History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 162

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288


USA > Pennsylvania > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present > Part 162


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JAMES B. CALLAHAN, of P. L. Kimberly & Co.'s Iron Mills, post-office Greenville, was born in Fayette County, Penn., January 1, 1825, and is a son of Edward and Jane (Thompson) Callahan, natives of Ireland, who immi- grated in youth to America. They were married in Eastern Pennsylvania, and soon afterward removed to Fayette County. In the spring of 1827 they came to Mercer County, and after a short stay in Pymatuning Township they pur- chased a tract of land in West Salem Township, whereon they spent the bal-


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ance of their lives, dying in the faith of the Seceder Church, in 1839 and 1850, respectively. Politically Mr. Callahan was a Democrat. They reared twelve children: Elizabeth (deceased), John N. (deceased), Mary (deceased), Solomon (deceased), Jane (deceased), David, Nancy, Margaret, Edward, William, James B. and Rebecca. Our subject has lived in Mercer County since the spring of 1827, and followed farming up to January, 1882, when he commenced working in the rolling mill. He was married July 27, 1843, to Mary Ann, daughter of Adam Miller, who came here from Maryland in 1802. Mrs. Callahan was born in West Salem Township October 24, 1819, and is the mother of eight children, six of whom are living, viz .: Edward D., Sylvester C., Celestie, Jane, Frank P. and Etta. Mr. Callahan and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.


ROBERT P. CALLAHAN, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in West Salem Township June 3, 1829, and is a son of John N. and Elizabeth (Pat- terson) Callahan, natives of Lancaster County, Penn. They were married in Fayette County, Penn., and in the spring of 1827 came to Mercer County, and settled in Pymatuning Township. Some two years afterward they removed into West Salem, where both resided until death, which occurred in 1871 and 1882, respectively. They reared four children: Edward W.,


deceased; Robert P., Margaret, wife of Joseph McGranahan, and Nancy, wife of A. D. Roberts. Politically Mr. Callahan was a Democrat, and one of the well known, respected citizens of West Salem. Robert P. has always lived in this county, and the greater portion of his life in West Salem Township. He was married June 3, 1858, to Miss Eliza J., daughter of Adam and Frances Hill, of Greene Township. Mrs. Callahan was born in that township, and is the mother of six children, all of whom are living, viz. : Elizabeth, wife of Ransom J. Brown; Hiram W., Frances A., John N., Maggie and Mary A. Mr. Callahan is a stanch Democrat, and has filled several of the township offices. He has always taken an active interest in local public affairs, and is now serving as school director.


JOSEPH W. CALVERT, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Cortland County, N. Y., February 21, 1819, and is a son of Nathaniel Calvert, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to New York State in boyhood, where he grew up and married Betsy E. Gamble. They reared a large family, and in the fall of 1820 settled in Mercer County, afterward removing into Crawford County, Penn., where they spent the balance of their lives. The following children survive: Mary Ann, widow of William Mossman; James, Joseph W., Martha, widow of Aaron Kale, and William. Our subject grew up in Crawford County, and there married Mary, daughter of John Andrews, a pioneer of that county. In the fall of 1850 he purchased his present homestead in West Salem Town- ship, upon which he has since resided. Six children are the fruits of his marriage: Elizabeth, wife of James McNeilly; Margaret, wife of James McBroom; John N., Joseph A., Mary and Emma. Mr. Calvert and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a stanch Repub- lican. He began life comparatively poor, but is to-day one of the prosperous farmers of West Salem Township.


SAMUEL CANON, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Fayette County, Penn., August 7, 1805. His parents, Matthew and Jane (McMillan) Canon, were natives of Ireland, who immigrated to Fayette County, Penn., in the latter part of the eighteenth century, where they engaged in the mercantile and hotel business, which proved quite successful for a number of years, the dry goods being purchased in Baltimore, Md., and hauled over the Allegheny


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Mountains by six-horse teams, which required six weeks to make one trip and incurred many hardships. He reared a family of fourteen children, Samuel, the subject of this sketch, being the youngest. He died in 1829, aged seventy- four years; his wife survived him six years. Samuel grew to manhood in his native county, and was there married, in March, 1832, to Mary Gibson, a native of the same county. In February, 1833, they removed to Mercer County, Penn., and settled on the farm where he now resides, it being uncleared


at that time. Here they reared a family of seven children, four daughters and three sons: Martha, wife of T. A. Williamson, of Greenville, Penn. ; Margaret, widow of Joseph Andrews; Mary, Sarah, John, Samuel and Loverayne. Mrs. Canon died March 10, 1884, aged seventy-four years; she was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, to which denomination Mr. Canon also belongs. Politically he has been a life-long, unswerving Democrat. He cast his first vote for Jackson in 1828, and has never missed voting for the presi- dential nominee of the Democratic party during the past sixty years. He is one of the few living early settlers of West Salem Township, where he has resided over fifty-five years.


JOHN CANON, farmer, post-office Greenville, is the eldest son of Samuel Canon, and was born on the old homestead July 12, 1843. He has always resided in West Salem, and was married August 14, 1870, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Blair, of that township. She is the mother of seven chil- dren: Lindsie, Anna M. (deceased), Addie, Samuel, Mabel, Blanche and Ger- trude. The family belong to the Baptist Church, and politically Mr. Canon has always been a Democrat, and is a member of the R. T. of T.


DR. HENRY D. LA. COSSITT, a deceased pioneer physician of Mercer County, was born in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., May 3, 1803, and died at his homestead, in West Salem Township, March 1, 1877. His great-grandfather, Rene Cossitt, was a native of Paris, France, who immigrated to America and married Ruth Porter, of Waterbury, Conn. They settled in Granby, Conn., and reared a family of ten children, Rene, the grandfather of our subject, being the eldest son. He was born in 1722, and married Phoebe Hillyer, who bore him four sons and four daughters, Capt. Silas Cossitt, an officer in the Revolution, being one of the number. Capt. Cossitt was born June 22, 1756, and married Sarah Shepard, born July 15, 1764, and about 1805 re- moved from Connecticut to Vernon Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters. Three of the sons, Epaphroditus, James S. and Henry D. La., subsequently became well-known physicians of Mercer County. Capt. Silas Cossitt died May 7, 1819, and his widow again married, and survived him till February 14, 1832. Henry D. La. grew up in Trumbull County, Ohio, and received his education at the Mercer Academy. He began reading medicine with his brothers, Epaphroditus and James S, Cossitt, then practicing physicians of Mercer. After the former went west he continued under his brother James, who finally removed to New Castle, Penn. Dr. Cossitt attended his first course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., in the class of 1824-25. He afterward attended lectures at Geneva, N. Y. He was married at Winfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., June 9, 1825, to Miss Lydia Crandall, a native of Plainfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., born September 23, 1803. In August succeeding his marriage Dr. Cossitt opened an office in Greenville, where he practiced his profession for more than half a century. Seven children were born to him of this union: Harriett J., Isaac (deceased), Lydia A., Sarah E. (deceased), Henry D. La. (deceased), Julia E. (deceased) and one died in in- fancy. In August, 1826, Dr. Cossitt was commissioned, by Gov. Shulze,


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captain of the Greenville Infantry; was commissioned major of the regiment. by Gov. Wolf, in March, 1830, and in August, 1835, lietuenant-colonel. In July, 1833, Dr. Cossitt was appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Wolf, for Salem and West Salem Townships, including Greenville, but he never exer- cised the duties of the office except at weddings, and usually returned the fee to the bride. His wife died September 25, 1857, and he was again married, July 22, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Margaret McCli- mans, of Salem Township. Mrs. Cossitt was born in that township March 1, 1831, and is the mother of six children, all of whom are living: Henry D. La., Sarah Elizabeth (wife of J. A. Doyle, of Tarentum, Penn.), William Epa- phroditus, Duran Shepard, Fred Silas and Carrie Julia. Dr. Cossitt be- came a member of the Rush Medical Society of the Willoughby University, of Lake Erie, Ohio, now Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, February 17, 1845, and on the 25th of the same month that institution conferred upon him the degree of M. D. He became a member of the State Medical Society in 1871, and in 1872 was elected its vice-president. He joined the American Medical Association in 1872, and was also a member of the Mercer County Medical Society. Dr. Cossitt was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from boyhood, and one of the early supporters of the Greenville con- gregation. He was a life-long Democrat, and in 1862 was the choice of his party for the Legislature, and though defeated, in a strong Republican Coun- ty, he polled a very large vote. From the time of locating in Greenville up to within a few days of his death he continued his professional duties with unabating vigor, except a few years while engaged in mercantile and coal bus- iness. His name was familiar to the people of every part of Mercer County, and he was recognized as one of the most successful medical practitioners of this section of the State. After practicing alone for about ten years he formed a partnership with Dr. R. E. Breiner, which continued till August, 1842, when he entered into a partnership with Dr. D. B. Packard. This existed until the fall of 1857, when he took in Dr. Fielding Donaldson, yet a practicing physi- cian of Greenville. This business relation was severed after about two years, and Dr. Cossitt continued alone until 1874, when he formed a partnership with Dr. B. E. Mossman, which existed up to his death. He died at his home southwest of Greenville, where he had been residing for about twelve years. Dr. Cossitt was a man of deep convictions and strong individuality, but always courteous and generous toward his fellow men. He possessed wonderful en- ergy and enterprise, was generous and charitable to the needy, and stood high both as a citizen and a physician. Ever kind and affectionate in his home relations, his death was an irreparable loss to his family, to whom he left a handsome estate, the legitimate savings from more than half a century of pro- fessional toil.


CHARLES DIEFENDERFER, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., August 30, 1831, and is a son of Jacob and Maria (Bear) Diefenderfer, natives of Lehigh County. In the spring of 1836 the parents crossed the Mountains to Mercer County, and settled on Big Run, in West Salem Township, where their son Charles now resides. They brought with them five children: Mary, deceased; Henry, of Pymatuning Township; Reu- ben, deceased; Charles, and Elvina, wife of Levi Moyer, of Pymatuning Town- ship. Jacob and wife resided in West Salem Township up to their decease, the mother dying in 1856, and the father in 1868, both in the faith of the Lutheran Church. Charles grew up on the old homestead, which he subse- quently inherited. He was married Jannary 4, 1846, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Kamerer, pioneers of what is now Hempfield


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Township, where Mrs. Diefenderfer was born February 22, 1826, and there grew up. They have reared nine children: William, deceased; Harriet. de- ceased; Levi, Louisa, Jacob, George, deceased; Charles, Julia and Catharine. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Diefenderfer is a Democrat. Mr. Diefenderfer and wife have been living on the old home- stead since 1856, and he has always taken a deep interest in the growth of his township.


NELSON DINGMAN, farmer, post-office Greenville, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., July 13, 1818. His parents, Jacob and Polly (Bosler) Ding- man, were natives of New York State, where both spent their lives. They had ten children, eight of whom grew up, viz .: John, deceased; Peter, Mahit- able, Luke, Nelson, Alonzo, Hiram and Charlotte. Our subject was reared in his native county, and in the spring of 1846 he came to Salem Township, Mercer County, where he resided till the fall of 1865, when he located on his present homestead in West Salem. Mr. Dingman was married November 5, 1846, to Jane, daughter of Baptist and Esther (Simpson) Brush, natives of Ireland, and pioneers of Salem Township, in which chapter a sketch of the family will be found. Mrs. Dingman was born in Salem Township May 7, 1826, and has reared seven children: Oliver H., Mary A., wife of Linus Bil- lig, Andrew S .; Emma, wife of Sylvester Hoge; Sanford W., Elmer E. and Clara J. Mr. Dingman and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is a Republican. Beginning life poor he has by rigid indus- try accumulated a nice property.


MARK DOYLE, deceased, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, May 12, 1813, and was a son of William and Anne (Dowd) Doyle, natives of that county. His mother died in Ireland, and her husband followed his children to Mercer County, where he died at the home of his son Mark. Six sons and one daughter were born to William and Anne Doyle: Patrick, Mark, William, Bridget, Peter, John and James. William and Peter are the only survivors, and are both residents of Wisconsin. Mark Doyle grew to manhood in his native land, and in 1836, in company with his brother Patrick, he immigrated to Canada. He worked about one year in Hamilton, Ontario, when the Canadian rebellion of 1837-38 broke out, and he was notified to report for duty. Not relishing the idea of fighting for England, the hereditary foe of his native land, he quietly left Hamilton on foot, and by traveling all night and the following day finally reached the Niagara River in safety. After considerable difficulty he was allowed to cross that stream to the American side, and felt very much relieved when at last he stood under the protecting folds of the stars and stripes. He made his way on foot to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he began working at farm labor for $6 per month. His brother Patrick joined him a few months afterward, and they worked in that vicinity about four years. They then returned to Ireland for the purpose of obtaining helpmates to share their homes in the New World. They there met Anne and Bridget Collin, who came with them to America in the spring of 1842, accompanied by John and Bridget Doyle. Patrick was married, on his arrival at New York, to Anne Collin, and they then came westward to Kinsman, Ohio. Mark was married, in September, 1843, by Rev. Father Mitchell, in the Mercer Church, to Bridget Collin, who bore him the following children: Mrs. Anne Connelly, William F., Eliza J., wife of W. T. Phelan; Mary A. and Patrick H., all of whom are living. Mark and Patrick Doyle lived on rented farms in Ohio until the spring of 1851, when they settled on the homesteads in West Salem Township, where the bal- ance of their lives were passed. Mrs. Bridget Doyle died February 26, 1880, and her husband survived her until May 7, 1888. They were practical mem-


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bers of the Catholic Church, and lived and died in that faith. Politically Mr. Doyle was an ardent Democrat, and took a deep interest in the public affairs of his township. He was one of the most energetic and successful farmers of Mercer County, and left at his death a large estate. Mark Doyle was recognized as a man of unbounded hospitality, and his door was ever open to friend and stranger alike. He was a well-read man on various subjects, and a fluent conversationalist. He was a lively, good-natured man, ever fond of a joke, and never at a loss to tell one. His death was not only an affliction to his family, but a loss to the community where he had lived nearly forty years.


PATRICK DOYLE, deceased, was born in the County Wicklow, Ireland, Jan- uary 6, 1812, and immigrated to Canada with his brother Mark in 1836, removing to Ohio the following year. He returned to Ireland four years later for a wife, who came with him to New York in the spring of 1842, where Patrick Doyle and Anne Collin were married, in the Catholic Cathedral of that city, May 15, 1842. The brothers came westward to Trumbull County, Ohio, where they rented farms till the spring of 1851, when they located in West Salem. Through the passing years our subject accumulated a large property, and at his death, which occurred November 20, 1884, he was one of the wealthiest farmers of Mercer County. Both he and wife were practical mem- bers of the Catholic Church, and he was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. No children blessed their union, and his widow still resides upon the old homestead. Patrick Doyle was a quiet, unassuming man, upright and honest in all his dealings, and was a hard working, energetic and successful citizen throughout his business career. He had hosts of friends, and was thoroughly respected by all who knew him.


WILLIAM FELL, deceased, was a son of John and Elizabeth (Hartley) Fell, and was born in Bucks County, Penn., April 2, 1756, removing to Westmore- land County, Penn., after reaching manhood. He there married Agnes Ander- son, born February 15, 1761. He followed weaving in summer, and teaching school in the winter. In the fall of 1796 he and his son, George W., came to Mercer County, and selected a piece of land in what is now the southern part of West Salem Township. In the spring of 1797 they came back to the land, built a log cabin, and commenced a settlement in the dense forest. Mr. Fell returned to Westmoreland County early in July, leaving his son, George W., then a boy thirteen years old, to continue the settlement, and he remained seven weeks longer before joining his father in Westmoreland County. Mr. Fell moved his family to Mercer County in the spring of 1798, and lived upon the same farm through all the hardships and privations of pioneer days, up to his death, July 16, 1841. His wife had died twenty-one years before, August 8, 1820. They reared a family of five children: Mary, who married Timothy Dumars; George W. ; Miriam, who became the wife of James Stevenson; Jonas, and Agnes, who married William McKnight. All of these are dead, but each left numerous descendants.


GEORGE W. FELL, deceased, eldest son of William and Agnes Fell, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., August 31, 1784, and came with his father to Mercer County in the fall of 1796. They made a permanent settle- ment in the spring of 1797, and the whole family removed thereto the follow- ing year. He was married April 14, 1806, to Nancy Ann Dumars, and located on a portion of the old homestead. She was born in April, 1787, and reared eight children: Mary, who still resides upon the old homestead in her eighty- second year; Sarah, who married Frank Merry; William G., deceased, by pro- fession a civil engineer; Jonas, a deceased physician of Lexington, Ill .; Amos D., a surveyor of Trumbull County, Ohio; Fannie, deceased, who married


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Aaron M. Clark; Hannah, wife of William Jaxtheimer, of West Salem Town- ship, and residing upon the old homestead, and Roxanna, deceased. Mr. Fell was appointed justice of the peace in 1822, and served in that office for eighteen years, consecutively. He followed farming all his life, and died August 15, 1849, upon the farm which he settled in 1797. His widow sur- vived him till September 21, 1871. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Fell was a Democrat and belonged to the Masonic fraternity. He lived through all the early settlement of Mercer County, and endured the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life.


WILLIAM S. FELL, farmer, post-office Orangeville, Ohio, was born on his present homestead, in West Salem Township, October 22, 1820. His father, John Fell, was born in Bucks County, Penn., April 11. 1781, and came with his parents, Nathan and Ann Fell, to Mercer County, Penn., in the spring of 1798. They settled in what is now Pymatuning Township, where their grand- sons, Aaron and Mahlon, reside. John there grew to manhood and married Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Miller) Campbell, who settled in the southwest corner of West Salem Township toward the close of the last century. After marriage John Fell located on a farm in West Salem Town- ship, where the balance of his life was spent. He reared a family of seven children: Elizabeth, deceased; John, deceased; Rachel, widow of Francis Trunkey; George, deceased; Anne, widow of Harvey Trunkey, who died Sep- tember 20, 1888; Sarah, deceased, and William S. The parents lived and died in the Methodist Episcopal faith. In politics Mr. Fell was a Whig, and died in 1837, his widow surviving him until 1857. He was an enterprising, energetic, successful farmer, and was recognized as one of the leading citizens of Mercer County. Our subject has spent his whole life in his native town- ship, and was married September 24, 1845, to Catharine, daughter of Ezra Marvin, of Trumbull County, Ohio. Mrs. Fell was born in that county November 24, 1824, and is the mother of six children: Ellen, wife of D. W. Fuller; Henriette, wife of R. A. Luce; Alice, wife of W. E. Drake; Irene, William W. and Lillian. Mr. Fell and wife have been members of the Bap- tist Church nearly forty years. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and one of the prominent, enterprising citizens of the county.


AYLETT R. FELL, farmer, post-office Orangeville, Ohio, was born on his homestead in West Salem Township May 8, 1829. His father, George Fell, was born in Bucks County, Penn., September 7, 1783, and came with his parents, Nathan and Ann Fell, to Pymatuning Township, Mercer Co., Penn., in the spring of 1798. George there grew to maturity, and in 1807 married Rachel, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Miller) Campbell, a pioneer of West Salem Township. Soon after his marriage he settled on the farm where our subject now lives. Ten children were born to George and Rachel Fell: Elizabeth, Jesse (deceased), Nathan (deceased), John (deceased), Andrew, George (deceased), Julia A. (deceased), Rachel, Fannie M. (deceased) and Aylett R. The parents spent their whole married life on their homestead in West Salem. George Fell was a member of the Baptist Church, and a Whig in politics. He was justice of the peace eighteen years, and during his term of service married 118 couples. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and died June 12, 1853. His widow survived him until 1879. He was one of the leading farmers of Mercer County, and at his death was the owner of over 550 acres of land, all of which he made excepting 100 acres given to him by his father. Our subject was reared on his present homestead, and was mar- ried October 4, 1850, to Clarissa, daughter of Samuel Follett. of Pymatuning Township. Mrs. Fell was born in New York State, and is the mother of


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three sons: Chalmers, Walter J. and Charley. Politically Mr. Fell is a Republican. For eight years he was engaged in the lumber business, and is one of the most successful farmers of the county.


JOHN FERGUSON, SR., deceased, was a native of Ireland, who immigrated to Westmoreland County, Penn., in the year 1790. He brought with him his wife, Ann (Johnston) Ferguson, and two sons, John and James. Two chil- dren, Martha and Kennedy, were born in Westmoreland County. His wife died in that county, and in the spring of 1798, with his sons, John and James, he came to Mercer County, and located in what is now the northeast corner of West Salem Township. In 1804 he married Jane, daughter of Alexander and Mary (Murphy) McMillen, natives of Ireland, who left at her death one daugh- ter, Mary, now residing in Sharpsville. All of the children by the first mar- riage are dead. John Ferguson died on the old homestead in 1842, and his widow in 1853. They were attendants of the Seceder Church of Greenville.


O. NEWTON FLETCHER, farmer and fruit grower, post-office Greenville, was born in Crawford County, Penn., May 26, 1833. His grandfather, Hugh Fletcher, was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, who immigrated to West- inoreland County, Penn., about 1795. In the summer of 1797 he visited North- western Pennsylvania, selected a tract of 200 acres in the southwest part of Crawford County, where he erected a cabin, made a small clearing in the dense forest and raised crops, which he secreted for preservation from the roving bands of Indians. Returning to Westmoreland County, he there married Sarah Fullerton, and in the spring of 1798 brought his wife to his new home in the wilderness. They reared thirteen children, only two of whom are now living, and the parents spent the balance of their lives in Crawford County. Hugh Fletcher was one of the organizers and first elders of the Seceder Church of South Shenango, Crawford County, which had its inception in 1801. Samuel Fletcher, the father of our subject, was the eldest son of Hugh and Sarah Fletcher, and was born on the old homestead January 2, 1802. He there grew up and married Polly, daughter of Gershom and Nancy Hull, pioneers of Crawford County. Mrs. Fletcher was born in Washington County, Penn., August 6, 1800, and reared three sons: A. Milton, O. Newton and Hugh A. The father died near Greenville October 28, 1881, and his widow resides with her son, O. Newton. The latter was reared in Crawford County, Penn., and in 1868 located on his present homestead, situated on one of the most beautiful sites near Greenville. He was married February 4, 1868, to Miss Laura, a daughter of Harvey Trunkey, of Trumbull County, Ohio. There are three children: Harvey Trunkey and Anna Grace, both accomplished and promising students of Thiel College, and Mary Pearl, the youngest of the family. The family is one of the best known families in Greenville. In church they are Presbyterian, and politically Mr. Fletcher is one of the well-known Repub- licans of West Salem Township.




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