Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 70

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018


USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 70


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BAER .- The Baer family of Berks and surround- ing counties is one of the very large families, which has had large annnal gatherings since its reunion was first organized, in 1899. The place of meeting has been Kutztown Park, and the historian is Dr. Samuel A. Baer, A. M., Ph. D., who with the aid of assistants and secretaries has collected many valuable records. -


John, Melchior and Christophel (or Stoffel) Baer came across the ocean on the ship "Phoenix" in 1743. They settled in eastern Pennsylvania, and their descendants number today several thousand. The exact relationship between these three immi- grants is uncertain, but the fact is established that they came to America on one ship, settled in the same section of the State, spoke the same language, and adhered to the same religious faith. Some


Elizabeth, Charles, George, Samuel, Henry, Susan and Catharine.


Jacob Baer (son of Melchior, Sr.) likewise had a numerous offspring. He had eleven children : Rachel, George, Joseph, Melchior, Samuel, Susan, Judith, Ephraim, Elizabeth, Manasses and Benjamin.


The third of the group of immigrant Baers was Christophel Baer, who prior to his coming to Amer- ica patented 560 acres of land in what is now White- hall, Lehigh Co., Pa. His history is complete. The records at Easton show that he was a systematic business man and possessed of great force of char- acter. He was the great-grandfather of George F. Baer, the distinguished lawyer and railroad presi- dent. His family consisted of six children : Hein- rich, Melchior, John, Salome, Apollonia and Jacob.


The Baer family traces its ancestors to Zwei- brücken, Germany, where a place known for gener- ations as "Bären Hütte" ("Bruin's Rest") is still pointed out. Tradition in connection with the home- stead at Zweibrücken has it that one Peter von Baer, in the distant past, married the daughter of a count palatine, thus establishing rank. The family coat of arms is in the possession of American descend- ants.


The Baers have large reunions and render inter- esting programs. They expect to have their reunion incorporated and to publish a family history. The following are their permanent officers :


President, Henry C. Baer, Reading, Pa. Vice-Presidents, Rev. John B. Stondt, Macungie, Pa., George E. Baer, Schwenkville, Pa., John P. Baer, Allentown, Pa.


Secretary, Fred N. Baer, Kutztown, Pa. Treasurer, J. W. Baer, Phoenixville, Pa.


Historian, Dr. Samuel A. Baer, Graham, Va.


BERTOLET .- The Bertolet family of Pennsylvania was founded in Oley township, Berks county, by two brothers, Peter (Pierre) and John (Jean) Bertolet. The family in France has been for cen- turies one of the highest and most honorable in that country, many of the name having been dis- tinguished personages. They are of noble rank, and the family seat was originally in Picardy. Dur- ing the Reformation the Bertolets were strongly Protestant, and many, owing to Papist persecution, took refuge in other lands. Some time during the


think they were brothers, or at least close relatives. Revocation period a family of this name fled from


Most of the Baers of Berks and Lehigh counties Picardy to Chatean d'Oex, in Switzerland, and to claim John (or Hans) Baer as their ancestor. Be- it belonged the Peter and John who came to fore 1750, he settled in Weisenburg, which is now Pennsylvania, the former in 1719, and the latter in Lehigh county. He had four children: John, in 1726. Both settled in Oley. The large old fam- Adam, Jacob, and Barbara (who married Henry ily Bible brought to the New World was sold in Fetter). John moved to Windsor township, 1906 or 1907, at public vendue, to Sarah Bertolet, a Berks county, and his descendants live in Hamburg, maiden lady of Oley, for $183. This valuable book contains the family genealogy for several centuries.


and Windsor, Perry and Bern townships.


Melchior Baer, the second of this trio of immi- The family is traced back to 1470.


" grants, settled at Macungie, Lehigh county, and had In 1720 Peter Bertolet signed the petition for several large farms. He had eight children, and the erection of Oley township. He died about 1727, made special bequests to Melchior and Jacob.


as is recited in an application for a patent of his


Of these, Melchior Baer married Catharine Desch, land in 1734. His wife Elizabeth and several chil- and they had ten children: David, Jacob, Polly, dren survived him.


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


In 1711 Jean Bertolet married Susanna, daughter Dr. Boyer's historical address at the last meeting of Duke Henri De Harcourt (1653-1703), a gen- was a feature and gave evidence of careful research. He has a deserved reputation for always doing things well.


eral and marshal of France. Jean Bertolet, owing to political unrest and religious persecution, fled to Selz, in Alsace, where he was engaged in farming for fourteen years, during which time five of his children were born. Thence he came to Pennsyl- vania, locating in Oley, near the Exeter line. Here in 1754 he built a large stone house which is still standing and occupied by a descendant, David Ber- tolet. On this original farm is a private Bertolet burial-ground where many generations are buried.


Jean Bertolet was a man of great piety and benev- olence. He prayed with the Indians and performed missionary work in his section among all classes of men that lived there. He was one of the first Moravians of Oley, and was on terms of close in- timacy with leading men of the church, especially Count Zinzendorf, who preached in his house in 1741 and 1742. This noble man and pioneer died in 1754. He founded a numerous and honorable posterity and many of his descendants have been eminent in various walks of life, Bishop N. Bertolet Grubb and Jacob Bertolet (deceased) being notable examples.


The family of Jean Bertolet was as follows : Abraham (1712-1776) married Esther De Turk ; Maria (1715-1802) married Stephen Barnett ; John (1717-1789) married a daughter of Peter Pallio; Esther (1720-1796) married Dr. George De Benne- ville; Susanna (1722-1800) married Jacob Fry ; Frederick (1727-1779) married Esther, daughter of Abraham Levan.


The Bertolet family was one of the very first to hold a reunion in the county. Its first gathering was held in 1897 on ancestral grounds in Oley, and annually since then at different popular places. The eighth reunion was held at Carsonia Park in 1905. The officers of the Bertolet Family Associa- tion are:


President, Levi A. Bertolette. L'icc-Presidents, Israel M. Bertolet, Benjamin Bertolet.


Recording Secretary, Samuel E. Bertolet, Esq. Corresponding Secretary, Daniel H. Bertolet.


Treasurer, Dr. Isaac B. Yeakel.


BOYER .- The Boyer Family Reunion of Berks county was founded by Dr. Charles C. Boyer, A. M., Ph. D., of Kutztown, in 1907, having then held its first reunion in Kutztown and the second at the Black Bear Inn (near Reading) in 1908. Both reunions were very largely attended and proved a success in every way.


The officers of the reunion are as follows :


President, Charles Boyer, Tatamy, Pa.


Secretary, Jacob L. Drumheller, Reading, Pa.


Treasurer, Abraham Boyer, Schofer, Pa.


Historian, Dr. C. C. Boyer, Kutztown, Pa.


CROLL .- The descendants of John Croll held their fifth biennial reunion in Hancock Park in 1908. At this reunion Martin S. Croll, of Topton ( father of William A. Croll, the present treasurer of Berks county), read a paper on the previous Croll re- unions, the first of which was held in 1895, being one of the very first meetings of this character in this county.


The Crolls are descended from Philip and Ulrich Croll, who came to this country on the same ship, in 1728, on which Egidius Grim (the forebear of a large family) also emigrated.


John Croll, whose posterity held the reunions, was a descendant of Philip Croll. He was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Schlenker) Croll and was born in Greenwich in 1814, being of the third gen- eration of American Crolls. The Grimville Church, in Greenwich township, is mentioned in old docu- ments as the "Crolle Kirche," so named after this family.


Rev. P. C. Croll, A. M., in 1887, published "The Croll Family," a volume of 106 pages, as a souvenir of the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of John and Catharine Croll.


DELONG .- The DeLong family of Berks county was founded here by Peter DeLong, who was a pioneer of the county and a settler in Maxatawny township, near Bowers Station. He was a free- holder of Maxatawny prior to 1745 and his neighbor was Henry Luckenbill. Peter DeLong lived near the present Christ Reformed (DeLong's) church, at the place later owned by Reuben Grim. He died about 1760, and his remains rest at the church named after his descendants. He reared a family of seven children, namely: John, Henry, Jacob, Michael, Abraham, Barbara and Frederick.


The DeLong family is most numerous in Maxa- tawny township. It is thrifty and thoroughly rep- resentative of the pioneer stock of this region. Its members have been holding reunions since 1900, with interesting proceedings. The sixth meeting was held at Kutztown Park in 1906, and the his- torical address on this occasion was delivered by dresses were also delivered by Rev. William F. DeLong, of Annville, and Richard J. DeLong, of Philadelphia.


The historian, Dr. Boyer, of Kutztown, is a man of cultured mind, energetic and indefatigable, and Rev. Preston A. DeLong, of Chambersburg. Ad- his researches will undoubtedly result in the produc- tion of a concise history of the "Boyer Family in America." Its history dates back to ancient times, and is traced to many countries. The name is At the third reunion Rev. John F. DeLong de- livered an able address on the pioneer, who came to Berks county from Ulster county, New York. variously spelt. The historian has prepared fam- ily charts and trees of the different branches which were on exhibition at the reunion in 1908.


The officers of the reunion are :


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FAMILY REUNIONS


President, Joseph DeLong, Topton, Pa.


Secretary, Irwin DeLong, Topton, Pa.


Treasurer, A. F. DeLong, Kutztown, Pa.


Executive Committee, Dr. W. D. DeLong.


James DeLong, Rev. Calvin M. DeLong, Solomon DeLong, Martin S. Croll, Rev. William F. DeLong.


DIEROLF .- The fourth annual reunion of this family was held at Bechtel's Park, near Gabelsville, July 24, 1909, and over three hundred descendants were present from Boyertown, Reading, and other places in Berks county, also from Pennsburg, East Greenville, Harrisburg and other places in Pennsyl- vania. The following officers were elected :


President, John H. Dierolf, Barto, Pa. Vice-Presidents, John Strunk, Gilbertsville, Pa., Samuel Dierolf, East Greenville, Pa. Secretaries, Mrs. Henry Mertzler, Benjamin Olinger, Pottstown, Pa., Ammon Dierolf, Wyomissing, Pa., Francis Saltzer, Pottstown, Pa., William Derolf, Gilbertsville, Pa.


Corresponding Secretary, Levan Dierolf. Treasurer, William Dierolf.


DIETRICH .- The Dietrich family held its first re- union at Lenhartsville, Pa., Sept. 26, 1903. This meeting was well attended and much interest was manifested. A permanent organization was effected, and at the instance of the founder, William J. Diet- rich, the name "Dietrich Family Association" was adopted. The second reunion was held in Kutztown Park in 1904, more than two thousand five hundred people being present-reputed to have been the largest family gathering ever held in Pennsylvania. Eight States and the Dominion of Canada were represented. At the third reunion, held in Kutz- town Park in 1906, over three thousand people were in attendance. Seventeen States, as well as Canada and Mexico, were represented. "The Dietrichs in Europe and America," an address by Rev. W. W. Deatrick, A. M., Sc. D., was a feature at this gathering. This Family Association is not merely a local organization, but it has members in most of the States of the Union. It has been the means of arousing much enthusiasm in the matter of re- unions of other families and of stimulating research into family genealogy.


The Dietrichs trace their origin to Dietrich Von Bern, 454-526, the Champion of Civilization, and King of the Ostrogoths in southern Europe. Mem- bers of the family were leaders in the Crusades, in peace and in war, and in the Reformation. they helped to make history. The Dietrichs are promi- nently mentioned in the annals of Germany, and six distinct families in the German Empire have coats of arms.


The association, having collected considerable data, has nearly complete records of the following immigrant forebears: Johannes, Adam, John Lud- wig, Elias and John Jacob Dietrich.


of Johannes, Adam and Conrad Dietrich.


wich township, where he died in 1785, in which year his widow, Barbara, took out letters of admin- istration. They had three sons: Johannes, Jacob and John Adam. The first two located in the upper end of this State, and John Adam lived and died in Greenwich township, where he was a farmer. His wife Susanna Arnold bore him twelve children, as follows: Maria, Rebecca, Jacob, Isaac, Elizabeth, Annie, Gideon, Adam, Moses, Rufena, Catharine and Reuben.


Adam Dietrich (1740-1817), a brother of Johan- nes, crossed the ocean on the "Britannia," landing at Philadelphia, Oct. 26, 1767. He was accompanied by his brother, Casper Dietrich, who first located in Northampton county, Pa., and some time after the Revolutionary war settled in Virginia. Adam Diet- rich was a sergeant in Capt. Jacob Baldy's Company in the Revolutionary war. He located in Maxa- tawny first, but later because of good water settled in Greenwich township. He was a farmer. His wife, Maria Barbara Steinbruch, bore him the fol- lowing twelve children: Adam, Georg, Maria Bar- bara (married Johannes Zimmerman), Catharine married Rev. Johann Michael Schmidt), Jacob, Michael, Heinrich, Johan, a daughter that died in infancy, Christian, Polly (Maria Magdalena) (mar- ried a Becker), and Beckie (Anna Margaret) (mar- ried Jacob Heffner).


Conrad Dietrich (1763-1841) was born in Balti- more, Md., and came to Berks county, locating in Hereford township. Here he married Elizabeth Seisholtz, from Longswamp township. About 1795 he and his family came to Reading, where he died and is buried. The following are four of their nine children: George, Jacob, Susan (married Henry Fry), and Conrad (born 1798, died 1861, who had sons Conrad and William H., the latter now living in Reading).


The Dietrich Family Association is a flourishing organization. Its success in large measure is due to the efforts of the founder. The officers are:


President, Lawson G. Dietrich, Esq., Kutztown, Pa. Vice-President, Henry O. K. Dietrich, Lenhartsville, Pa. Secretary, William J. Dietrich, Reading, Pa. Treasurer, Daniel F. Dietrich, Reading, Pa.


Executive Committee, Mahlon C. Dietrich, Kempton, Pa., Rev. W. W. Deatrick, Kutztown, Pa., C. H. Dietrich, Hopkinsville, Ky., Jonathan P. Dietrich, Klinesville Pa., C. Joseph Dietrich, La Grange, Ill., Charles H. Dietrich, Kutztown, Pa., A. M. Dederick, Albany, N. Y., Samuel Detrick, Sunbury, Pa., Harry A. Dietrich, South Bethle- hem, Pa.,


Joel D. Dietrich, Virginville, Pa., Dr. Charles J. Dietrich, Reading, Pa.


The Association has also ten active Assistant Sec-


The Dietrichs of Berks county are descendants retaries. An illustrated pamphlet, really a finely gotten up souvenir program, contains a history of the Association, names of its officers, and the names


Johannes Dietrich came to America on the ship "Phoenix" in 1751, and about 1760 settled in Green- and dates of emigration of the sixty-two immi-


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


grants ; also a copy of the coat of arms with an ex- where the forebear settled before the middle half planation of same.


DRIES .- The Dries family held its first reunion in 1906, in Kutztown Park. It hails from the upper end of the county. The ancestor is said to have settled in Albany township. The second reunion was held in 1908, also at Kutztown. Be- sides a large number of vice-presidents and assist- ant secretaries, the following are officers :


President, Worths A. Dries, Kutztown, Pa.


Vice-President, James C. Driess, Oley, Pa. Secretary, Charles A. Dries, Maiden-creek, Pa. Manager, W. A. Dries, Reading, Pa.


Historian, J. Heber Dries, Molltown, Pa.


FISHER-HARTMAN .- The Fisher-Hartman fami- lies hold joint reunions because of the inter-mar- riages of their members. They hold annual meetings at Boyertown, Pa. They have succeeded in collect- ing many records. Their first meeting was held in 1907, and the second on Labor Day, 1908. The officers of the Association are :


President, George W. Hartman.


Vice-President, Charles T. Davies. Treasurer. George H. Hartman.


Secretary, P. Henry Fisher.


Historian, William Kehl.


FURRY .- John Furry, a native of Europe, came to America in 1727. In 1744 he located in Tulpe- hocken township, Berks county, on a tract of 346 acres of land. He had two sons and two daughters, namely: Michael, John, Rosina (wife of Henry Berger) and Catharine (wife of Leonard Emerich).


John Furry, son of the forebear, settled on the west side of the Susquehanna river. Four sons and two daughters were born to him, the sons being as follows : John, Jonas, Lawrence and Henry. The first three upon their return from a grist-mill at Sunbury, Pa., found to their horror that the Oneida Indians had killed and scalped their parents and two sisters, and also burned down the house and taken a horse with them. The youngest son, Henry, they took with them to Canada, where he was afterward found. The three brothers buried their parents and sisters under an apple tree and came to Reading where some of the posterity now live.


The family held the first reunion in 1904 and the fourth at Carsonia Park in 1908. The officers are :


President, Henry S. Furry, of Reading, Pa.


Vice-President, John C. Furry, New Cumberland, Pa. Secretary, G. H. Furry, Coopersburg, Pa.


Treasurer, Ulysses Furry, Bethlehem, Pa.


Executive Committee, Thomas Furry, Lionville, Pa., Harry and William Furry, Leban- on, Pa., D. C. Furry, Newmanstown, Pa .. Mrs. Charles Furry, Lebanon, Pa., Mrs. Adam Furry, Richland, Pa., Mrs. Sallie Stephens, Allentown, Pa., Mrs. Jennie Shunk, Phoenixville, Pa.


of the eighteenth century, has been holding annual meetings since 1908. The last reunion of the family was held at Siesholtzville. The family traces its history to one Jacob Geary (Gery), who was a redemptioner, and came into the Griesemer family to work out his passage. Later he married his master's daughter, and they reared a family whose descendants are now many, scattered over Berks, Montgomery and Lehigh counties. The officers are:


President, Irvin C. Gery, Siesholtzville, Pa.


Vice-President, William H. Sallada, Hereford, Pa.


Secretary, Jacob M. Gery, Topton, Pa.


Assistant Secretary, Charles O. F. Treichler, East Green- ville, Pa.


Corresponding Secretary, Milton M. Gery, Zionsville, Pa. Financial Secretary, William B. Moll, Seisholtzville, Pa. Treasurer, Michael N. Gery, Hereford, Pa.


GRIM .- The Grim family of eastern Pennsylvania was founded by three brothers, natives of Wurtem- berg, Germany. Gideon Grim, also known and name written as Gitti and Egidius Grimm, was the first to emigrate, landing in Pennsylvania in 1728. His brothers Henry and Jacob followed in 1730.


Gideon Grim located in Macungie township, Le- high county, at a point where Macungie and Weis- enburg townships, in Lehigh county, meet Maxa- tawny township in Berks county. Here he owned 1,000 acres of land, which was situated in the three townships mentioned. It is supposed that he sold part of this land to his brothers, who reared large families. Gideon Grim crossed the ocean on the same vessel in which the noted pioneer minister of the Lutheran Church, Rev. John Casper Stover, came to this country.


The Grim family is of patrician origin and long seated in Normandy. One branch established itself in Alsace, whence "Egidus Grimm" came because of religious persecution and as the result of reading an English book containing fabulous accounts of the New World. An interesting circumstance at- taches to this family from the fact that an ancient pedigree, tracing the family back to a Norman baron who lived in the days of William the Conqueror, was brought by the emigrant to America.


The first Grim family reunion was held at Han- cock, this county, in 1897, at which time the connec- tion numbered over one thousand souls. The reg- ular annual reunions in 1907 and in 1908 were held at Kutztown Park, both well patronized. Prof. Geo. A. Grim, superintendent of schools in Northampton county, Pa., delivered an historical address at the last gathering. The organization has succeeded in discovering a considerable number of records. Miss Anna M. Grim, of Allentown, Pa., as secre- tary, deserves commendation for her efforts in establishing a family tree.


Most of the Grims in Berks county live in Maxa- tawny and Greenwich townships and in Kutztown. Grimville, a village in Greenwich township, perpet- uates the family name. It contains a store, hotel, GERY .- The Gery family, numerous in Hereford tannery, church and school. The village was township, Berks county, and in Montgomery county, founded by "Col." Daniel Grim, locally known as


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FAMILY REUNIONS


"Der Hellwedder Grim." He was colonel of the mil- itia of his district.


The officers of the Grim reunion are :


President, J. Peter Grim, Allentown, Pa.


First Vice-President, A. S. Grim, Allentown, Pa. Second Vice-President, A. B. Grim, Allentown, Pa. Secretary, Anna M. Grim, Allentown, Pa.


Treasurer, C. R. Grim, Monterey, Pa. Executive Committee, Stanley Grim, Oscar S. Grim, Dr. Charles E. Grim, William H. Grim, Charles A. Grim, Jacob L. Grim, Harry E. Grim, Walter J. Grim, William A. Grim.


HAFER .- The Hafer family held its first re- union at Carsonia Park, Reading, in 1908. Much interest was manifested. It traces its history to Mathias Hafer, or Hoefer. He was a German, and emigrated in 1773 to Pennsylvania, locating in in the "Leipsiger Gesangbuch," written in 1638 : what is now Ruscombmanor township, Berks county. He first settled in Alsace township, and was married "Die Krone des Gerechdigkeid Ist mein schmuck und ehrenkleid, Damid will ich for Got bestehen, Wan ich werd in himmel eingehen." to Julia Schmid. They had eight children, viz .: John, Matthias, George, Benjamin, Isaac, Daniel, Henry and Maria. This is a long-lived family. The early Hafers were strong, robust people. The fam- ily is mostly settled in Reading, and the townships to the east of Reading, including Alsace, Exeter and Oley.


Mr. E. E. Hafer, photographer, Reading, is the president of the permanent reunion committee, and much credit is due him for the interest taken in tracing the early history. The list of officers, all from Reading, is as follows:


President, E. E. Hafer.


First Vice-President, Adam E. Hafer.


Second Vice-President, George M. Hafer.


Corresponding Secretary, Samuel G. Hafer.


Recording Secretary, William M. Hafer.


Treasurer, Samuel L. Hafer.


HEFFNER .- Descendants of Heinrich Haeffner (Heffner) in 1901 celebrated the 152d anniversary of his landing in America at Moselem Church in Berks county. Heinrich Haeffner was a son of An- draes Haeffner, of Eberstadt, Germany. His wife, Maria Eva Kelchner, bore him six children, namely : John Henry, Hans Georg, Eva Catharine, Elizabeth, Eva Magdalene and Catharine.


James S. Heffner, Esq., of Kutztown, was the president of the anniversary ceremonies.


Prof. George H. Heffner, son of George, son of Jacob, son of Hans Georg, in 1886 wrote a complete genealogy entitled "Heffner Records." This was the first history compiled of an upper Berks county family, and its influence upon other families, to trace their forebears, was most valuable. Professor Heffner rendered a service to posterity. His un- selfish life has endeared him to the people of Berks county, among whom he lived and labored as teacher.


The pioneer Heffner came to America in 1749. The family is mostly scattered in the upper part of Berks county, and about Kutztown and Virginville.


HEINLY .- The Heinly Family Association was organized in August, 1898. Its members are the descendants of David Heinly, who emigrated from the Duchy of Wurtemberg, Germany, sailing in the ship "Patience," Hugh Steel, Captain, and landing in Philadelphia Sept. 19, 1749. On July 21, 1774, he received from Thomas and John Penn, sons of William Penn, a patent for about 300 acres, now in Greenwich township, Berks county, a portion of which land is still owned by his descendants.


The original ancestor lies buried in Dunkel's Church cemetery, about three miles from Virgin- ville, and the original tombstone of sandstone still remains, in a fair state of preservation. On the obverse side the following appears, in German with English letters: "Hir ligd Dafid Heinle, Ist ge- boren 1728 den 17 Ockdober und gestorben den 3rd Ockdober, 1784." On the reverse side appears the following from an old German hymn published


On Aug. 15, 1903, the descendants erected a mem- orial to their first ancestor, adjacent to the old tomb- stone. It consists of a granite base rough hewn and a granite top in the shape of a large book with old-fashioned clasps, on the open pages of which appear the following inscriptions :




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