Simeon Hovey, James Sloan, William Neville, William Grover, Samuel Kinkaide, Jacob Frick, Adam Wyant, Henry Isaman, Bartholo- mew Boucher, Benjamin Leasure, James Trimble, Robert Colgan, John Wolf, Robert Fish, William Hooks, John Paxton, William T. Richardson, Matthew S. Adams, George Elliott, William Trimble, William Mc- Church at this point is Rev. O. L. Wingar.
Anninch, John McNickle, William Wylie, David Cooper, Caleb Paull, Archibald Dickey, Rev. John Dickey, Charles Morrall, Simon Torney, Thomas Thompson, George Best, John L. Gaughegan, Peninch Hooks, Peter Miller, Daniel Dahle, Nicholas Cloak, John D. Mhelly, Walter Litley, James Watterson, Rev. John Sherrett, Amos N. Mylert, John E. Barnaby, George J. Bert, Michael Guyer, Rob- ert Stephens, Marcus Hulings, Henry Crum.
"OLD MARTIN JOHN HOUSE"
Although not the earliest settler, Martin John had the distinction of being the builder of the log house, the oldest in the county, "VAN BUREN" which now stands on the road near Limestone run, in the southern part of this township. He Named from President Martin Van Buren, this little settlement was laid out by Hugh Gillespie in 1837. Hulings grist and saw mills were here as a foundation and much was ex- pected of the advantage of location and pros- pects. A large cooperage was established there in 1853 by Dr. A. M. Barnaby (the first resi- settled here in 1771 and in that year put up this home, and such was the thoroughness of his work and the care given it by his descendants that up to 1912 it was quite habitable. A view of it is given on another page. Subsequent owners have been Henry Frick, Jonas and Solomon Bowser. It was last occupied by dent physician), William Geddes and John
The earliest record of this township shows that the first settler to erect the necessary sawmill, which always followed the building of the primitive log houses of the pioneers, was William Holder, who with the help of James Watterson erected a log mill on Hul- ing's (now Holder's) run, on the present site of the village of "Sherrett," in 1815. His mill, much enlarged, was known in 1832 as Mc- Clatchey's mill. It was rebuilt in 1864 by Da- vid Shields, and still more enlarged in 1875 by the then owners, McKee & Foster. A store was added at this point at that date by the same firm. From this settlement developed the little village of "Sherrett," named from a Bap- tist clergyman, Rev. John Sherrett, who set- tled here in 1857. Thomas Foster was post- master here in 1861. There is no office here now, the rural routes taking its place.
John Fair came here in 1817 and started the first blacksmith shop in this section. He moved to Adrian, East Franklin township, in 1872. Ellenberger Brothers are the storekeep- ers here now. The pastor of the Methodist The Phillips Gas Company have a pumping station here to supply the upper part of the county.
On the run now known as Denniston's Mar- cus Hulings built a sawmill and gristmill in 1845, near the mouth of the stream. On the Allegheny, opposite the present town of Rimer, Michael Fair, in 1855, built a sawmill to sup- ply the American furnace and surrounding settlers. The remains of Fair's mill are still visible. A distillery was operated in 1865 by Gideon Morrow at the point on Limestone run now known as "Morrow's." He later added a store.
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Meyer. The place, however, never attained any importance, and is now only a suburb of the small town of Wattersonville.
ยท WATTERSONVILLE
This place was laid out in 1842 by Henry Watterson, and a number of lots were sold that year. John Donnell opened a store here in 1865. There were 39 taxables in the town in 1876, most of whom, as at present, were employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany. William Hileman and Lee Kirkwood are the merchants here in 1913.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized here in 1871. The church edifice, frame, one story, was erected on ground that belonged to James Watterson, who conveyed 41 square perches to Alexander N. Chilcott, George W. Cousins, F. A. Dietrich, John Don- nell, John M. Perkins, Andrew Schall and George Steen, trustees, for church purposes, May 30, 1872, for $100. A public schoolhouse is situated at the upper part of the town.
WEST MAHONING
Benjamin McElroy opened a store at this point on the Allegheny, opposite the Mahon- ing, in 1876, and soon thereafter the "Union" church was built near there. A ferry had been operated here since 1834, so in a short- time quite a settlement grew up around the store. Since the completion of the Pittsburgh & Shawmut there is every indication that this spot will be occupied by a thriving town.
CHURCHES
iginal members. The religious services were held at the house of John "Crissman" from 1824 until 1844, and at the house of Leonard Fair thereafter until 1855. The name of this church was changed in 1844 to Bethlehem, and in 1855 to St. Mark's its present one.
The pastors after Rev. Mr. Zielfels were: Rev. G. A. Reichert, 1828-37 ; Henry D. Keyl, 1838-42; John Esensee, 1842-43; Gottlieb Kranz, 1844-47; John A. Neuner, 1849-51; Thomas Steck, 1851-54; Augustus C. Ehren- feld, 1854-58 ; Frederick Rauthrauff, 1859-60; Charles Witmer, 1860-62; Jacob Singer and Lewis M. Kuhns, supplies, 1863-64; H. J. H. Lemcke, 1864-66; and Rev. J. W. Schwartz, the present pastor, from 1867 to 1913.
The first church edifice was erected on a lot donated by Philip Cristman and Leonard Fair in 1849, and was afterward added to by the purchase of an acre from Joseph Cristman. The building was dedicated in 1856 and served as a home for the congregation for forty- four years. The present church was built in 1900 at a cost of $3.600. It is located on the right bank of Limestone run, almost directly on the line between Washington and East Franklin townships.
The membership in 1876 was 150 and Sab- bath school, 50. The present membership is 226, but the Sabbath school still remains at the old figure.
The Brush Valley Brethren in Christ Church was organized in 1842 by Rev. George Shoemaker, and thence was often called the "Shoemakerian Church." The building, lo- cated some distance east of the Lutheran church, was put up in 1858, on land given the congregation by Abraham Leasure. It was for some years jointly used by the Brethren and the Church of God. No services are held here now, but there is a thriving Sunday school, under the charge of J. H. Johns.
The settlers of this part of old Sugar Creek township were mostly German and adhered generally to the Lutheran faith. Their first religious organization was made in 1824, under The German Baptists, or "Dunkards," had a church building, built in 1865, which stands east of the Lutherans and near the settlement now called "French's," on the bank of a run that empties into the Allegheny opposite Hooks station. Rev. J. B. Wampler was pas- tor in 1876. the charge of Rev. M. C. Zielfels, who had little to recommend him as a pastor but this creation of a church. His stay with the con- gregation was only for two years, after which he left in disgrace. The name adopted by the people was the Limestone Evangelical Lu- theran Church of Sugar Creek. After that A frame church, called "Union," was erected in 1876 on the Allegheny opposite Gray's Eddy, and used by several denominations for years past. date it was variously called "Christman's," and "Fair's," from the homes of those of the con- gregation where the occasional services were held. John Christman and Michael Fair were the first elders. They and their wives, Fred- GAS WELLS IN 1913 erick Christman, John Ellenberger, Peter Fair, Peter and William Toy, David and John Wolf, One of the biggest gas wells struck in Arm- and their wives, and Jacob Wolf were the or- strong county in a long time has just been
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
brought in on the John W. Foster farm, near Sherrett, by the Cummings Company, of East Brady.
When the drilling reached the fifth sand at a depth of 1,700 feet such a heavy flow of gas was struck that it was handled with dif- ficulty. Drilling stopped, the boiler was moved back and then the well was connected with the mains of the company. The flow is said to have registered 100 pounds pressure in a six-inch casing.
The strike opens up what in a way is new territory. There has been some drilling in that section at times but the field has never been fully developed. Several companies are already taking up leases and more drilling will be done.
SCHOOLS
1
arce in 1838 to the school directors of the ton township other than agricultural, and ex-
Very little can be ascertained regarding the schools of this township from the old records. John John, son of Martin John, gave half an township of Sugar Creek, on which they built the usual log structure. This was located in the southern part of the present limits of Washington township. Another schoolhouse was located in the bend of the Allegheny near the present station of West Mosgrove. It was probably erected after 1848, as that year David Wolf donated the land on which it stood.
1860-Number of schools, 6; average num- ber of months taught, 4; male teachers, 6; average salaries per month, $18.50; male scholars, 175; female scholars, 135; average number attending school, 168; cost of teaching each per month, 61 cents. Levied for school purposes, $597.58; received from collectors, $380.33 ; cost of instruction, $444 ; cost of fuel, etc., $84.55.
1876-Schools, 8; average number of months taught, 5; male teachers, 7; female teacher, I; average salaries of male and fe- male per month, $33; male scholars, 220; fe- male scholars, 170; average number attending school, 240; cost per month, 61 cents; levied for school and building purposes, $2,531.32;
received from State appropriation, $272.49; from taxes and other sources, $2,419.25; paid for teachers' wages, $1,122; fuel and other expenses, $1,569.74.
The number of schools in 1913 was 9; aver- age months taught, 7; male teachers, 5; fe- male teachers, 4; average salaries, male, $48, female, $43.33; male scholars, 169, female scholars, 147; average attendance, 182; cost per month, $1.55; tax levied, $1,980.13; re- ceived from State, $1,621.54; other sources, $1,802.23; value of schoolhouses, $9,500; teachers' wages, $2,710; fuel, fees, etc., $719.77.
The school directors were: H. H. Adams, president; David Booher, secretary; M. C. Bowser, treasurer; Thomas Templeton, Mar- tin Bowser.
POPULATION AND OCCUPATIONS
Occupations of the inhabitants of Washing- clusive of Van Buren and Wattersonville, in 1876: Laborers, 56; carpenters, 4; blacksmiths, 3; plasterer, I; merchant, I; wagonmaker, I. According to the mercantile appraiser's list for the same year there were then 2 merchants in the thirteenth and 3 in the fourteenth class.
The tax list of 1913 shows only 3 merchants, I miller, I blacksmith and I carpenter in the township.
The population in 1860 was 988; in 1870, 1,180; in 1880, 1,489; in 1890, 1,232; in 1900, 1,207; in 1910, 1,135.
The assessment returns for 1913 show: Number of acres, 13,6383/4, valued at, $126,969.75; houses and lots, 102, value, $7,642, average, $74.03; horses, 151, value, $5,689, average, $37.65; cows, 168, value, $2,642, average, $15.75; taxable occupations, 420, amount $8,770; total valuation, $180,- 476.75. Money at interest, $6,722.57.
Washington divides the honors of altitude with Sugar Creek township, the highest hill being in the southwestern part on the boundary line ; it is 1,570 feet above the sea.
CHAPTER XLI
EAST FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
DIVISION-SETTLEMENT-MILLS AND FURNACES-WALKCHALK-ADRIAN-COWANSVILLE-TARR- TOWN-FURNACE RUN-WEST KITTANNING-APPLEWOLD-WEST MOSGROVE-CHURCHES -
SCHOOLS-POPULATION-GEOLOGY
The history of the origin of East Franklin township is practically identical with that of West Franklin, so we will commence this sketch with the events occurring after the sep- aration of the two in 1868. Like its twin upon the west, this township was named for the illustrious printer, Benjamin Franklin.
The results of the first election in 1868 were: J. C. Claypoole, justice of the peace ; Hugh Hooks, constable; Solomon Hooks, school director for three years, D. C. Quigley and Abraham Zillefrow, for two years; Henry Blair and John Montgomery, supervisors ; Jonathan Geary, assessor; John Moore and John Summerville, overseers of the poor ; Henry Dougherty, Thomas Armstrong and J. D. Carr, township auditors ; W. G. Cowan and Sharon Mateer, inspectors of election.
Some of the earlier settlers were: Joshua Elder, George McCall, John Bowser, John Summerville, William Findley, Samuel Rob- inson, Francis Robinson, David Reed, Isaac WVible, John McAnninch, Joseph Brown, Asa Freeman, James Blair, John Cunningham, George B. Porter, J. A. Fulton, Andrew Por- ter, Joseph Boney, Alexander B. McGregor, William Lindley, William Noble, John Hous- ton, Jacob Sweigert, Abraham Bowser, Da- vid Flanner, Anthony Cravenor, William Burnheimer, Peter Toy, John Bish, James Stokes, John Campbell, John Mann, John Kerr, John Titus, Thomas Herron, Thomas Willard, Andrew Milligan, John Mateer, Jona- than H. Sloan, Daniel Lemon, John Carroll, Thomas McClymonds, John Quigley, Daniel Henry, Andrew McKee, John Montgomery, John McKee, Andrew Milligan, Frederick Razo, Benjamin Leasure, Thomas Milligan, Robert Williby, Samuel Robinson, William Cowan, John Cowan.
MILLS AND INDUSTRIES
The first industrial plant in this township. was the log gristmill of Thomas Willard, on West Glade run, near the center portion, which was put up in 1797. It was only operated until 1812. George Bowser was another of the early millers, his mill being on the same run, a few miles south of Willard's, and was built about 1841. Sawmills were operated by James McDowell and James S. Quigley, in 1848 and 1852, respectively, the former on Long run and the latter on the site of the present Shaw- mut freight yards.
The early distilleries were too numerous to. mention, about every hundredth settler oper- ating one at intermittent intervals.
Above Quigley's mill was the home of Wil -. liam Boney, who was the first to operate a carding machine in 1844.
The old Allegheny furnace was the result of the labors of James W. Biddle, the builder- of the first one in this section-Rock fur- nace. Biddle erected the "Allegheny" in 1827 on the run across the river from Kittanning, for Alexander McNickle. It was similar to most of these old structures, being operated with charcoal. It went out of blast in 1837. Upon its site now is the new mining town of Furnace Run.
A company was organized in 1859 for the manufacture of oil from cannel coal, the works being built near the site of the furnace, but the project was abandoned the next year.
WALKCHALK
Anthony Cravenor, about 1830, started to erect a sawmill at the junction of Slate Lick run and West Glade run, but he was so long- on the job that the building was torn down
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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in 1865 by Samuel Bowser, who built in its place a better structure. This mill passed through different hands until the father of the present owner converted it into a gristmill. J. F. Burford is the owner in 1913.
The hamlet of Walkchalk obtained its name by accident. A drum-corps was organized there in early days, and the members were rather neglectful of their discipline and irreg- ular in their habits. A son of the founder of the settlement, John Cravenor, on a certain oc- casion remarked respecting that band, that if he had command of it he would make its mem- bers "walk chalk." Hence the modern name of this point. The Grangers several years ago erected a two-story frame building here for a hall, but on account of differences among them it has never been used for that purpose. It was afterwards occupied as a store by R. H. Toy, and at present is used as a residence by B. L. Toy. The single store at this place is oper- ated by H. D. Smith, and the blacksmith is C. E. Toy. The population is about eighty persons.
Salem Baptist Church, Rev. James McPhail, pastor, is located near the village.
ADRIAN ( MONTGOMERYVILLE)
The first settler here, Andrew McKee, sold a part of this land to John Cristman, who, in 1818, built a sawmill and later a gristmill on Limestone run, almost on the line of Wash- ington township. Near here in 1851 John Montgomery laid out the town of Montgom- eryville, with twenty-four lots and two streets. Adrian post office was stationed here in 1862, with James Hughes in charge. The present official is John F. Bonner, and he and Andrew T. Milliken are the storekeepers. Dr. B. B. Barton is a local physician. Dr. James E. Quigley is also located here. The first indus- try at Adrian was the blacksmith shop of Chambers Frick, in 1877.
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