Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 265

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 2390


USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 265
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 265
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 265
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 265


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born in 1892, all now attending school. For her second husband Mrs. Norton married Ansel A. An- drews, of Susquehanna county, who died in 1897. She now resides with her only child, Morgan Nort- on, on the old homestead. She is a lady of culture and refinement, whose life has been devoted to charitable work, and she is loved and respected bv her neighbors and many friends. She and her son are members of the Baptist Church, and are quite prominent in Church circles. (4) Raymond V., the fourth child of Morgan Shutts, was born in Susquehanna county, in 1841, and died at the age of twenty-one years. (5) Williametta, born in May, 1844, on the old homestead in Oakland town- ship, is now the widow of Charles Bravo, of Oak- land, who died leaving one daughter, Hattie E., wife of J. B. Femer, of Susquehanna county. (6) Angelia, born August 22, 1851, died when a young lady.


SYLVESTER WESCOTT. The life of Mr. Wescott has exemplified the truth of the adage that man is the architect of his own fortune. At an early age he was thrown largely upon his own re- sources and the strength of character which the early struggle for the necessities of life developed, has ever attended his successful career. Mr. Wes- cott adopted agriculture as his life work. His view of life has not narrowed to the mere cultiva- tion of the soil, for in the affairs that relate to moral and mental culture he has ever been an active and prominent participant, bestowing freely his time and energies to those causes which encourage human purposes.


Mr. Wescott was born in Cortland county, N. Y., January 18, 1835, son of Nathaniel and Abigail Wescott and grandson of Ephraim Wescott. The latter, a native of New England, married Freelove Stone and settled in Cranston, Rhode Island, where he died. His widow removed to New York State and later to Abington township, Lackawanna coun- ty, Penn. Their children were as follows: Asel; Gardner; Zina; Nathaniel (father of our subject) ; Susie, who married Clark Green, of Rhode Island ; and Amy, who married G. Parker, of New York. Nathaniel Wescott was born at Cranston, near Providence, Rhode Island, and there married Abigail Abbro. With his wife and seven children he re- moved to Virgil township, Cortland county, N. Y., and later to Abington township, Lackawanna coun- ty, Penn:, near Waverly where he purchased a farm. Later he lived for some years in Lenox town- ship, Susquehanna county, and he died in Wyom- ing county, in 1886, aged eighty-eight years. The children of Nathaniel and Abigail Wescott were as follows: Arnon, deceased ; Richmond, of Scranton ; Mercy, widow of L. Harrington and of H. Yeaw, of Rhode Island ; Hulda, who married G. C. Reynolds, of Abington, Penn., and is now deceased ; James, a farmer of Wyoming county ; Roby, wife of M. Staf- ford, of Cortland county, N. Y .; Mary Jane, who


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died young; Sylvester, subject of this sketch; and Thomas, a carpenter of Blodgett Mills, New York.


Sylvester Wescott, our subject, was seven years of age, when, in 1842, his mother died. From the age of fourteen years he had to depend solely upon his own efforts for a livelihood. His school ad- vantages were limited, but he was eager to obtain an education and cheerfully worked for his school- ing. He was married in Lenox township in 1856 to Sarah Jerauld, a school teacher, daughter of Ray G. Jerauld, a pioneer of Luzerne county and later a resident of Lenox township, Susquehanna county, where he died in 1881 aged seventy-eight years. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Wescott Dupree Jerauld was and emigrant from France and her grandfather, James Jerauld was a prominent citi- zen of Rhode Island. To Mr. and Mrs. Wescott have been born eight children, namely: Clara, of Nicholson; George, of Lenox township; Ada, of Nicholson: Mary J., wife of B. Powers, of La- Plume ; Arthur, deceased; Ralph, of Lenox town- ship; Ernest, of Lenox township; and Mabel, of Nicholson.


Mr. Wescott began married life as the owner of fifty acres of wild land in Lenox township. This he improved and upon the land he built a home. He followed farming upon his original purchase, and in 1886 he purchased sixty-five acres nearly all im- proved and he now follows general and dairy farm- ing. In politics he is a Democrat. For five years he served as supervisor and for two years as overseer of the poor. At the age of eighteen years he joined the Sixth Principle Baptist Church, his wife becom- ing a member of the same. They have since been prominent and active Church workers and in 1892 were delegates to the Baptist Church convention at Wood River, Connecticut.


JOHN J. STOCKHOLM, a prominent mer- chant of and postmaster at Hickory Grove, Sus- quehanna county, is a man who combines the vir- tues of energy, enterprise and industry, and to these and his excellent judgment may be attributed his success in life.


Mr. Stockholm was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in January, 1841, a son of William and Charlotte (Brown) Stockholm, also natives of that county. On leaving there the parents removed to Orange county, same State, where the father fol- lowed farming for some years, or until 1850, when he went to Binghamton, N. Y. A year later, how- ever, he came to Franklin Forks, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits until his death, in 1878. His wife died a year later. Both were consistent members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, to which they contributed lib- erally of their means. In politics the father was a Republican, and he always took an active part in par- ty work. To this worthy couple were born the fol- lowing children: (1) Abigail, born in Dutchess county, N. Y., is the wife of Charles Morey, of


Philadelphia, and they have one daughter, Liz- zie, widow of Eugene King, who was killed on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad at Hall- stead, (2) Rachel, born in Dutchess county, died when a young woman. (3) Aaron, born in Dutchess county, married Elizabeth Green. He was a sol- dier in the Civil war, and is now a prominent man of Franklin Forks. (4) Elizabeth, born in Dutchess county, is the wife of J. W. Palmer, of Franklin Forks, who; was also a soldier in the Civil war and was seriously wounded in battle. They have reared a family of seven sons, who are residents of Franklin Forks. (5) John J., our subject, is next in the family. (6) George P., born in Dutchess county, married Gaiety Cronk, of Susquehanna county, by whom he has four children, and they reside on the old homestead at Franklin Forks. He, too, was one of the brave defenders of the Union during the Rebellion. (7) Catherine, born in Or- ange county, N. Y., married Samuel Cosier, now deceased, by whom she had two children, Nathan and Elmer, and she is now the wife of Charles Houser, of Binghamton, N. Y. (8) Mary F., born in Orange county, N. Y., died when a young lady. (9) Henrietta, born at Franklin Forks, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., is the wife of Nathan Jones, of Middletown, same county, and they have five chil- dren, Theron, Mary, Maud, Lattz and Rachel. ( 10) Albert, born at Franklin Forks, married Katie Goble, of Great Bend, where both died in 1891, leaving three children, Florence, Edna, and Charles (a student in Girard College, Philadelphia ). ( II ) Ida, born at Franklin Forks, is the wife of Harmon Stone, of Montrose, and they have two children, Lillie and Jessie.


John J. Stockholm was educated in the dis- trict schools of New York State and Susquehanna county, Penn. In August, 1862, he responded to his country's call for aid in putting down the Re- bellion, and enlisted in Company H, 14Ist P. V. I., under Capt. Tyler, of Montrose, being sworn into the United States service at Camp Curtin, Har- risburg, Penn., where the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac. With his command he reached Washington, D. C., the last day of the battle of Bull Run, and his first engagement was at Fredericksburg, where the Con- federate losses were heavy. This was followed by the engagement at Chancellorsville, and the famous battle of Gettysburg, where he was seriously wound- ed. He was taken to Annapolis, Md., where he remained in the hospital for eight months. He was finally able to rejoin his regiment on the Rappa- hannock river, and later participated in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. At the latter he received a scalp wound from a minie ball, and was taken to Mt. Pleasant hospital. He again joined his regiment at Petersburg, where they fought uninterruptedly for several days, and he was later in the Bullpen fight and the Weldon Railroad raid, which lasted seven days. After the surrender of Gen. Lee, to Gen. Grant, at Appomattox, he was honora-


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bly discharged, in June, 1865, and returned to his home. in Susquehanna county.


In August, 1867, Mr. Stockholm was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Briggs, of Susque- hanna county, a daughter of Philo and Betsy Briggs, representatives of one of the honored pioneer fam- ilies of Silver Lake township. To them have been born four children, three sons and one daughter, namely : (1) Harris L., born in Franklin township, in November, 1869, received a district-school edu- cation, and is now engaged in farming in Dela- ware county, N. Y. He married Jennie Stillman, of Otsego county, that State, and they have one daughter, Ethel. (2) Oliver H., born in Franklin township, in 1872, married Mattie Pelton, of Atti- ca, N. Y., by whom he has two children, Pelton and Mary, and they reside in Hornellsville, N. Y., where he is employed as a telegraph lineman. (3) Mary Frances, born in Franklin township, in 1875, is a bright, accomplished young lady, who was edu- cated in the higher schools of the town of Susque- hanna. (4) John, born in Silver Lake township, Susquehanna county, is attending the home schools.


After his marriage Mr. Stockholm located in Franklin township, where he purchased a farm, which he sold in 1883, after having made many im- provements upon the place, and then bought real estate in Hickory Grove, Great Bend township, where he has since successfully engaged in mer- chandising, having built up a good trade in the vil- lage and throughout the surrounding country. Po- litically he has always been identified with the Re- publican party, and he served as a member of the Republican county committee while a resident of Silver Lake township. In July, 1897, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Hickory Grove under Presi- dent Mckinley, and is now most creditably and ac- ceptably filling that office. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Improved Order of Red Men No. 255, and the Grand Army Post No. 233, both of Great Bend, and of the Veteran Union at Binghamton, N. Y. His career has ever been such as to war- rant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transactions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity.


CORNELIUS C. LUPTON, a well-known resident of Gibson township, Susquehanna county, has been successfully engaged in business there as a harness maker, but devotes his attention at pres- ent to general agriculture and dealing in live stock.


Mr. Lupton was born October 4, 1844, near Montgomery, Orange Co., N. Y., where his an- cestors settled at an early day. Artemus and Hen- rietta Lupton, the grandparents of our subject, were natives and lifelong residents of that locality, the grandfather being a farmer by occupation. Ar- temus Lupton (2), our subject's father, was born in Orange county, and followed farming there for many years, his death occurring April 29, 1868, when he was aged fifty-six. He married Ellen Clearwater, daughter of Lucy and Daniel Clear-


water, of Montgomery, N. Y., and she survives him, residing with her son Judson, at the advanced age of eighty-four. They had the following chil- dren : Judson, a retired blacksmith living near Mont- gomery, N. Y., served as a soldier in the Civil war, being wounded twice; Evaline died unmarried, at the age of thirty-two; Elizabeth, widow of Harvey Talmage, resides in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Cornelius C. is mentioned more fully below; Mary A. married Henry Dols, a farmer at Washingtonville, N. Y .; George is a farmer in Orange county, N. Y .; Alice, widow of Daniel Congor, resides in Washington- ville.


Cornelius C. Lupton gained a practical knowl- edge of farming as a boy at the homestead, and when eighteen years old he began to learn the harness maker's trade at Montgomery, N. Y. Until 1889 he followed that business, employing two men much of the time, and even now he does occasional work in repairing. In 1868 he located in Gibson town- ship, Susquehanna county, and in addition to his trade he became interested in farming and live stock. Politically, he is a Republican, but he has been too much occupied with business cares to accept office. His patriotic spirit is shown, how- ever, by the fact that as a mere boy he determined to enter the army, but on going to Newburg, N. Y., to enlist, the authorities refused to enroll him with- out his parents' consent. On December 25, 1870, he was married at Port Jervis, N. Y., to Miss Adelia Claflin, and seven children have brightened their home, namely: Ellen married E. C. Patterson, a. carpenter at Scranton, Penn .; Sidney D. is a car- penter at Gibson ; Miss Maude, Miss Madge, Charles R., Ray C., and Beatrice A. are all at home.


Mrs. Lupton, who is a most capable helpmeet, was born at Gibson, September 3, 1848, a daughter of Watson Claflin, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Susquehanna county in 1830 and located in Gibson township. He operated a gristmill in con- nection with farming for many years, retiring only three years prior to his death, in February, 1870, at the age of seventy-one. He was married in New Jersey to Eliza Moore, a native of that State, who died in February, 1873, aged sixty-five years, and the remains of both rest in Gibson cemetery. They had a large family of children, as follows: John B., a retired farmer in Gibson township: Elizabeth, widow of Sidney Diamond, of Susquehanna; Will- iam M., a retired farmer, residing with our sub- ject ; Adeline, who married John Follet, a farmer at Sheffield, Ill .; Margaret A., wife of W. Stiles, an insurance agent at Des Moines, Iowa ; Gabriel, who died in 1869, on the present farm; Sally, who died in childhood; and Adelia, Mrs. Lupton.


LAMBERT P. LOOMIS. Among the most prominent business men of Susquehanna county stands Mr. Loomis, whose name is inseparably con- nected with the manufacturing and industrial inter- ests of this region. A man of keen perception, un- bounded enterprise and good executive ability, he


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has met with excellent success in his undertakings, and to-day ranks high in commercial circles. Since 1868 he has been engaged in the manufacture of brick in Montrose and Tunkhannock, Penn .; is also a dealer in building and flagstone, and is quite an extensive contractor.


Mr. Loomis was born in Springville township, Susquehanna county, in 1843, a son of Samuel and Amelia (Lambert) Loomis. The father was born in Connecticut, a son of Horatio Loomis, also a native of that State, and a pioneer of Susquehanna county, his last days being passed in Springville township. On reaching manhood Samuel Loomis was married, in Selin's Grove, Penn., to Miss Amelia Lambert, and he later engaged in farming and in contract work on the canal. He died in Springville township in 1866, and his wife passed away in 1886. In their family were seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: Horatio, who died in Springville township; Lambert Praul, our subject ; Edward S., a farmer of Auburn town- ship, Susquehanna county; Geraldine, who died in Springville township, in 1864; Morris, who died in Springville; Dora M., wife of D. W. Beards- ley of New York City; and Miriam Kathleen, who married L. W. Tiffany, of Wilkes Barre, Penn., and died there in 1892.


Lambert P. Loomis was reared and educated in Springville township, and at the age of sev- enteen embarked in the manufacture of brick on the home farm, making brick for the erection of the family residence. He owned that place until 1896, when he sold it. He has been engaged in the manu- facture of brick at Montrose and Tunkhannock since 1868, and is a contractor in building and flag stone, owning and operating fine quarries in Bridge- water township. He has erected twenty-two brick buildings at Tunkhannock, and is the owner of the finest block in Montrose, the Loomis Block, which was built in 1894. It is constructed of brick of his own manufacture, is three stories in height, and 50 by 65 feet in dimensions. The ground floor is divided into two store rooms, the second into a den- tal parlor and milliery establishment, and the third is used for living rooms. Mr. Loomis made the brick for the public school house at Montrose, also for the court house annex, and his extensive business furnishes employment to from ten to twenty-three men.


In 1862 Mr. Loomis married Miss Alzina Quick, a native of Springville, and a daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Russell) Quick, pioneers of Springville, who are now deceased. Mrs. Loomis died in 1872, in Tunkhannock, leaving two children : Harry C., who is married and resides in Wilkes Barre; and Walter H., at home. In Springville township our subject was again married, in 1880, his second union being with Miss Emma Carlin, a native of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, and a daughter of Asa F. Carlin, who is now living in Springville. There are two children by this mar- riage : Dora Maud and Lewis T. In his political


affiliations Mr. Loomis is a Republican, and always takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs.


ARVINE C. SWEET. The Sweet family is one of the oldest and most highly respected in this section, and has been identified from an early period with Gibson township, Susquehanna county, where the subject of this sketch now resides. Members of the family settled in New England during the Colonial period, and Oney Sweet, our subject's grandfather, was born in Massachusetts, March 14, 1783, while his wife, Abigail (Chandler), was also a native of that State, born November 28, 1788. Coming to Susquehanna county in pioneer times, they made their home in Gibson township, on the Newburg and Owego turnpike, and both died there many years ago, their remains being interred in Gibson cemetery. They were leaders in various progressive movements, and did much toward found- ing the Universalist Church in the locality. Oney Sweet was a farmer by occupation, and as his house was the first built in the vicinity it became a noted hotel, sheltering many travelers from distant points who were on their way through the wilds. He and his wife had a large family of children, as follows: Raymond is mentioned more fully below ; Sally C., born March 14, 1809, married Evandor Spaulding, and is now living in Binghamton, N. Y .; Laura, born April 13, 1811, married Lyman Black- enton, and died in 1869; Emaline, born February 22, 1813, married (first) Manly Blackenton, a brother of the above, and (second) Judson Bing- ham (she is deceased) ; Eliza A., born April 17, 1815, married Orson Root, and died in 1889; Almon, born May 18, 1817, resides in Gibson township; Elvira, born March 14, 1819, married (first) Steven Barnard, and (second) Barney Sheppardson, and died in 1899.


Raymond Sweet, our subject's father, was born in Gibson township, July 26, 1807, and followed agricultural pursuits there for many years, his death occurring there March 14, 1881. On No- vember 15, 1832, he was married in Gibson town- ship to Hannah Hamilton, who was born June 22, 1807, and now resides with our subject. Her fa- ther, John Hamilton, a native of Massachusetts, and her mother, Amy Angel, a native of Connecti- cut, both died in Halifax, Vt. Our subject was the eldest in a family of four children, and is now the only survivor ; Gilbert, born October 5, 1835, died in Susquehanna, August 28, 1883; Joseph, born July 13, 1839, died October 26, 1839; and Estella R., born January 29, 1841, died September 22, 1843.


Arvine C. Sweet was born at the homestead in Gibson township. August 23, 1833, and remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty- two. For some time he worked for farmers in the neighborhood, but later he purchased a farm in the township, where he resided ten years. The next four years he spent at Gibson village, in the hotel business, and on selling out he again worked among


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farmers for seven years before settling upon his present homestead, an attractive place of 146 acres. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his wife are leading members of the Universalist Church, in which he is now serving as trustee and treasurer. On November 23, 1854, he was married, in Har- ford township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Polly A. Roper, and they have had six children ; Egbert A., born September 3, 1856, died June 3, 1858. C. Alvin, born April 18, 1858, is a farmer of Gibson township, and now holds the office of supervisor ; he married Miss Mary I. Terwilliger, and has had four children, Frank, Earl E., Archie (deceased), and James N. Frank R., born March 14, 1860, died September 25, 1861. Eugene H., born May 7, 1864, is a hotel-keeper in Gibson, conducting the "Gibson House ;" he married Miss Violetta Picker- ing, and has three children-Beatrice, Bernice and Ray. Elbert A., born November 27, 1867, is re- ferred to farther on. Irvine A., born December 16, 1870, married Laura Larrabee, and is settled upon a farm in Gibson township.


Mrs. Polly A. Sweet, who has been a most efficient helpmeet to her husband, is of New Eng- land ancestry. Her paternal grandparents, Joseph and Polly (Howe) Roper, resided upon a farm at Sterling, Mass., and her father, Alvin Roper, was born at Sterling October 18, 1811. He now resides in Jackson township, Susquehanna county. For many years he was engaged in business as a chair manufacturer, and he also followed farming to some extent. He was married, in Gibson township, to Miss Ruth Reed, who died there January 27, 1851, aged thirty-seven years, and her remains now rest in Gibson cemetery. She was a devout member of the Universalist Church, as was also her husband. Mrs. Sweet was born February 15, 1836, the eldest in a family of three daughters ; Lydia M., born May 7, 1839, is now living at Hart Lake, Susquehanna county; Mandana, born in October, 1850, married William Van Husen, and died in April, 1881. Mrs. Sweet's maternal grandfather, William Reed, was also of Massachusetts stock, born August 19, 1778, and was a farmer at Rutland, Worcester Co., Mass. He married Polly Gerry, who was born June 18, 1777, and died February 18, 1828.


Elbert Augustus Sweet remained with his par- ents at the homestead in Gibson township until he reached the age of twenty-one. He then began teaching in the graded schools of Gibson, but after five years of successful work decided to enter mer- cantile life, and purchased his present business from N. C. Curtis, of Binghamton, N. Y. He is now a leading merchant and prominent citizen of his native township. Mr. Sweet was postmaster four years under Cleveland's administration. He is a Demo- crat in politics, although not particularly active in party work, and in religious faith is a Universalist. On June 5, 1889, he was married, at Lockwood, N. Y., by Rev. J. D. Bloodgood, to Miss Gertrude E. Barrett, who was born September 22, 1870, in


Jackson township, Susquehanna county, daughter of Hollace A. Barrett, now a prominent resident of Gibson township. Two children have blessed this union: Ruth M., born February 18, 1891, and M. Corrine, born December 3, 1894.


FRANKLIN P. PAYNE, of Gibson township, Susquehanna county, is one of the successful agri- culturists of that section, and his fine old homestead near South Gibson is a most attractive estate. He comes of good pioneer stock, his grandfather, Capt. Oliver Payne, of Connecticut, who settled at the present homestead in 1812, having been a leading citizen of his day.


Capt. Oliver Payne was born June 21, 1780, at Lebanon, New London Co., Conn., where he grew to manhood and married, six of his children being born in that locality. In 1812 he migrated to Pennsylvania, settling on the place in Gibson town- ship, Susquehanna county, which was ever after his home, his death occurring there February 29, 1868. It was caused by apoplexy. In 1803 he married Elvira Barstow, who was born November 4, 1784, in Connecticut, daughter of Deacon Samuel Barstow, of Columbia, Tolland Co., Conn., and their married life, which covered the unusually long period of sixty-four years, proved as congenial and happy as it was lasting. Mrs. Payne followed her husband to the grave January 26, 1869. Thirteen children blessed their union, twelve of whom reached maturity, viz. : Leicester, born August 6, 1804, died May 22, 1894; Lucina (Chamberlin), born Sep- tember 10, 1805, died July 21, 1871 ; Elvira (Hard- ing), born January II, 1807, died October 24, 1848; Daniel C., born December 6, 1808, died October 13, 1851 ; Bester, born April 6, 1810, died April 3, 1866; Harriet (Wilmarth), born April 30, 1812, died March 29, 1859; Emily, born September 3, 1814, died September 10, 1816; Oliver, born April 1, 1816, died July 5, 1893; Emily ( Barnes), born March 9, 1818, is still living; Martha (Wilmarth), born February 3, 1820, is still living; Stephen, born June 24, 1823, died December 8, 1861; Eunice ( Birdsall), born April 4, 1825, died April 22, 1848; and Hubbard, born March II, 1827, is still living. Few parents can boast a larger or, on the whole, a worthier family. Their military record especially is an honorable one, the father taking just pride in the fact that eight of his family, including a son-in- law-did good service on the Union side during the Civil war, all being honorably discharged. One was a captain and another a colonel, these and some of the others serving throughout the struggle. Capt. Payne's social temperament and strong affection for the friends and scenes of his early days led him often to revisit the place of his birth.




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