USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 68
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The first pastor, as already intimated, was Rev. John Cannon, who continued to preach part of his time at Clarksburg until his death, which occurred in the winter of 1836. The place remained vacant, receiving occasional supplies from Presbytery, until the spring of 1843, when, in connection with an- other branch of the same denomination twen- ty-two miles distant, they extended a call to Rev. S. O. Wylie, who became their pastor until 1844, when he demitted the charge to accept a call from a congregation in Phila- delphia. Three years after, or in 1847, Rev. Robert Cannon, a son of the first pastor, was ordained and installed, but in 1854 was re- leased to go to the West. In 1856 the con- gregation secured part of the time of Rev. A. M. Milligan, of New Alexandria, West- In March, 1845. Jacob Rank and E. W. C'upp were sent by Conference to serve the charge. Under the administration of Jacob moreland county, who continued to be their pastor until 1866, when he transferred to Phil- adelphia. They then felt that they should Rank the church was completed during the have all the time of a pastor to themselves year. The house was built half a mile north- and in the summer of 1868 extended a call east of Covode in North Mahoning township,
kle, Catherine Zirkle, John Reader. Cather- ine Reader, Andrew Peffer, Elizabeth Pef- fer. Margaret Peffer. In the spring of 1844 the congregation was supplied in connection with other appointments, located in Jefferson and Armstrong counties, by Revs. Rishel and Truby. When they arrived they found the little congregation actively engaged in church work, holding prayer meetings and class meetings and visiting among their German countrymen. During the year the following members were added to the congregation : Philip Sutter and wife, Jacob Sutter and wife, Nicholas Loos and wife, John Beam and wife, Conrad Zener and wife, Elizabeth Feitt. Af- ter the above addition was made to the church the members went to work at once to make preparation for the erection of a house of worship.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
on a lot of land then owned by Martin Zir- of Mahoning circuit was changed to March- kle. The church was a plain log building, and station. In the year 1877-78 J. Dick 24 feet square, and was at first seated with slabs, but later was furnished with more modern pews. served the work, and in March, 1879, Theo- dore Bach took charge. Worship was con- ducted in the German and English languages.
In 1846 Revs. Sill and Brown were sent There was a division in the Evangelical Church, and one part is known as the Evan- gelical Association, the other as the United Evangelical. by Conference to serve the congregation, which was then attached to other appoint- ments and was called Mahoning circuit. The circuit then comprised all the appoint- ments of the Evangelical Association in the MARCHAND EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION counties of Indiana, Jefferson and Armstrong. In 1847 Rev. Mr. Sill was again returned to The following ministers have served this congregation: Revs. Hardy, R. C. Miller, H. H. Faust, T. B. Havermale, A. F. Rich- ards, and H. H. Faust, the present (1913) minister. the charge, with C. Lindeman as his col- league. In 1848 Rev. George Dellinger and J. Weikel served the circuit; in 1849 George Dellinger was returned to the charge with Rev. Mr. Kelley as his colleague, and in 1850 The officers are : Harmon Peffer, class leader ; Harry Peffer, exhorter; Mrs. Jennie Peffer, steward; trustees, Samuel Wineberg, George Beam, Harry Peffer. The membership is fif- ty-six. Mr. Harry Peffer is the superintend- ent of the Sabbath school, which has an en- rollment of seventy-five. Daniel Long succeeded Dellinger and Kelley. Jacob Rank served the work in 1851, and in 1853 H. Hample; 1854, B. L. Miller; 1855, George Dull; 1857, J. M. Zirkle; 1858, John Peffer; 1860, A. R. Teats; 1861, J. H. Shaf- fer and J. J. Bernhart. In 1862 the work was served by Jacob Honecker, and under his administration the circuit built a parsonage MARCHAND U. E. CHURCH in the village of Marchand, which the min- ister in charge of the work occupies. The In 1887 trouble arose in the Evangelical circuit was then supplied as follows: In Church. It started with the bishops, and was 1863-64, Christian Stauffer; 1865, L. B. Dem- mies; 1867, John Piffer; 1868, Henry Rhoades.
During the Conference year beginning in March, 1868, and ending in March, 1869, the society in the vicinity of Marchand built the Evangelical Church in Marchand. The building committee consisted of John Peffer, John Beam, Philip Enterline. The first board of trustees consisted of John Gall, John Beam, John Peffer, John Dorn, Conrad Zener. With successful management and incessant labor the work was pushed to completion in Novem- ber, 1869. The church is a frame building 38 by 56 and cost $3,000. It has a well pro- portioned steeple and a fine sounding bell. On the 14th of September, 1869, the church was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Escher, of Chi- cago, as the Emmanuel's Church of the Evan- gelical Association. The pastor, Henry Rhoades, and congregation had just cause for being grateful for their success.
the means of starting the United Evangelical Church at Marchand. Rev. F. D. Ellenberger was pastor when the trouble began. He was followed by Revs. D. J. Hersberger and Allen, who preached in the old church. The court decided that the Evangelical association should have the old church, consequently under Rev. J. H. Booser some forty or fifty members left the old church and in 1895-96 they built a handsome brick church at a cost of about $5,000. The building committee were : William H. Moot, A. P. Loyd, John and Jacob M. Zener, Frederick Rish.
The church has been served by the follow- ing ministers: Revs. J. H. Booser, A. L. Burket, S. C. Cramer, F. J. Strayer, P. D. Steelsmith, P. L. Berkey, J. K. Jones and W. W. Elrick, the present pastor.
Virgil Zener, who was reared in this con- gregation, is now a United Evangelical min- ister at Somerset, Pennsylvania.
In 1870 G. Foch took charge of the work ZION EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION and served it two years. In 1872 he was suc- ceeded by N. Yoder and W. D. Ordtz; in The church is located near Covode. The present minister is Rev. H. H. Faust, who was preceded by Revs. A. F. Richards, T. B. Ha- vermale, R. C. Miller, and Mr. Hardy. Rev. 1873, J. Vogle and S. Milliron served the charge ; in 1874, J. S. Seit; in 1875 and 1876, G. Foch was again seated in the circuit. Dur- ing the Conference session of 1875 the name Mr. Faust also served the congregation after
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Rev. R. C. Miller. The membership is twen- tees are John Rodkey and W. H. Auker. The ty-two. Class leader and exhorter, Rev. J. ministers since organization have been : Revs. Rittenhouse, Swank, Randolph, Havermale, Peffer, Broombaugh, Yakeley, who is the pres- ent pastor. H. Miller ; steward, Mrs. George Sutton; Miss Blanche Hadden is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of twenty.
ROSSITER EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This church was built a few years ago and is located in Smyerstown, a suburb of Ros- siter. The pastor at present is Rev. H. H. Faust, who was preceded by Rev. A. F. Rich- ards; class leader, John Bishop; steward, Adam Bishop; superintendent of the Sabbath school, George Bishop. The enrollment of the school is seventy-five.
SALEM EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, CANOE TOWNSHIP
Under the administration of J. H. Shaffer a new church edifice was erected in Canoe township. The society was a branch of the Log Church congregation near Covode. The church is a plain frame building 30 by 35. It was formally dedicated as the Salem Church of the Evangelical Association by Rev. George Peffer. The present pastor is Rev. H. H. Faust, who has just taken the place of Rev. A. F. Richards. The member- ship is fifty-one. Class leader, A. L. Stiver ; exhorter, C. W. Baun; steward, John Suttor ; trustees, Robert Emerick, C. W. Baun, A. L. Stiver. Robert Emerick is the superintend- ent of the Sabbath school.
CROFT EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The Evangelical Church at Croft was built in 1900 at a cost of about $1,000. The build- ing committee was composed of Benjamin Gilhausen, J. W. Young, Dennis Peddicord, Mrs. Thomas Stiles. Prior to the building of this church, services were held for a num- ber of years in the Barkley schoolhouse. Be- fore this time services were held in an old log house on the "Ridge" between Croft and Dilltown. The place was called "Jericho," and at the time of protracted meetings large crowds assembled. The place of preaching was then changed to an old schoolhouse which stood near the homestead of Samuel C. Gra- ham. As at the former place, large crowds assembled, perhaps not always to worship God.
Sabbath school has been carried on contin- uously until this summer. Mrs. W. H. Auker was the last superintendent and the school had an enrollment of twenty-five.
MECHANICSBURG EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA
The first meetings in the village were held in 1822 and the congregation was organized in the same year at the house of Nicholas En- ders. The original members were: Nicholas Enders, his wife, Elizabeth Enders, George Enders, Jacob Enders, Mary Enders and Su- san Enders, all of the same family; George Lowmaster, his wife and daughter.
The first church was built in the year 1840, and was called "The Log Church." The second was erected in 1858, and was styled "The Valley Church." The third was built in the seventies.
Jacob Baumgartner and Joseph Long served as the first preachers, for only one year. In the second year J. D. Hall and T. Buck were the pastors. Other ministers were S. Milli- ren, Joseph Porcth.
The first class leader was N. Enders, and the second John Overdorff. The Sabbath school from the earliest period was connected with the church, and was at first held in pri- vate houses.
The circuit of which the Mechanicsburg Church was a part comprised three churches, three Sabbath schools, and seven appoint- ments-all situated in Indiana county.
INDIANA EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
The church of this association was built in 1909 when Rev. W. M. Peffer was pastor. The association had been formed several years prior to this time, and services were held in private houses and in tents. The church was dedicated April 25, 1909, and services were held the entire week in honor of the event. Rev. J. W. Richards, the presiding elder, Rev. W. H. MeLaughlin and others assisted the pastor. At this time the congregation had a membership of 34.
Rev. Mr. Peffer was followed by Revs. J. At present in the church at Croft there W. Richards and R. C. Miller, the present are but five or six members. The present trus- pastor. The present membership is 61. The
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Sabbath school has an enrollment of 75; James A. Palmer is the superintendent.
The present officers are as follows: Trus- tees, Frank E. Groft, S. B. Byers, Charles Humm; stewards, Frank E. Groft, Mrs. Charles Humm, Martha Miller ; class leader, S. B. Byers.
BLAIRSVILLE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This association was organized about the same time as the one at Indiana. The church is a frame structure costing about $1,000. The following ministers have served the con- gregation : Revs. L. B. Wissinger, W. M. Peffer, J. W. Richards and R. C. Miller, the present pastor. The membership is 40. The Sabbath school has an enrollment of 60; Mrs. J. C. Swanger is the superintendent. The stewards are: Mrs. Evangeline Esch, Myrtle Fry, Mrs. Frank Akins.
NOWRYTOWN EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This organization was effected in 1894, but the church was not built for several years. The following ministers have served: Tre- vor Vaughn, E. H. Swank, Freas Hess, S. C. Wood, Freas Hess, Trevor Vaughn, E. H. Swank, T. B. Havermale, C. F. Hartung, T. B. Havermale, L. B. Wissinger, W. M. Peffer, J. W. Richards and R. C. Miller, the present pastor. The membership is 36; the enroll- ment of the Sabbath school 40; Levi Blystone is the superintendent.
The following are the officers at present (1913) : Trustees, Levi Blystone, R. F. Johns, John Sullivan, George Kreider, J. M. Fink ; class leader, Levi Blystone; steward, Miss Gladys Fink.
STAKES EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
This'church was organized as an Evangeli- cal Church and the building was erected be- fore the trouble arose between the bishops of the church. The trouble first started in 1887 at the General Conference in Buffalo. The General Conference is held every four years, and in 1891 the church divided and the Evan- gelical Association held its Conference in In- dianapolis, and the United Evangelical Church held its conference at Philadelphia. When this division came the congregation at the Stakes Church was divided and those who took the name of United Evangelical built Ridge Chapel, in Cherryhill township.
FRIENDSHIP CHAPEL, CHERRYHILL TOWNSHIP
The church of this Evangelical Association between Twolick creek and the "Devil's El- how," on the Greenville road, was built when Rev. T. B. Havermale was pastor, about 1905 or 1906. Rev. C. W. Shields and Rev. W. M. Peffer served the congregation.
GRACE U. E. CHURCH, CHERRYHILL TOWNSHIP
This United Evangelical Church was built in 1897 at a cost of about $700. Rev. J. A. Shaffer was the pastor at that time. The pastors since 1890 have been: Revs. J. L. Mull, F. D. Elenberger, C. W. Sigfried, J. C. Powell, C. E. McCauley, J. A. Shaffer, T. E. Baumgardner, F. J. Strayer, N. M. Miller, M. V. De Vaux, H. M. Cook, W. F. Schafer, L. F. Athey, C. N. Haines, S. B. Rholand, C. W. Fowkes, the present pastor, who gives one half of his time to this congregation.
The ruling elders since 1890 have been : D. P. K. Levan, T. Black, J. W. Domer, D. P. K. Levan, J. W. Domer, D. P. K. Levan, J. J. Carmony, J. W. Domer. The membership is ninety. The trustees are: Steele Berkey- pile, president ; Robert T. Helman, secretary, M. J. Golden. Mr. Steele Berkeypile is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of eighty-seven. The school is kept open the entire year.
ST. MARK'S U. E. CHURCH, JUNEAU
This church was built in 1895 and dedi- cated in January, 1896, Bishop Stanford of- ficiating. Prior to the building of the church services were held in the schoolhouse.
The following ministers have served the church : Revs. Reininger, J. H. Booser, A. L. Burket, S. C. Cramer, F. J. Strayer, P. D. Steelsmith, P. L. Berkey, J. K. Jones and W. W. Elrick, the present pastor.
Trustees : J. H. Stiver, A. T. Stiver, Joseph Dangherty, M. C. Wineberg, David Kanoff; stewards, William Snyder and S. Lee Stiver; class leaders, A. T. Stiver and David Kanoff. The membership is about sixty. C. P. Smith is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of 110. The teach- ers' training class is taught by Walter E. Stiver and the Bible class by David Kanoff.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Baltimore on Christmas Day,
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1784. The Baltimore Conference covered a large territory, extending as far west as into Ohio. To this all the territory of western Pennsylvania belonged until 1823, when the Pittsburg Conference was organized. The Pittsburg Conference at its organization in- cluded all of western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and a large part of West Virginia. It is now comprised in the Erie, East Ohio, West Virginia and Pittsburg Conferences. Since the organization of the Pittsburg Conference in 1823, Indiana has belonged to it. Indeed, the formal organization of the church here did not ocenr until eight years after the or- ganization of the Conference, though services had been held since 1820.
INDIANA CHURCH
The first Methodist sermon preached in In- diana was delivered in the old courthouse in the year 1820. This was then in a six weeks' cirenit. embracing Blairsville, Indiana. Arm- agh and other points.
The foundation of the present congregation was laid in 1831, under the superintendenee of Rev. J. G. Sansom. At that time a class of persons was formed at the house of John Lucas, three miles west of the borough of Indiana. Samuel Donglass, John Lucas. Polly Lneas. Mrs. Coulter, Mrs. Stewart and Sam- uel Douglass were appointed stewards.
The society continued to meet at the above named place for several years, holding an official connection with the Conemaugh and Cambria mission. In 1832, in accordance with the itinerant plan. Rev. William Butt was appointed to the charge of the mission, with Rev. John Coil as his assistant. In February, 1834, a quarterly meeting was held in the United Presbyterian Church in the borough, at which time considerable religious interest was manifested and a number added to the church. Indiana first appears as an appoint- ment on Conference roll in 1834 as the head of a large circuit. In 1836 it became a part of the Blairsville eireuit, and so remained until 1842. In 1843 Indiana again became the head of a large circuit.
Joshua Shephard, John Lucas, A. C. Hall, William L. Fenton, Robert Craig, and several others whose names have been forgotten. A building committee was appointed consisting of Robert Craig. Edward Nixon, John Lucas, William Fenton. The lot was purchased from the executors of Thomas Sutton for $50. The carpenter work was done by W. H. Coleman. The building was completed in 1841, and the first sermon was preached by Rev. D. B. Campbell. Rev. J. R. Means was the next pastor sent by Conference to the place.
From the summer of 1836 to July, 1843, embracing a period of about seven years, the congregation was favored successively with the services of Revs. G. D. Kinnear, Harvey Bradshaw, Simon Elliott, John Coil, Isaac Mccluskey, David Gordon, John L. Williams, James M. Graham, Joseph Shaw, Caleb Fos- ter. David S. Welling.
At the session of the Pittsburg Annual Con- ference in July. 1843, Rev. J. G. Sansom was appointed presiding elder, and Rev. A. G. Gallaher preacher in charge, with Rev. R. G. White for his colleague. The latter succeeded to the office of senior preacher in the follow- ing year. having for his colleague Rev. R. W. Barnes.
From 1845 to 1852, the following minis- ters named are recorded in connection with the congregation : John White, George Cran- age, Edward B. Griffin, M. L. Weekly, Dan- iel A. IIaines, Joseph Woodruff. D. B. D. Coleman, Joseph Shaw, Hugh Montgomery, D. B. Campbell, James R. Means, A. J. Lane.
In 1853 the congregations of Indiana and Homer were constituted a separate charge. Rev. Joseph Horner was appointed pastor, and about thirty persons were added to the church during his ministry. He was suc- ceeded the following year by Rev. T. J. Hig- gins, his successor being Rev. H. L. Chap- man. In May, 1857, Rev. J. S. Bracken was appointed pastor to this charge. After the expiration of two years he was succeeded by Rev. S. Burt. The dates of appointment of the succeeding ministers were as follows : 1861, John C. Hugh ; 1862, R. Morrow ; 1864. M. W. Dallas ; 1867, J. B. Uber; 1869, A. B. Leonard. In 1869 Indiana beeame a separate charge with A. B. Leonard as pastor, followed by: 1871, M. B. Pugh : 1872, M. J. Sleppy ; 1875. John A. Danks; September, 1877. Homer J. Smith.
Preaching services had generally been held in the old courthouse, but several families of Methodist persuasion having located here in the years 1837-38, it was deemed advisable to build a church, and a meeting was called In 1833 the official board consisted of the following laymen: James Wakefield, John Wakefield, John M. Trego, Henry Baker, Jon- athan Doughty, Thomas Laird, William for the purpose of taking the matter into con- sideration, at which the following persons were present: Rev. John Coil, pastor of the circuit, Edward Nixon, W. H. Coleman, Dickey. Samuel Donglass, William Bracken,
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
F. Lydie; Samuel Douglass represented Indi- ana.
In 1843 we find the following additional names in the official list for Indiana: William L. Fenton, John Lucas, A. C. Hall.
In 1859 the board comprised the follow- ing: Edward Nixon, James E. Coulter, Wil- liam H. Coleman, Joseph Shephard, William C. Boyle, James Fenton, Joshua Shephard. There were 150 members, including proba- tioners, in communion with the church. Also a flourishing Sabbath school of eighty schol- ars and teachers was connected with the con- gregation.
The congregation for several years had no house for public worship of their own, but occupied the courthouse until 1839, when the erection of the edifice which was known as Armory Hall was commenced. The building was completed in the following year.
The Register of November 27, 1859, says- "The church is located at the west end of Water street. It is 40 by 55 feet, and has fifty-six pews on its floor. It has neither bell nor portico, but silently stands its own rep- resentative until it shall go the way of all the earth. The brick and stone work was done by William Brown, of Blairsville; the car- penter work by Capt. James Sloan, of this borough; and the plastering by a stranger."
The property was settled in the hands of the following persons, who were appointed trustees: John Fenton, William Fenton, An- drew Hall, Robert Craig, John Lucas.
The arrangements for building the present church edifice were commenced under the pas- torate of Mr. Sleppy in 1874, but the subscrip- tion was made during the administration of Mr. Danks in 1875, and the work of construc- tion commenced that year. The plans were prepared in the spring by J. W. Drum, arch- itect, of Pittsburg, and the contract awarded to J. P. Leach, of Indiana, Pa., on the 4th day of August, for the consideration of $15,500, the cost of excavating, seating, gas fitting, etc., to be paid by the church. The lot was purchased from Mr. B. B. Tiffany for the sum of $2,000. The cornerstone was laid on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 5, 1875, the ceremony being witnessed by a large con- course of people. The ministers who partici- pated in the ceremonies were: Rev. B. F. Another large audience assembled at three thirty to hear Dr. Bugbee, at which time some $300 was subscribed. Services were again held at seven o'clock. The sermon was by Dr. Per- Brooke, D. D., of Christ Church, Pittsburg; Rev. J. F. Core, of Greensburg; Rev. H. C. Beacon, of Johnstown; Rev. J. C. Johnson, Rev. A. P. Leonard, and Rev. John A. Danks, shing, after which he announced that $1,100 pastor in charge. Addresses were delivered was yet needed to make up the required by Dr. Brooke and Rev. Mr. Core. The cor- amount. More than this sum was raised, swell-
nerstone is the second one in the buttress at the northeast end of the building. A box containing the following articles was placed under it: Bible, hymn book, Church Disci- pline, copies of the county papers, Pittsburg Leader, and "Christian Advocate," "Ladies' Repository," Church Almanac for 1875, Min- utes of Pittsburg Conference (1875), copy of original specifications, copy of Boston Ga- zette printed in 1770, names of architect, con- tractor, trustees, building committee, stew- ards; officers of Sabbath school, name of pas- tor in charge when the project was com- menced, M. J. Sleppy ; name of pastor then in charge, J. A. Danks.
The board of trustees was composed of J. B. Campbell, George Rink, D. Ellis, E. C. Jamison, A. C. Boyle, T. M. Coleman, D. Mullen.
The board of stewards was: E. C. Jami- son, J. H. Flude, W. R. Black, L. Keslar, Jr., A. S. Cunningham, C. A. MeHenry.
The building committee consisted of J. B. Campbell, D. Ellis, George Rink, D. Mullen, A. C. Boyle, W. R. Black, J. McFarland, Saralı Sansom, N. J. Lucas.
The building was completed November 1, 1876, and was dedicated Sunday, January 21, 1877, by Bishop M. Simpson, assisted by Revs. I. C. Pershing, D. D .; L. H. Bugbee, D. D .; M. J. Sleppy, J. F. Core, J. T. Ri- ley, George Orbin, A. H. Miller, John McIn- tire, D. K. Stevenson, Solomon Keibler, A. C. Johnson.
The morning sermon was preached by Bishop Simpson, and made a deep and lasting impression. Dr. Pershing announced that the church cost $20,000, $11,000 of which had been subscribed, and that it was the inten- tion to raise the remaining $9,000 during the day. The subscription was started by J. B. Campbell, $1,000; the Ladies' Aid Society, $1,000; A. S. Cunningham and John Duncan, each $500; J. McFarland, $400, followed by many others with small amounts. The ser- vices continued until two o'clock. The Con- ference trio sang "The Mists Have Cleared Away," the congregation joined in the dox- ology, and the Bishop pronounced the bene- diction.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing the subscriptions of the day to $10,005. The basket collections were $261 additional.
A protracted service was commenced the day following dedication, which continued for some weeks, during which the Holy Spirit worked among the people, and many wander- ers were brought in.
Two years' time had been given on the larger subscriptions, so that the last pay- ment was made under the administration of Rev. H. J. Smith in 1878, at which time the church was entirely free from debt.
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