USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 2
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In 1865 he married Mary Hoehle, who re- sides on the homestead, which Mr. Acker built in 1894. They have these children: William A., who married (first) Cora Knoll, deceased, and (second) Lizzie Hettinger; Ellen J., who mar- ried Marcus Stehley, deceased, and second Charles G. Breisch; Emma M., died aged 23 years, and Harvey C., married to Minnie Trox- ell and resides at Bethlehem.
Jonas Acker was born in Weisenberg township October 9, 1829, and had a large farm near Grimville. He removed to Ruhetown, North Whitehall township, where he had a 43-acre farm. He conducted the latter farm until 1873 and then moved to Hoffmansville, where he followed the trade of a carpenter and worked in ore mines. He died at the residence of his son, George March 15, 1910, aged 80 years, 5 months and 6 days, and is buried at the Jordan Lutheran church. His wife, Sarah, nee Adam, was born January 26, 1828, and died June 28, 1893, aged 64 years, II months and 2 days. They had these children : Rosa, who died young; Alfred, who died young: Catharine, who married Samuel Dries; Oliver; Osville; William; Charles, born May 5, 1862, died May 30, 1909; and George A.
GEORGE A. ACKER, a son of Jonas and Sarah Acker, is the organist and chorister of the Jordan churches in South Whitehall township. He was
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
born in Weisenberg township, July 30, 1870, and attended the public school, and was reared upon the farm. In 1895 he began farming at Schnecks. ville and in 1900 he accepted his position as or- ganist of the Jordan churches which he has served ever since. He resides at the church and operates the farm of the Lutheran congregation, consisting of 30 acres. As a Democrat he served the office of constable since 1907.
In 1897 he was married to Kate DeLong, daughter of William and Sarah (Scheirer) De- Long. Their children are: Lucian C. and Elsie M.
LEWIS A. ACKER, a member of the firm of Joseph A. Best & Co., a leading stove store at Allentown, was born in Weisenberg township, March 26, 1874. He attended the public schools and the American Commercial School, from which he was graduated in 1895. He was then employed as bookkeeper for Neff & Best, continuing in their employ until March, 1901, when he became associated with Joseph A. Best under the firm name of Joseph A. Best & Co. The business is located at 440 North Tenth street.
He was married June 16, 1901, to Mame R. Kemmerer, daughter of Irvin F. Kemmerer, of Allentown. Their children are: Ruth S. A .; Paul K., who died in his second year ; Lewis D .; and Grace K. Mr. Acker and his family are members of Dubbs Memorial church in which Mr. Acker served as a deacon. The family re- sides at 610 North Tenth street, Allentown.
Joseph Arndt, grandfather of Lewis A. Acker, was born near Lenhartsville, Berks county. He was a shoemaker and always lived in the vicin- ity of Lenhartsville. He is buried at Zion's church, Windsor township. His wife was a Miss Zettelmoyer, who came from that section. Their children are: Daniel, Masilla, wife of Daniel Acker; Emma, Catharine, Wilson, Lizzie, Jos- eph, and Alfred.
WILSON A. ACKER.
Wilson Allen Acker, hotel proprietor at Hyne- mansville for twenty-one years, was born June 3, 1861, in Weisenberg township, where he was educated in the township school and brought up on his father's farm and he assisted his father un- til he was thirty-one years old. He then pur- chased the oldest established hotel stand in the county of Lehigh, at Hynemansville, including twenty-eight acres, and he has carried on the business tgoether with farming operations in a successful manner until the present time. He has been recognized by the numerous patrons of the stand for his courteous entertainment.
In 1889, he was married to Alameda H.
Schmick, daughter of Henry, farmer of Lowhill township, and they have two children: Martha, m. Frederick Sechler, and Stella, m. Harvey Heffner.
His father, Allen Acker, was born and brought up on a farm in Weisenberg township, and he was engaged at farming until his decease in 1898. He was married to Mary Greenawald, a daughter of Daniel, farmer, of Wessners- ville, in Greenwich township, Berks county, and they had twelve children: Franklin, m. Emma Werley; Wilson A .; Sarah, m. Edgar Wood- ring; Emma, m. Wilbur Stettler ; Levi, m. Anna Creitz; John, m. Barbara Frey; Alvin, m. Cora Werley; and five died young.
Joseph Acker, a farmer of Weisenberg, was his grandfather. He was married to Mary Neff, and they had three children: Elizabeth, m. Henry Metzger; Anna, m. Mahlon Luther; and Allen.
ACKERMAN FAMILY.
Jacob Ackerman lived along Hosensack creek, near East Greenville, in Montgomery county, and there he died in 1851, aged 50 years and is buried at the Goshenhoppen church, having been a Reformed member of it. He was a farmer and owned and occupied his own farm.
He married Caroline Woodring, being her third husband. They had three children, viz .: Edmond, Henry, and Jacob.
By her first husband, a Kurtz, she had one son and a daughter.
By her second husband, a Zeller, she had an only child who died small; and by her fourth husband, a Snyder, she had no issue.
Edmond Ackerman, son of Jacob, was born in Montgomery county, in 1846. He removed to District township, Berks county, in 1868, and was a laborer, living near Landis Store, for eight years. His wife Mary S. Minner, is a daugh- ter of Jonas Minner, who was a justice of the peace in District township for 45 successive years, dying in his 91st year of age. They had an only son, Jonas M., whose history follows. In the spring cf 1906 Mrs. Ackerman settled in her own home at No. 629 Cedar street, Allentown, where her son, Jonas, tenderly supplies all her desires.
JONAS M. ACKERMAN, of Allentown, is a ce- ment contractor, residing at 807 North Seventh street. He is a member of the firm of Schaeffer and Ackerman, and was born in District town- ship, Berks county, Nov. 3, 1873. When he was a young man he was employed in the creamery at Landisville for five years and later he learned the plastering trade and cement work at Potts- town for three years. In 1898 he came to Al-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
lentown and worked as a journeyman for two years and then he formed a partnership with J. A. Schaeffer and engaged in the cement and plaster contracting business. The firm has been very successful and employ as many as forty men. Some of the work performed by them are the concrete floor in the State Hospital, at Ritters- ville; also all the grating and cement paving at Clifford Park, one of the suburbs of Allentown ; also all the re-inforced work of Allentown hos- pital, as well as the floors and roofs and all the plastering in the first buildings. The firm also built the reinforced bridge at Ruchsville, this county, and upwards of fifty houses in Allen- town. Mr. Ackerman was the leader of the Lan- disville band while living in District township, and since the year 1900 he plays with the Pioneer band of Allentown. In politics he is a Democrat and in 1907 he was elected a member of common council from the Tenth ward, serving one term.
On April 29, 1893, he married Sarah Schneck, a daughter of James and Hettie (Sterner) Schneck, of Longswamp township, who was killed in the ore mines in the year 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman have these children: Viola; Grace; Ralph ; Robert ; Harvey, and Verna.
Stephen and Fietta (Griffith) Ackerman, of Upper Milford township, lived to the age of 75 and 82 years respectively, and they are buried at Scheetz's church. They had issue: Mary, Ame- lia, Diana, Sarah, Hannah, Amanda, Dora, Ida, Henry, Frank, John, and Percival Ackerman.
JOHN ACKERMAN, the third son of Stephen and Fietta (Griffith) Ackerman, was born De- cember 6, 1860, and was reared on the farm and remained thirty years on the homestead, con- sisting of 80 acres. He was educated in the public schools and is a member and trustee of the Mennonite church in Upper Milford township. He married Kate Shelly, daughter of Levi and Mary (Bliem) Shelly, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these volumes. They had a daugh- ter, Edna, who is married to Walter Gehman. They have a daughter, Marion Gehman.
ARTHUR W. ACKERMAN, a wholesale liquor dealer at Slatington, was born in Allentown, July 13, 1873. He received his education in the public schools of Allentown and the American Commer- cial School. After finishing his commercial course he worked for Keck Bros., as bookkeeper, and from 1905 to April, 1910, he was employed as clerk by the Bethlehem Liquor and Bottling Company.
In the spring of 1910 he purchased the stock and good will of Frank Medlar, at Slatington, and has conducted this business ever since. He
is a member of the Woodmen of the World at Slatington; and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. His place of business is at No. 261 Lower Main street, Slatington.
G. H. AGSTEN.
Gotthardt H. Agsten was born in South Beth- lehem, Jan. 18, 1885. He was educated in the common schools until 13 years old, when he was employed on the farm of Edward Lambert, of Iron Hill, for 3 years. The following two years were spent at Pittsburgh where he learned the trade of pattern-making. He returned to South Bethlehem, where he was employed as carpenter foreman in the Wm. Mack factory. He removed to Hillsdale, Michigan, where he worked at his trade for three years, and returned to South Bethlehem, where he continued at his trade until the spring of 1913. He had since engaged in general farming. Previous to removing to the farm, he built a fine home on the Lehigh moun- tain in Salisbury township, which he sold since, living in the home he purchased with the farm. Mr. Agsten was a member of the Lutheran Church.
He was married Sept. 16, 1910, to Miss Annie Ebert, born in Phoenixville, Pa., Jan. 12, 1886. She is the daughter of Wm. J. Ebert, a native of Berlin, Germany. Mr. Agsten died in Salis- bury township in 1913, aged 59 years.
Charles Agsten, his father, was a native of Saxony, Germany. He came to America in early life, and located at South Bethlehem. He died there March 30, 1913, aged 69 years. Charles Agsten served in two wars in the German army, in 1861 and 1871. He was a felt-worker by trade, and after coming to America settled in Butztown, where he worked in the mines for one year; then removed to South Bethlehem, where he worked as a moulder helper in the steel works. He lived retired for 15 years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and in poli- tics a Democrat.
Charles Agsten married Mary Shimer, who died in South Bethlehem in 1888. He married, second, Emma Bowman, who is still living. They had 22 children.
AINEY FAMILY.
The Ainey family, of Lehigh county, are de- scendants of William H. Ainey, of French de- scent, whose ancestors were Huguenots. When he came to this country he settled in Mohawk Valley, Montgomery Co., N. Y. He was mar- ried to Hannah Crawford, of Connecticut. Their son, John, was born in 1802, and was mar- ried to Catharine Kinnan, of Goshen, N. Y. William H. Ainey, son of Jacob and Catharine Ainey, was born in Susquehanna county, No-
8
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
vember 30, 1834. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools, which was supple- mented by a preparatory course in Woodruff Academy. In 1853 he was graduated from Har- ford University, then an institution of learning of high standing in Northern Pennsylvania. He studied law under the direction of Hon. E. B. Chase, of Montrose, Pa. In 1855 he moved to Lehigh county, where he continued his legal studies under Hon. R. E. Wright, of Allentown. He was admitted to the bar Jan. 6, 1857. In 1860 he organized the Allentown Savings Institu- tion and was chosen its first president. In 1862 he became the owner of the the Lehigh Register which he edited in connection with his other busi- ness duties. He was a vigorous writer and a Re- publican of pronounced views. In 1863-64 the Second National Bank of Allentown was organ- ized. He was elected its first president, a position he filled up to the time of his death; a large part of the success of this institution was due to his efforts. In 1867 he organized the Lehigh Iron Co. and was chosen its first president, and con- tinued in this office until the discontinuance of the making of pig iron. In 1872 he was elected one of the fourteen members of the Constitutional con- vention of 1872-73. This committee framed our present admirable constitution introducing many needed and excellent reforms, which have since been copied and adopted as part of the funda- mental laws of other states. In 1879 he was one of the prime movers in the re-organization of the Coplay Iron Company of which he was elected treasurer. In the same year he, in con- junction with George Brooke and H. S. Eckert secured control of the extensive pipe works at Reading, of which company he was elected pres- ident. He owned and operated ore mines at the following places: South Whitehall, Upper and Lower Macungie, Longswamp, Maxatawney, all in Pennsylvania, and in Morrison county, N. J. He owned and operated the first local private telegraph line in Lehigh county in 1870. This line was operated between his office in the bank and the furnace at Aineyville. Mr. Ainey was a public-spirited man and through his energy a number of improvements were made and new industries located in Allentown.
He was the prime mover in having the Cen- tral Railroad of New Jersey come into Allen- town and in the building of the Allentown Ter- minal Depot. Through his industry and as- sistance the following industries were established : The Iowa Barb Wire Co., which was later ab- sorbed by the American Steel and Wire Co .; The Pioneer Silk Factory, The Palace Silk Mill, and the Allentown Spinning Company. Mr. Ainey and family were members of the Episcopalian
Church. He died on Nov. 12, 1907 at the well- known Ainey residence, corner of Fifth and Hamilton streets, where he had resided since the close of the war.
William H. Ainey was married to Anna C. Unger, who was born Nov. 18, 1843, and died on Feb. 25, 1905, aged 62 years. They had the following children: A. Caroline, married to Robert D. Ghriskey, of Philadelphia; May Hat- tie, married to Henry J. Foster, now of Scran- ton, Pa., who at one time was associated in the iron business with Mr. Ainey; Katie Irene, who was an invalid and died in June, 1914; and Wil- liam H., Jr.
William H. Ainey, Jr., was born in Allen- town, January 19, 1890. He was educated in the public schools of Allentown, later he attend- ed Muhlenberg preparatory school, Muhlenberg college, and Hudson River Military Academy, located at Nyack, on the Hudson in N. Y. He became his father's private secretary in the Sec- ond National Bank, and filled this position until his father's death. He was also the treasurer of the Edgmont Building Lot Association. Since January, 1911, he is an executor of the William H. Ainey estate. He is an active member of the Y. M. C. A. and the John Hay Republican Association; an active member of the Rescue Fire Co .; an associate member of the Sons of Veterans; the Lehigh Saenger Bund and is an Episcopalian. He is married to Estella M. Fluck, a daughter of Milton S. and Lena (Wagner) Fluck.
CHARLES N. ALBERT.
Charles N. Albert, a retired citizen of Cata- sauqua, was born at Reading, Pa., in 1863, and educated in the parochial schools of that city, in Brunner's Business College, and in Dalby's Com- mercial School of the same place. For five years he was a stationary engineer ; then he engaged in the hotel business at Reading which he continued until 1890, when he went to Catasauqua. Four years later he moved to Northampton, Pa., again four years later he moved to Siegfried, Pa., where he was in business for seventeen months. In the fall of 1900 he purchased the Columbia Hotel at Coplay and conducted it until June 1, 1907, then sold it for a large sum of money, retired, and moved into his fine residence on Second street, Catasauqua. He was successful in his busi- ness affairs. Being a popular fancier, he raised fancy and common poultry as a pastime.
In 1890 Mr. Albert was married to Frances Kunkel, a daughter of George Kunkel, late of Philadelphia. They had ten children: Charles, Florence, Edward, Theresa, Marie, Frances, Raymond, Adella, Frank and Gerard. Of these
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
children, Charles, Florence, Edward and Theresa are graduates of St. Mary's parochial school at Catasauqua; and seven of their children are graduates of the Palmer method of writing. Charles G., the oldest son, is employed in the Catasauqua National Bank.
George Francis Albert, the father of Charles N., is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born August 17, 1832. In 1858 he emigrated to Pennsylvania, located at Reading, Pa., where he worked on farms in the vicinity for some time ; then he began working at blast furnaces, and about 1868 he was made foundry boss of the large establishment of Seyfert & McMannua, at Reading. He served this firm in the same po- sition until 1890, when he went to Catasauqua to accept the position of general superintendent with the Crane Iron Company, but five years later he resigned and retired, removing to Read- ing. He and his wife are members of the St. Paul's Catholic church at Reading.
His wife, Eva Mintz, died in 1873 at the age of 41 years. Their children were: George (of Cleveland, Ohio) ; John (of Pittsburgh) ; Au- gustus (who died at Denver, Colorado, in 1912, at the age of 51 years) ; Charles N .; a daughter (who lives in California) ; Mrs. Henry Blessing (at Reading), and Mrs. John Dillinger at West Catasauqua.
ALBRIGHT FAMILY.
Mrs. Elizabeth Albright, born Jan. 9, 1778, died March 15, 1858, when a widow, settled in Lower Milford township, with her son, Michael Albright. She subsequently married (second) John Ruch (1777-1863), of the same township. They attended the Chestnut Hill church.
Michael H. Albright was born Jan. 19, 1811. He attended the schools of Lower Milford town- ship, and during his youth was accustomed to farm work. He served ten years as a school di- rector and was a justice of the peace from 1860 to 1873, a period of thirteen years. He re- moved to Allentown in 1873.
Michael H. Albright, married Maria Schaef- fer, and had six children. Williani H .; Edwin Albright (deceased ) ; Dr. Franklin P .; Mrs. Henry Moyer; Mrs. Israel Wambold, and Mrs. Henry Ackerman, of Philadelphia.
WILLIAM H. ALBRIGHT, son of Michael and Maria (Schaeffer) Albright, was born in Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, in 1844. He was reared upon the farm and was educated in the schools of his township and the Keystone State Normal School. He became a well edu- cated man, commencing his business career as a school teacher at an early age. He followed this
profession the greater portion of his active life.
In his youth he spent some years in Missouri, as a farmer, clerk, and school teacher. He then returned east, and taught for several years in his native township; then located in Allentown where he became a leading educator. During President Cleveland's administration he served as assistant postmaster of Allentown for four years. His home was at 628 Turner street, where his widow now resides. He was a great student of Bible history and had read the Bible through by course three times. He was at one time a member of the city council, a staunch Democrat and a firm believer in the principles of that party. He was a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of Salem Reformed church. He died June 8, 1904, and was interred in Union cemetery.
William Henry Albright married, July 21, 1877, in Allentown, Miss Alice J. Guth, daugh- ter of Horace and Abigail (Seibert) Guth, of South Whitehall township. Mrs. Albright is a member of Salent Reformed church, and is ac- tive in all church work, including the mission- ary society and charitable work. They had two children : Raymond C. and LeRoy H. Albright. Raymond C. married Mabel Rothenberger, and has children, Alton A. and Evelyn A. M. Al- bright. LeRoy H., an artist, studied at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and is con- nected with Hess Brothers in the art department. He married Edith Jones, and has children, Grace Alice, Arthur, Dorothy May, and Mil- dred May Albright.
AMANDUS A. ALBRIGHT, senior member of the contracting and building firm trading as Aman- dus Albright & Son at Allentown, was born in South Whitehall township, in 1850. When six- teen years of age, he was apprenticed to the trade of carpenter, and afterward followed the business of builder and contractor for upward of twenty years. In 1902, he formed a partnership with his son, Milton A., in conducting planing mill and contract work. Of the more prominent con- tracts of this firm, the Lutheran churches of St. Stephen, St. Luke, and Christ, at Allentown may be mentioned ; and a Lutheran church in South Allentown. They erected several hundred houses in Allentown. They are one of the largest con- tracting firms in the city and employ about fifty men.
In 1875 Mr. Albright married Chresura Rauch a daughter of Jonas and Polly (Kuhns) Rauch, of Crackersport, and they have eight children: Alice J., married to Victor Gackenbach; Milton A., married Mamie Becker ; Mamie R., married to William Best; Victor J., married to Addie Knecht; Elmer J., married to Elsie Wentzell;
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Bertha H., married to Frank Trump; Marcus R .; and Charles H. They are members of the Lutheran Church.
MILTON A. ALBRIGHT, son of Amandus, was born at Wescoesville, Lehigh county, Sept. 5, 1879. He attended the public schools until 16 years of age, then learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for six years. He removed to Allentown in 1883, and, in later years, with his father engaged in the contracting business. Since 1906 they have also conducted a planing mill. In politics he is a Republican, a member of the Lu- theran Church, and belongs to Livingston Castle, K. G. E .; Jordan Council, Jr. O. U. A. M .; and the Order of Maccabees. In 1899 he was married to Mamie M. Becker, daughter of Wil- liam M. and Mary J. (Schmoyer ) Becker, and they have one child, Marguerite M. He resides at 1602 Chew street, Allentown.
John Albright, the father of Amandus, was born April 6, 1813, in South Whitehall township, where he conducted Albright's Hotel for a period of forty years. He owned a farm of sev- enty acres, which was later sold by his estate for $9,450; and in 1910 this land was sold for $60,- 000. He had previously been engaged in the mercantile business at Crackersport for four years. He was married to Lucinda Henninger, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Sterner) Henning- er. She was born Feb. 19, 1816, and died Oct. 21, 1897, aged 81 years, 8 months and 2 days. He died March 19, 1886, aged 72 years, II months, 13 days. They are buried in Union cem- etery of Allentown. They had eleven children : John; Edwin, born in 1840 and died in 1904; Sarah; Polly; Willoughby; Anna; Amandus; Henry ; Reuben ; Phaon, born in 1856 and died in 1883; and Israel, all having had families except- ing Edwin and Phaon. They were members of the Lutheran Church.
Jacob Albright, a prosperous farmer and for some years also a justice of the peace, resided along the Lehigh river in Whitehall township. His wife was a Frederick. They died of typhoid fever about 1820, of middle age. They had the following children: Polly, married to Samuel Lichtenwalner; Betsy, married to Aaron Guth; Annie, married to John Laubach ; Jonas, moved to the West; John; and Mrs. Nathan Guth ; all of whom have died.
G. ALEXANDER.
G. Alexander, the general superintendent of the Gallia Silk Mills, located at South Bethle- hem and Coplay, Pennsylvania, was born May 7, 1869, at Paterson, New Jersey. At the age of twelve years he began to work in the silk mill . and by strict application to duty and a willing-
ness to work, his advancement from one position to another followed rapidly. He became a prac- tical man in all the departments in the silk man- ufacturing business; was foreman at twenty-one of the old Clifton Silk Mill at Union Hill, N. J., having charge there of 70 men ; was superin- tendent for nine years of the Continental Silk Mill, at Phillipsburg, N. J., and since April I, IgII, he is the general superintendent of the Gallia Silk Mills of Lehigh county.
Socially Mr. Alexander is a member of the Delaware Lodge No. 52 F. & A. M., of Phillips- burg, N. J.
On April 14, 1883, he was united in wedlock with Miss E. Maddocks, a daughter of John Maddocks, of Philadelphia. They have two sons: William H., and G. Alexander, Jr. The oldest son is a member of the sophomore class, at Lehigh University and G. Alexander is a student at the Bethlehem Preparatory School.
William Alexander, the father of G. Alex- ander, was a practical silk man for many years. He now lives retired at Paterson, New Jersey.
JOHN ALLEN.
John Allen, of Allentown, is the son of Charles Allen and Nancy Hazlett. Charles Allen was born in 1822 in County Derry, Ireland, and came to America in 1842. He was employed at Sum- mit Hill, Carbon county, as a coal miner and in 1851 went to Hokendauqua as a foreman for the Crane Iron Company and later was a contractor, excavating iron ore for the company. He resided at Hokendauqua and later at Catasauqua. In 1855 he went to California, where he prospected for gold and owned a mining claim. He returned to Allentown in 1863 and enlisted in Co. A, Seventh Connecticut Volunteers. He became a corporal and was wounded at Pittsburg Landing and taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby prison and later paroled. Gangrene having set in in his leg he went to New York State Hospital and recovered. He then returned to his com- pany and served until mustered out. After the war he was employed in iron ore mining and also built the Lock Ridge .Furnace for the Thomas Iron Company at Alburtis. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1875 and was buried at Lehigh church. He had three children : John; Samuel, foreman of the black- smith shop of the Philadelphia Traction Com- pany; and Jane, deceased, who married Edward Boyle, of Allentown, and had eight children.
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