Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 121

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin, 1837-1917; Hand, Alfred, 1835-; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1026


USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 121
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 121


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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he is a graduate; and Cornell College, Ithaca, New York, graduating from the mechanical en- gineering department in 1896. His office is lo- cated in Pittston. Robert Lockhart, born No- vember 21, 1876, died at the age of one year. Charles Leroy, born May 13; 1880, attended the same schools as his brother Frank Warren, but graduated at Cornell, regular course ; he is now a traveling salesman for the Sterling Varnish Company, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Willard Cameron, born August 18, 1891, a student, re- sides at home.


Joseph Karr, grandfather of Mrs. Charles H. Cool, was of Scotch descent. The name was ori- ginally spelled Kerr. He was married to Annie Lockhart, youngest daughter of James Lockhart, who came to this country from county Donegal, Ireland, with his eleven motherless children, his wife Margaret (White) Lockhart having died previously. They were all of Scotch ancestry, having emigrated to Ireland from Scotland, and were all staunch Presbyterians. Isaiah Karr, the eldest son of Joseph and Margaret (White) Karr, and father of Mrs. Charles H. Cool, was born on the old homestead in what was known as Karr valley in Almond, Alleghany county, New York, March 19, 1803. His wife's name was Julia Ann Ellis, whose grandfather was Abner Batchellor, a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Her ancestors were Scotch and English: One of them. Mary Maxwell, was stolen from Edinburg. Scotland, by a gypsy and brought to this country on board a vessel. The captain, be- ing attached to her, purchased her from the gypsy and brought her to his home in Boston, Massachusetts, where he gave her every advan- tage with his own children. On the maternal side some of her ancestors were by name New- ton, relatives of Sir Isaac Newton. They were all members of the Congregational Church, and lived and died in Worcester, Massachusetts, ex- cept her grandmother, Vashta Batchellor, who became the wife of Jonas B. Ellis, and came to Almond, New York, after her marriage. At the age of eighteen their daughter, Mrs. Cool's mother, was married to Isaiah Karr and their family consisted of six children. The second child, Saul S. Karr, participated in the Civil war, a member of the Eighty-sixth New York Regi- ment, Third Corps, was taken prisoner and con- fined in Andersonville, from which he escaped after nearly a year, during which time he almost lost his reason. He brought home with him an artillery flag that was used by the rebels at An- dersonville, and which he still has in his posses-


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sion. Isaiah Karr and all his family were mem- Lers of the Presbyterian Church, and he took an active part in the Sunday school, teaching a Bible class until he was eighty years of age and always in his place on Sunday. His fifth child, Ruth Karr, aforementioned, became the wife of Charles H. Cool.


WILLIAM CLIFTON STIFF, M. D. This rising young physician and veteran of the Spanish-American war, who is practicing his profession with gratifying success in Plymouth, is of Welsh ancestry on the pater- nal side, and through his mother is of Scotch- Irish descent. His parents, Charles Wesley and Maria Beachamı ( Miller) Stiff, the for- mer of whom was born January 7, 1854, are natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, the late Robert Stiff, who was a native of Blaen Avon, Wales, married Elizabeth prior to his emigration. Dr. Stiff's mother was born in August, 1856, daughter of William and ( Beacham) Miller, the former of whom is of Scotch and the latter of Irish de- scent. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, eight of whom are living, namely: Sa- rah. Robert, Levi, Swartz, Jane, Maria, who imarried Charles W. Stiff; Alice and James. The others died in childhood. Charles W. and Maria W. Stiff, who are now residing in Wyo- ming, have reared two sons, Robert James, who was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1876, and William Clifton, M. D., the principal subject of this sketch.


William Clifton Stiff was born in Blooms- burg, May 15, 1879. His preliminary studies, begin in the public schools of his native town, were continued in those of Scranton, Wyo- ming and West Pittston, and completed with a commercial course at Wood's Business Col- lege in Wilkes-Barre. He then entered the employ of the Pittston Item as its general agent, continuing in that capacity until it sus- pended publication, when he became similar- ly connected with the Keystone View Com- pany of Meadville. In April, 1898, he enlisted as a private in the Ninth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers (see history of Ninth Regi- ment), Colonel Dougherty, for service in the Spanish-American war, and was shortly aft- erward made corporal of his company. The Ninth Regiment went into camp at Chicka- manga, whence it was subsequently ordered to Lexington, Kentucky, but did not reach the seat of military operations as the abrupt term-


ination of hostilities succeeding the capture of Santiago caused its return to Pennsylvania, and it was mustered out at Wilkes-Barre on October 29, 1898. Upon leaving the army Mr. Stiff accepted a clerkship in the drug store of H. T. Gregory in Wyoming, and in the fol- lowing September went to Philadelphia, where he was employed for about one year as a drug clerk by Lewis Sobers at the corner of Nine- teenth and Fitzwater streets. His professional preparations were begun in the fall of 1900, when he matriculated at the Maryland Col- lege, Baltimore, and at the conclusion of the freshman term he found an excellent oppor- tunity for acquiring practical experience by nursing smallpox patients during the epidemic of that disease at Larksville, Pennsylvania. The vacation season of the ensuing year was devoted to relief work in the Wyoming val- ley, which was practically a continuation of his studies, as it enabled him to obtain by close observation much valuable information rela- tive to his profession, and resuming his col- lege work in the fall he took his medical de- gree with the class of 1903. In June of that year he successfully passed the required ex- amination by the Pennsylvania board of med- ical examiners, and in July he inaugurated his professional career in Plymouth, where he found a satisfactory field in which to establishi a reputation, and he has already acquired a large practice. In addition to the various pro- fessional bodies with which he affiliates, in- cluding the Kappa Psi, a (Greek-letter) col- - lege society, he is a member of the Masonic Lodge in Wyoming, having been made a Ma- son in 1902. In politics he is a Republican.


On January 14, 1903, Dr. Stiff was mar- ried to Caroline Gwilliam, of Plymouth, who was born January 2, 1879, daughter of George and Annie (Lewis) Gwilliam, both of whom are of Welsh descent. George Gwilliam is a son of John (born in 1801) and Elizabeth (Evan) Gwilliam, whose children are: Han- nah, died young; Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Car- oline, Henry, George and Thomas. Annie Lewis is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bynon) Lewis, the latter born in April. 1830, and died in Plymouth, May 1, 1891. She was a daughter of and Ann (Zachary) Bynon, whose children are: Elizabeth, who married John Lewis; Ann, who married John Phillips, and -, who married


Thomas. John Lewis died in Pottsville, Penn- sylvania. Elizabeth, his wife, became the


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mother of three children, namely: Annie, who became the wife of George Gwilliam; Eliza- beth, who married William R. Evans, and William Bynon Lewis, who married Jennie Pritchard. The children of George and An- nie (Lewis) Gwilliam are: Thomas Franklin, John Henry, Elizabeth May, Caroline, George Ellsworth, Samuel, died in infancy ; Gertrude and William. Thomas F. married Ellen Jane Foster and has two children: Mildred and Thurlo Foster Gwilliam. Elizabeth May married Arthur J. Young and her children are: Marion, Gail Arthur, Hamilton, Clyde, and another who died in infancy. Caroline is now the wife of Dr. Stiff. George Ellsworth Gwilliam mar- ried, July 21, 1904, Gertrude Royce. Dr. and Mrs. Stiff are members of the Christian Church, and the doctor has served as assist- ant superintendent of the Sunday School.


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FRANK E. SHIFFER. Few names are more inseparably identified with the history and interests of Pittston than that of Shiffer, Frank E. Shiffer being one of the present rep- resentatives of the family in that city. He is a grandson of Jacob Shiffer, who was born November 17, 1785, came of Pennsylvania German stock. and died June 20, 1872. His wife, Mary ( Blanchard) Shiffer, of Port Blanchard, sister of John Blanchard, was born April 9, 1789. died February 24, 1863. Their children were John, born August 26, 1811, died July 14 1894: Nancy (Shiffer) Kennedy, born, June 13, 1813, died February 1, 1888; Elizabeth ( Shiffer ) Hollenback, born January 30, 1815, died October 14, 1849 : Gilbert, born January 30, 1817, died May 21, 1890; Andrew, born March 1, 1819, resides in Daleville, Pennsylvania ; Martha B. (Shiffer) Foote born February 10. 1821, died May 7. 1900: Sarah ( Shiffer) Moore, born November 13, 1822, died March 25, 1878: Jeremiah B., born November 8, 1825, died April 8, 1899, mentioned hereinafter ; Henry, born At- gust 2, 1828, died July 9, 1896.


Jeremiah B. Shiffer, fourth son of Jacob and Mary (Blanchard) Shiffer, was born No- vember 8, 1825, in what is now Marcy town- ship, in a house situated on the back road near the brick church, between Duryea and Moosic, not far from the Lackawanna county line. Owing to the straitened circumstances of his parents he was obliged to go to work at an carly age. About 1847 he was employed as a driver by Owen Hughes, afterward a well known railroad contractor, who built the first brick house on Brewery hill, Wilkes-Barre.


Mr. Hughes was then operating a coal mine at Pittston Junction, and Mr. Shiffer drove the mules that pulled the coal out of the mines. In 1848 or 1849 the firm of Benedict & Alton secured control of the mine, retaining Mr. Shif- fer in his position, and soon promoting him to be foreman of the mine. He was next ad- vanced by the firm to the position of clerk in their company store, of which he ultimately became general manager. April 8, 1851, he started for California in company with four others from the same neighborhood. They made the overland trip in the old-time "prairie schooners," the journey occupying many days, and being throughout of a trying and thrill- . ing character. Mr. Shiffer remained in the gold fields until January, 1855, when he re- turned to Pittston, temporarily broken down in health. In April, 1856, he formed a part- nership with his brother-in-law. T. B. Lance,. and entered into the general mercantile busi- ness by buying out Isaac and M. L. Everett. The firm conducted business until 1862, when the partnership was dissolved by Mr. Shiffer's. withdrawal. The Civil war was then at its. height, and for several years he served as United States deputy marshal in the Pittson section, having been appointed by President Lincoln. Soon after the close of the war he entered into partnership with R. D. Lance, of West Pittston, and the firm dealt extensively in coal lands, and also operated mines. They were extremely successful, and the partner- ship was maintained during the remainder of Mr. Shiffer's life. He was also the owner of very valuable coal estates, and was part own- er of the Keystone Hall block in Pittston. His own residence, surrounded by spacious grounds, where he lived for twenty years pre- vious to his death, was one of the most beau- tiful in the city. He was one of the chief pro- moters and organizers of the Water Street Bridge Company, had the present building erected and was a director and former treas- urer of the company. He was a promoter of many successful business ventures, not only in Pittston, but throughout the country and the United States; was a director of the Peo- ple's Bank, of Pittston, and was its president at the time of his death. Under the adminis- tration of Presidents Hayes, Garfield and Ar- thur he served two full terms as postmaster of Pittston. In politics he was always an ar- dent Republican, taking an active part in local and general affairs.


Mr. Shiffer married, February 26, 1856,


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.


Almedia B. Lance, daughter of Jacob and Anzenith Lance, and sister of T. B. Lance, the well known insurance agent of Pittston. Their family consisted of three children : Frank E., born November 29, 1857, mentioned hereinafter; Will A., born August 20, 1863, was clerk in the People's Bank, of Pittston, until July, 1899, and Gertrude A., born Jan- uary 24, 1866, wife of Eugene Healey, of Scran- ton. April 8, 1899, Mr. Shiffer, then in feeble health, was accidentally knocked down and run over by a wagon while crossing the princi- pal street of Pittston, surviving the shock not more than a quarter of an hour. The manner of his death caused universal excitement, and the regret for his loss was deep and wide- spread, as it was felt by all that a man and a citizen, in all respects invaluable had passed away.


Frank E. Shiffer, son of Jeremiah B. and Almedia B. (Lance) Shiffer, was born No- vember 29, 1857, in Pittston. He was edu- cated in the common schools of his native city and at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. In 1877 he became a clerk in the Pittston post- office, where he remained eight years, after which he was four years associated with his father. He then served as assistant postmas- ter for a term of four years, and in 1895 be- came a clerk in the insurance office of Thomas B. Lance, remaining there until 1901. In that year he formed a partnership with his broth- er, Will A., under the firm name of Thomas B. Lance & Company, insurance agencies and oils (coal oil), and is still actively engaged in the business. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his family attend the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member.


Mr. Shiffer married, September 10, 1891, Esther Bryden, who was born October 20, 1866, daughter of James A. and Margaret (Young) Bryden, the former named having been born August 7, 1833, killed by an explo- sion of gas, September 10, 1894. and the latter born January 18. 1843. James A. Bryden was for a number of years superintendent of the Pennsylvania Coal Company ; he was a broth- er of A. A. Bryden, president of the Miners' Bank, of Pittston. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shiffer: Charlie Lance, born May 12. 1892; Robert B., born April 8, 1894; and Frank E., Jr., born August 27, 1902.


H. E. H.


ROBERT GERE BENNETT, a repre- sentative business man of West Pittston, pro- 2-39


prietor of the bindery established and con- ducted for many years by his father, is a na- tive of Gibson, Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania, born May 10, 1862, son of Horace Dud- ley and Eveline Huldah (Chandler) Bennett, and grandson of Charles and Sarah (Maxon) Bennett.


Charles Bennett (grandfather) was a na- tive of Connecticut, and a representative on the maternal side of a (Holland) Dutch de- scent. His parents were very religions, being devout Methodists, and they reared their chil- dren, who were Luke, John, Charles, Loren, Rachel and Julia, in the way they should go. The father of Charles Bennett was a farmer and he conducted his operations in Connecti- cut, also in Gibson, Pennsylvania, where he was among the early settlers. Charles Ben- nett pursued the occupations of farmer and shoemaker, achieving a certain degree of suc- cess in both lines. He moved from Gibson to South Gibson in 1864, and in 1881 to West Pittston, where the remainder of his days were spent. He was a class leader in the Methodist Church at South Gibson, and a Republican in politics. He married Sarah Maxon, who bore him three children, namely: Eveline, de- ceased, was the wife of Alexander Dunn and the mother of Henry D. and Truman D. Dunn. Horace Dudley, mentioned hereafter. Tru- man D., deceased, whose wife, Sarah (Wells) Bennett, bore him one child, Daisy, who mar- ried Samuel Sloat, now deceased, and had Bessie, Ethel, and two other children now de- ceased.


Horace Dudley Bennett (father) was born- May 14, 1831, in Gibson, Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm, and his early life was spent in assisting with the duties thereof and attending the public schools. Later he learned the art of bookbinding under the supervision of Rev. W. B. Thomas, a Methodist minister, who came to this country from England. Horace D. Bennett remained on the home- stead farm up to 1864. when he moved to South Gibson and entered mercantile business, con- ducting a general store up to 1876, when he engaged in bookbinding, which line of busi- ness he followed successfully until 1885, when he disposed of the business to his son, Robert Gere, who is now conducting the same. Mr. Bennett then engaged in the grocery busi- ness, and the large measure of success which has come to him in these various enterprises is due directly to his capability and efficiency. He served in the capacity of chief of police


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of .West Pittston for one year, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of 'all law-abiding citizens. He has always taken an active in- terest in church work, and was appointed to fill the office of recording steward of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at South Gibson, and has filled a similar office, also treasurer in the church at West Pittston for the past twelve years. He is one of the representative resi- dents of West Pittston. He was united in marriage to Eveline Huldah Chandler, who bore him five children: Maurice Eugene, re- sides at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania ; he mar- ried Frona Schrader, and their children are: Leon Payne and Sarah Bennett. Caroline Adelia, resides in West Pittston. Robert Gere, mentioned hereinafter. Vinza Lavelle, died August 3. 1884, in West Pittston, and his remains were interred in the cemetery there. Mary Evelyn, resides in West Pittston.


Robert Gere Bennett was educated in the public schools of South Gibson, whither his parents removed when he was two and a half years old, and later he pursued advanced stud- ies in West Pittston high school and Blooms- burg Normal school. In 1876 he began the active duties of life by entering his father's bindery, and he there became familiar with all the details of the trade, becoming thoroughly proficient in all branches, so that in 1885, when he purchased the business from his father, he was fully competent to manage the same. He has borne a full share in the pro- motion of community interests, and is the ar- dent supporter of all institutions which will benefit humanity in general. He has taken a keen interest in political affairs, and has served on the election board from 1883 up to the pres- ent time (1905), judge of elections three years, inspector fifteen years, borough treasurer for the last three years, and also serving in that capacity at the present time, and treasurer of the West Pittston Poor District, this being the fourth year. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He is a member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church of West Pittston, also librarian of the Sunday school connected therewith, and member of church choir for twenty-two years. He be- longs to Gohonta Lodge, No. 314, Pittston, and Gohonta Encampment, No. 96, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows; and Pittston Cas- tle, No. 77, Knights of the Golden Eagle.


Mr. Bennett married, in Pittston, Penn- sylvania, April 20, 1893, Ida May Snowdon, daughter of Cuthbert and Ann (Nicholson)


Snowdon, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, who came thither from their home in England. Cuth- bert Snowdon was a soldier in the Civil war, a member of a volunteer Pennsylvania infant- ry regiment, member of the Masonic Frater- nity, and was weighmaster at No. 10 breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Company, for twenty-five years, after which he retired. Ida May (Snow- don) Bennett, born Pittston, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1869, was one of four children, as fol- lows: Elihu, Thomas J., Joseph W. and Ida May. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett: Charles Snowdon, March 13, 1895; Arthur Joseph, July 12, 1898; Robert Lawrence, December II, 1900, and Thomas Melvin, April 16, 1903. H. E. H.


AMON ARMSTRONG, a real estate deal- er of Pittston, is a grandson of James Arm- strong, who emigrated from Ireland-his na- tive land-to America about 1765. He settled in Chester county, New York, where it is said he taught school for several years. He then removed to Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. In 1774 he married Miss Amy Dickson, and they had four children: James, Joseph, David and Nancy. The daughter became the wife of James Kennedy.


Joseph Armstrong, second son of James Armstrong and the father of Amon Armstrong, was born July 4, 1777, in Chester, New York, and when only four years old accompanied his parents on their removal to Wyoming Valley. He was educated in the common schools, and in early life became familiar with the work of the farm, which he continued to follow throughout his business career. He was very successful and became the owner of two hun- dred and fifty acres of land lying on the east side of the Susquehanna river. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, but never sought of- fice. About 1800 he wedded Phebe Goble, of Sussex county, New Jersey, and they be- came the parents of fourteen children : I. Sarah, wife of John Benedict. 2. Amy, wife of John Tedrick. 3. Maltiah, wife of Michael Tedrick. 4. John. 5. Phebe, wife of Gil- bert W. Jones. 6. Mary, wife of Adam Ted- rick. 7. Zillah, wife of Samuel Price. S. James. 9. Amon. 10. David. II. Lewis. 12. Charles. 13. Joseph. 14. Nancy, wife of P. C. Miller. Amon is the only one living.


Amon Armstrong was born March 15, 1818, on the old homestead farm in Pittston town- ship, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and in the common schools of the home neighbor-


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hood acquired his education. He worked with his father in the fields until twenty-one years of age, when he started upon an independent business career, and for about twenty years followed farming. He then accepted a posi- tion as traveling salesman with A. N. Atwood & Company, of Philadelphia, with whom he remained for a year, after which he estab- lished a grocery store in Pittston, conducting it with success for five or six years. He then began operating in real estate and has since become well known as a real estate dealer of Pittston, working up a good business there. He is also a director of the People's Bank of Pittston. In community affairs Mr. Arm- strong takes a deep and helpful interest. He has always given his support to the Demo- cratic party, and he served as justice of the peace from 1860 until 1865, while for three terms he was a member of the city council.


Mr. Armstrong married, December 22, 1842, Emeline M. Buckingham, who died Feb- ruary 8, 1859, and September 25, 1867, he mar- ried Mrs. Almira Knapp, nee Brown. Of his four children, all born of the first marriage, the youngest died in infancy. The eldest, Jo- seph Oscar, is further referred to. John M. was born August II, 1846. Charles W., born July 10, 1852, died November 28, 1892.


For a number of years previous to the civil war Amon Armstrong and his wife and three boys lived contentedly and happily together on his farm in Tuscarora township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, one of the most productive in the old Wilmot district, made famous by a Wilmot and a Grow, whose names will ever re- main bright upon the pages of their country's history. The thunder of rebellion's guns trained by southern slavelords upon the old flag raised over Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor on one eventful morning in April, 1861, rolled north- ward, crossed the Potomac, shook the tomb of Washington, reverberated along the Alleghenys and ominously re-echoing among the hills and valleys of the Keystone state aroused the pa- triotic men of Bradford, who were among the very first to respond to their country's call to arms.


Joseph Oscar Armstrong, the eldest son of Amon and Emaline (Buckingham) Armstrong, was born October 23, 1843, and enlisted at Troy, Bradford county, in Captain Cadwalader's com- pany of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The One Hun- dred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers was ·divided in April, 1864, and one part remained in


Washington and the other, in which young Arm- strong fought, became part of Burnside's Ninth Corps. Both sections of the regiment were in the Crater fight on July 30, 1864. The regiment with Burnside started out with about 1600 men. About the time the Squire's son was killed it had been reduced to about 400.


At midnight on May 3, 1864, the Army of the Potomac, the most formidable body of discip- lined troops that ever went forth to battle on this continent, began its march southward, and from the banks of the Rapidan to the James its history is written in blood. Young Armstrong fought through the Wilderness. At Spottsylvania, where the fighting was most terrific, he took part. In front of the rebel intrenchments at Cold Har- bor his regiment was cut to pieces. In the Crater of Death at Petersburg, Virginia, he and his brave comrades were entombed with the living and the dead. Through these terrible scenes of blood and carnage he passed unscathed until the fateful 16th of August, 1864, when away out on the picket line near Petersburg he was hit on the head by the plunging shot of a Confederate sharpshooter hid in the top of a tree. . He lay where he fell until the gloom of night en- shrouded the form of the dying soldier, when he was picked up and gently cared for by kind comrades until August 20, 1864, when he passed away. Late in the autumn of 1864 he was brought back to his bereaved northern home and laid to rest in Laceyville cemetery, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, and is numbered with the many thousands of brave and gallant men who fought under Grant and gave up their lives for the union before the insurgent army under Gen- eral Robert E. Lee was compelled to furl its battle flags and lay down its arms at Ap- pomattox.




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