History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 86

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 854


USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 86


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 married Catharine S. Kern, born in 1849 and who died in 1902. Their children were: Laura, married to Prof. W. A. Deily, of Phil- adelphia; Rhoda, married to O. T. Weaber. the Recorder of Deeds, of Lehigh county; Franklin J., who was a pious and much esteemed young man, died aged 20 years; and Alice, who is single at home.


WILLIAM P. SELL was born in South White- hall Twp., Nov. 19, 1867. He is the son of the late Evan and Fianna (Hollenbach) Sell. He was reared on the farm, received a common school education, and has always been engaged in farming. After farming in South Whitehall township, for shares for some years, he purchased a fruit and truck farm of 30 acres, near Wescoes- ville, in 1910, where he now resides and con- ducts a dairy and truck business, making daily trips to Allentown. He is a member of the Sal- isbury Lutheran Church. On Feb. 16, 1892, he married Jennie Vogenitz, a daughter of William and Matilda (Fink) Vogenitz, of Emaus. Their


children are: Arthur, Leroy, and Mildred, all residing with the parents.


Charles Sell, a farmer of North Whitehall township, near the village of Sheidy, carried on farming operations there and in Lowhill for a number of years. He was married to Sallie, a daughter of Peter Zimmerman, and they had nine children: Evan; Samuel; Nathan; Le- fenus; Peter; Sallie, married Willoughby Kern ; Lydia, married Solomon Deibert; Helena, mar- ried Stephen Newhart; and William. They were members of the Lutheran congregation at Union church, where he served as an elder. All of them have died excepting Peter and William, and interment was made in the Union cemetery.


Samuel, the second son, was born in Lowhill township on March 5, 1829. At an early age he learned the trade of tanner, and followed it several years, when he moved to Waterloo, in New York, and was engaged there in a tannery for two years. He then returned to Lehigh county and followed butchering and farming until 1869, when he located at Slatington. He was married to Sallie, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Farber) Wuchter, of Saegersville, and they had five children : William M .; George W .; Amanda and Charles, who died in infancy ; and Aquilla, married Charles P. Gernant. Upon the decease of his wife, he married Mary Jane, daughter of Philip Unruh, and by her he had four children : John, who died at the age of 15 years; Alavesta; Carrie, married Samuel Barnes ; and Aglaid. Mr. Sell died at Slatington, April 25, 1906.


WILLIAM M. SELL, the eldest son of Samuel, insurance agent at Slatington for over 30 years, was born at Schnecksville, April 8, 1858. He received his preliminary education in the local schools, and afterward attended the law depart- ment of the University of Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1880. He then taught public school in Washington township for fifteen terms, nine of them in the same building. In 1889, he located at Slatington and embarked in the real estate and insurance business, which he has con- ducted successfully until the present time. He represents a number of prominent insurance com- panies. He has been identified with the Slating- ton Building and Loan Association for many years, serving as its secretary. In politics he is a Democrat, having frequently represented his district as a delegate to conventions, and also been elected on the ticket for justice of the peace, though the borough was largely Republican. He is affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Golden Eagle.


In 1883, Mr. Sell was married to Meda E., daughter of William H. and Eliza Ann (Sny-


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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


der) Morey, and they have two children: Fred- erick W., and Dama E., who was graduated from Irving College, Mechanicsburg, Pa., in the spe- cial studies of music, and elocution. They are members of the Lutheran Church, where he served as deacon and trustee, and acted as super- intendent of the Sunday school for many years.


Owen Sell was engaged as a miner in iron ore operations for many years at Guth's Station and Orefield. He was married to Mary Held, and they had six children: Hiram L. H .; Uriah; Emma, married Alfred Diehl; Phaon J .; Oscar ; and Albert O.


Hiram, the eldest son, was born in North Whitehall, May 25, 1848. He learned the trade of miller, which he followed for several years, then he filled the position of engineer at the Lewis furnace, at Allentown, for twelve years, and afterward at the Adelaide silk mill for six years, when he was killed there in a boiler ex- plosion, which occurred July 9, 1888. He was married to Mary R., daughter of Peter and Mag- dalena (Strauss) Roth, and they had six children : Harvey H .; Laura J., married John W. Knoll, at Buffalo, N. Y .; Charles P .; Estella, married Stanley Heller; Cora M., married Pearl Frantz; and Hiram L. H. They were members of St. Peter's Lutheran church, which Mr. Sell served as deacon for a number of years, and at the time of his death was officiating as treasurer. He was affiliated with the Odd Fellows, Lehigh Lodge, No. 83.


HARVEY H. SELL, the eldest son of Hiram, was born July 14, 1870, at Allentown. After attending the public schools, he learned teleg- raphing at the railroad station of the Lewis furnace, and then filled the position of telegraph operator for the L. V. R. R. Company at East Penn Junction until 1906, when he resigned, and embarked in the hardware business at No. 227 Hamilton street, which he has carried on until the present time. He has become affiliated with the Odd Fellows, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights of Malta, Royal Arcanum, Saengerbund, and Turner Liederkranz.


In 1892, Mr. Sell was married to L. Frieda Truchses, daughter of Ernest S. and Caroline Truchses, whose sketch appears in this publica- tion, and they have two children: Eileen M., and Harry M.


SEMMEL FAMILY.


Martin Semmel, from Wurtheim Lebenstein, Baden, Germany, emigrated to America, landing at Philadelphia May 5, 1753. He was married to Margaret Heiner from the same place in the Fatherland. He located on a large acreage of land on the Jordan creek, in North Whitehall


township. He had three sons, George, John, and Tobias, all of whom settled in the neighbor- hood. This pioneer and many of his descendants are buried at Unionville, Lehigh county.


Tobias Semmel received his father's lands. He was a weaver and farmer, and lived where Col. H. C. Trexler's peach orchard is now lo- cated. The first set of buildings were located in the valley near a spring. The house was a small stone building. Later he built a log house up on the hill from the stone house and in it he lived many years. His wife was a Miss Wolf and their children were: Tobias, Jr .; Martin; George; John; Michael; Christina, married John Hauser ; Catherine, married Samuel Falk; and Maria, married Henry Hottenstein.


Tobias Semmel, Jr., born Feb. 22, 1786, lived along the Jordan creek, in North Whitehall town- ship, where he had a small farm, where he lived and died July 5, 1847. He was buried at Union- ville Church. His wife was Anna Maria Klotz. Issue: Benjamin; Jonathan, of Mechanicsville, Pa .; Dennis, who lived upon the homestead ; Reuben, who lived at Siegersville, was a tanner in the employ of Stephen Kistler, and died at Slatington ; Joseph, settled in Lancaster county, Pa .; Mary, (Mrs. Arner) ; Sallie, married Wil- liam Walt, of Rockdale; and Polly, married to Henry Haas.


Martin Semmel, son of Tobias Semmel, Sr., was born about 1788. He was a weaver and lived near Meyersville. He married (first) Miss Wolf. Issue: Amandus, removed to New York; Peter ; Leanna; Mary; Lydia; Leanna (the second so named ).


Martin Semmel married (second) Sarah Smith. Issue: Stephen Lovinia; Eliza; Sarah ; Fianna; Elmira; Moses; Amanda.


George Semmel, son of Tobias Semmel, Sr., was born Jan. 13, 1788, in North Whitehall township, where a Herman subsequently lived. He farmed a small tract of land and was a car- penter. He died April 14, 1864, and was buried at Jordan Lutheran church. He married Betsy Derr. Issue: Reuben; Cain; Judith, married Cole Smith ; Mary, married Charles Wieand.


John Semmel, son of Tobias Semmel, Jr., lived on a tract now embraced in Col. Trexler's peach orchard, near the school house. He was a farmer and carpenter. He died and was buried at Union- ville. He married Polly Reinsmith. Issue : Thomas; Sarah; Mary; and Phaon, who lived at Slatington.


Michael Semmel, son of Tobias Semmel, Sr., was born July 1, 1801 ; died Aug. 8, 1870, and was buried at Morganland Church. He 'suc- ceeded to his father's homestead of some seventy acres. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.


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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


He married Elizabeth Haaf, daughter of George Haaf, born in 1806 and died in 1883, aged 77 years. Issue: Annie (1828-1897) ; Elvina; Judith ; Elizabeth ( 1835-1868).


Dennis Semmel, son of Tobias, Jr. and Maricha (Klotz) Semmel, was born Dec. 2, 1825. He was a shoemaker and served as a tax collector of North Whitehall township. He lived near the present deer preserve on Col. Trexler's property. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was buried at Unionville. He married Leanna Mertz, born 1829, died 1901. Issue: Mary Jane, married Tilghman Steckel; William J .; Emma, married Hiram Steckel; John, born 1857, killed in a stone quarry in September, 1882; Benjamin, born April 4, 1866, died March 27, 1898; Naomi, died at age of thirteen years.


William J. Semmel, son of Dennis, was born Nov. 19, 1859. From 1882 to 1888 he was a foreman in Kleckner & Falk's stone quarry. Afterward he was with the American Cement Company for three years. In the Spring of 1892 he located in Washington township, where he followed farming for four years, and in 1897 set- tled upon the Gross farm of 80 acres in the same township. On this property is a log house, which was built contemporary to the French and Indian War, 1755-1763. Mr. Semmel, in 1910, cut down a large pear tree which was planted in 1772. He purchased this farm in 1909 from Gross & Brothers. He married, in 1882, Amanda Kennel, daughter of William and Mary A. (Beck) Kennel. Issue: Mabel, married John Smith, of Allentown; and Fred, who married Ella Eisenhard and resided at Siegersville. He is a stenographer with Johnson & Schwartz, wholesale grocers, Allentown.


Benjamin Semmel, son of Tobias Semmel, Jr., was born at Unionville. He was a tanner at Neff's, Lehigh county. He established a large business which he conducted until his decease, when his sons Francis and Reuben continued it. Subsequently Reuben retired and Francis became the owner of the property. He was a township auditor and a member of the Lutheran Church. He died at Neffsville, Pa.


Benjamin Semmel married Catherine Moser, daughter of Abraham Moser. Issue: Josiah ; Reuben; Lewis; Fianna, deceased ; Lucina, mar- ried Benjamin Wehr; Francis; Louisa, married to Benjamin Fenstermacher ; Henry E .; Oliver ; Charles ; Benjamin.


LEWIS SEMMEL, son of Benjamin and Cather- ine (Moser) Semmel, merchant and banker, was born March 12, 1842, at Neff's. He was edu- cated in the common schools. He became a clerk in the Schnecksville store, for J. and P. Gross, at the age of fifteen years, continuing there for


three years. He then clerked for five years at Lehighton for Thomas S. Beck. He was a mem- ber of the State Defense for ninety days in Co. F, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., under Capt. Thomas. Afterward he became a clerk for his father-in- law, Joseph K. Wannemacher, at Kreidersville, Pa., for six years, when he was admitted into partnership under the firm name of Wannemach- er & Semmel. This firm continued until 1880 at which time Mr. Wannemacher died and Mr. Semmel became the sole owner and proprietor, and continued the business until 1892. He then sold out to Edward C. Kern, of Nazareth, Pa. Mr. Semmel then removed to West Bethlehem and engaged in the retail shoe business. About 1893 he purchased a property at 136 Broad street and later built an addition which he stocked with groceries. Five years later he added dry goods, etc., operating as a department store, in which he employs about twenty persons. It is now the leading store of West Bethlehem. In 1894 he admitted his son, Thomas E., under the firm name of L. Semmel & Son. He was one of the organizers of the Bethlehem Trust Company, and served it as a director from the beginning, until shortly before their removal in 1914, when he resigned. He is a director of the First National bank since May, 1912, and the vice-president of the firm J. A. Eberts & Co., wholesale grocers, since its organization as a stock company. He is also a director of the West Bethlehem Building and Loan Company for a number of years. In 1912 he erected several houses on Broad street. In politics he is a Republican, in religion, a Lu- theran. At Kreidersville he was a deacon and trustee for years and is now a member of the consistory of Trinity Lutheran church at West Bethlehem since 1897. Lewis Semmel married in 1864, Cordelia Wannemacher, daughter of Joseph K. and Maria (Bachman) Wannemacher. Issue: an only son, Thomas E. Semmel, who married Cora Landis, daughter of L. B. Landis, of Allentown. Issue: an only daughter, Bea- trice L. Semmel.


William Semmel, Lowhill township, was a farmer and had sons: Tilghman and Henry.


Tilghman Semmel was a deacon and elder of the Lutheran church at Unionville. He married Sallie Hunsicker. Issue: Wilson ; Alphena ; Frank T .; Clara; Cora; and Alavesta.


Frank T. Semmel, son of Tilghman and Sallie (Hunsicker) Semmel, was born June 17, 1867. He became a stone mason and plasterer ; then a farmer in Lowhill township for seventeen years on his own farm. He sold out and became a con- tractor, following this for some years. Then he purchased the hotel and 33 acres at Jordan Val- ley in 1909, where he has since lived. He is a


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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


Republican and a Lutheran. He married in 1889 Mantana Wotring, daughter of Francis and Ta- manta ( Helfrich ) Wotring. Issue: George; Raymond; Edgar; Lettie; Verna; Ida; Oliver ; Florence; Minnie ; Charles ; Ralph; and Clayton.


Tilghman Semmel was a laborer and lived at various places. He worked in the slate quarries. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a mem- ber and deacon of Frieden's Church where he was buried. He married Fronica Hunsicker. Issue: Alvin P., of Slatington ; Lewis, who died young ; and Orville D.


Orville D. Semmel, son of Tilghman and Fronica (Hunsicker) Semmel, was born May 4, 1861, in Washington township. He began work in the slate quarry when twelve years of age and there continued until 1904, thirty-one years. In 1904 he began farming on the property consist- ing of 82 acres which he purchased in 1907. In politics he is a Democrat. He and family are members of Frieden's Church of which he served as a deacon. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.


Orville D. Semmel married in 1886, Mary Geist, daughter of Aaron and Eliza (Long) Semmel, of Longswamp Church. Issue: Eliza J .; Calvin L .; Allen O .; and Sarah E. Semmel.


Charles E. Semmel, youngest son of Benjamin, a merchant at Allentown, was born in 1862, at Neffsville. After his education in the village school, he was employed as a clerk in a store at Kreidersville for a number of years. In 1900, he went to Allentown; he continued clerking in the store of H. Leh & Company for eight years ; then he engaged in a general store business for himself at Thirteenth and Chew streets, and has carried it on in a successful manner until the pres- ent time. In 1888, he was married to Ella M. Wolf, daughter of James and Mary (Borger) Wolf.


Daniel (Michael) Semmel, a brother of To- bias, was a farmer who lived near Schnecksville. He was a member of the Lutheran church at Unionville and there he was buried. He was married twice. By his first wife (Ritter) he had three children: David, Owen, and John; and by his second, two children: Carolina, married Penrose Ely; and Dennis, who lived at Slating- ton.


Owen Semmel, the second son of Daniel, was born in 1821 in North Whitehall. He learned the trade of tanner and was in the employ of his cousin, Benjamin Semmel, at Neffsville, for some time, after which he worked for the L. V. R. R. Company a continuous period of thirty-five years. He was married to Mary Deibert, daugh- ter of Tobias and Hettie (Dorward) Deibert, and they had eleven children: Amanda, married


John Young; Ellen, married Owen Krauss ; Ada- line, married Frank Kratzer ; Osville; Willough- by ; Henrietta, married James Bartholomew ; Er- win; Daniel; Eli, who died four years old ; Te- villia, married Benjamin Leibenguth; and Rob- ert. He was a member of the Lutheran church at Unionville.


Willoughby Semmel, the second son of Owen, was born Nov. 26, 1852, in North Whitehall. He was reared on a farm and worked at farming until eighteen years old. He then learned the trade of a coachsmith, and worked as a journey- man at Egypt, Allentown, and Crackersport for twelve years. In 1890, he purchased a farm of 12 acres, where he resides ( formerly a part of the Burkhalter homestead), and here he has since carried on farming. He is a member of the Egypt Camp, P. O. S. of A. He was married to Mary E. Laubach, daughter of Edwin and Adlina (Kern) Laubach, and they have six chil- dren: Clement F .; Carson A., married Ida Rit- ter ; Herbert E .; Maggie A .; Dallas N .; and Allen. They are members of the Lutheran church at Egypt, which he has served as deacon and elder.


ERWIN H. SEMMEL, the third son of Owen, was born June 19, 1862, in North Whitehall. He was reared on a farm and assisted at farm- ing for five years. He then worked in the mills of the Coplay Cement Company, and the Ameri- can Cement Company for four years, learning the trade of barber in the meantime. In 1890, he purchased the barber shop of H. K. Laury, at Cementon, and started in the business for him- self, which he conducted until 1909, when he was elected treasurer of Whitehall township, and upon assuming the duties of this responsible office he sold the barber shop. He served as assistant postmaster at Cementon from 1890 to 1893, and as postmaster from 1893 to 1897. He is a mem- ber and past master of the Modern Woodmen, Cementon Camp, No. 8576. In 1890, he was married to Annie L. Litzenberger, daughter of Tilghman and Sybilla (Kemmerer) Litzen- berger, and they have a daughter, Rosa H. She was graduated from the township high school and, after taking a special course in the Ameri- can Commercial School at Allentown, became stenographer and assistant to her father in the office of township treasurer. They are members of the Lutheran Church.


PHAON A. SEMMEL, son of John (died 1839), was born April 11, 1835, and when four years old his father died. He was reared on a farm until he became eighteen years old and then he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1857, he started the manufacture of carriages at Saegersville, and continued in business there until 1868, when he


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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


located at Slatington, in the east end, along Main street, where he had purchased a large lot of ground, including a fine stone barn, which he converted into a factory. He subsequently erect- ed a new frame factory on the rear and changed the stone building into store-rooms. He carried on a successful business, with trade reaching into the surrounding counties, for forty years, until he died. He took great interest in local enter- prise, served several terms in the town council, and was a charter member of Vigilant Fire Com- pany, No. 2.


Mr. Semmel was married to Maria Muthart and they had eight children: Isadore, Robert, Charles, Howard, John, Cora, Oliver, and Agnes, the second and last two having died. After the decease of his wife, he married Ellen Jane Hankee, with whom he had seven children: Mary; Lottie, married Arthur Morgan, living in Louisville, Ky .; Mattie, married William Ben- ner ; Lillie; Palmer A .; Ida; and Walter. He died Oct. 10, 1910.


The family of Mr. Semmel have in their pos- session an old and highly prized sprinning wheel, which has the following inscription :


Tobias Semmel, from Wurtheim, Lebenstein, March 5, 1753, Baden, Germany.


PALMER A. SEMMEL, son of Phaon A., was born at Slatington, and educated in the local schools, and the American Business College at Allentown. He learned the business of carriage making under his father and was in his employ until his decease, when he became his successor, and he has since conducted it in a successful manner. In 1905, he was married to Mabel Andrews, daughter of A. J. and Mary (Ritter) Andrews, and they had two children: Paul, who died in infancy ; and Dean.


SENSENBACH FAMILY.


Godfrey Sensenbach was a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, and came to Pennsylvania via New York, accompanied by his cousin, Charles Sensenbach. They were redemptioners. At New York they were purchased by a man named Knauss, from Bath, Northampton Co., Pa., to serve for their passage, and they afterward re- mained with their honored employer for some years.


Charles Sensenbach never married. Godfrey succeeded his employer (Knauss) as a butcher and after the employer's death continued butcher- ing at Bath, until after the building of the Le- high canal, when he sold out his business and moved to Rockport, Carbon county, Pa., where he engaged in the mercantile, hotel, and boat building business, which he conducted until the panic of 1857, which caused him to fail. After


the panic he took his son-in-law, Charles Deter- line, into partnership, but the freshet of 1862 wiped out their establishment.


Godfrey Sensenbach, though small in stature, was a man of great ability and enterprise. He was a member of the Reformed church. His wife died about 1860. He died during the early sixties, aged eighty years, and was buried at Trexlertown, Pa. The following were their children: William, John, Israel, Jacob and Charles ( who located in Northumberland coun- ty), Daniel, Stephen, Joseph, James, Sallie (who married George Heil), Polly (who became the second wife of George Heil, and they lived at Trexlertown), and Rosa (who married Charles Deterline). James, of Freeland, Pa., is the only survivor.


Charles Sensenbach was born in Northampton county, Pa., Aug. 8, 1820. He located at Mc- Ewensville and from there moved to Sunbury, where he continued until 1871. He was a cab- inet maker by trade and he also carried on paint- ing. He was a councilman of Sunbury, having been elected as a Republican. His wife, Rosan- na Aralia (Gold) was a daughter of David Gold, of McEwensville, whose ancestry settled in Northampton county. She died in 1875, in her forty-ninth year. He died July 27, 1878. They are buried at McEwensville. They had fourteen children: Cloyd, Elizabeth, Emma, James, Augusta, Charles A., of Sunbury, Pa., Elmer and David, and six who died young. Al) the children were born at McEwensville.


Israel Sensenbach was born at Bath, Pa., in 1814. He went to Allentown in 1840, and was a teamster by occupation. He died in the year 1871. He and his wife (Sarah Dottery) are buried on the Union Cemetery at Allentown. They were devoted members of the Methodist church. They had ten children: Josephine (who died soon after her marriage to Joseph Cole) ; Matilda (became the second wife of Joseph Cole) ; Cecelia; Sarah (married to Wil- liam Blank) ; Lafayette; Charles C .; Alfred D .; James; Robert, and William. The latter died in infancy. Matilda, Sarah and James are also deceased.


Charles C. Sensenbach is a retired brick manu- facturer in Allentown, where he was born Dec. 2, 1843. After having learned the machinist trade he followed it for about ten years, but in 1882 he engaged in the manufacturing of bricks with his plant in the First Ward and there he con- tinued until 1910, giving employment to as many as seventeen men. He was elected for three terms to the city council as a Republican; and for three successive terms was a member of the school board from the First Ward. He and


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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


his family are attendants of the Methodist church.


Mr. Sensenbach is an Odd Fellow. During the Rebellion he served his country as a private of Co. C .. 129th Regt. Penna. Vol. Infantry. He was active in service from the Second Battle of Bull Run. through all the battles, to the Battle of Gettysburg.


He was married in 1872 to Emily J. Hoff- man. daughter of George W. and Matilda (Mertz) Hoffman. They reside at No. 207 N. 2nd street. Their two children are: Mark I .. and John L., both of Allentown.


Alfred D. Sensenbach was born in IS4S at Allentown, where he is now a retired resident in the old First Ward. For a number of years he was employed by the wholesale grocery houses of Strauss and Kleppinger, and Johnson and Swartz: but retired in 1907. He was very ac- tive while a young man in the Allen Fire Com- pany. having served as the company's first driver. He is a member of the Evangelical church.


His wife was Emma Kuhnsman, daughter of John and Mary Kuhnsman. Their chil- dren are: Walter, Katie. Mary, Frank A., Ed- win. Annie, Lucy. Clarence. Harold and George.




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