USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 90
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have been difficult to find anywhere a company of abler-bodied men. Besides this, many of them were expert riflemen. They were armed with their own rifles. They never had occa- sion to meet a foe, but if they had been placed on a skirmish line, and properly handled, they would have made their mark. The "Greens" took several lessons in tactics from Col. Hugh Brady of Brookville. Captain Dowling soon turned over the command to John Lucas, Hugh McGiffin and others. The members served seven years, and were, therefore, exempt from militia duty or fine.
The farm of Robert Andrews, a half mile north of Dowlingville, was at an early day one of the camps of the "Cornstalk Militia." They were inspected by Brigade Inspector Maj. Joshua Marlin of Indiana. They were not required to uniform or arm, but only to report for duty three days in the year. The fine for non-attendance was fifty cents per day, and. as excuses were allowed, even this small fine was seldom paid. But as the muster or review (two of those days were called musters, and one review), was a day of general meet- ing. greeting and hilarity. the turnout on train- ing-day was sometimes quite large. In those days any person could take whisky to a muster (or anywhere else), and sell it in quantities, large or small. by the gallon or by the drink. Drinking then was the rule, abstinence the ex- ception. Doubtless this was the reason why fights and fighting men were more numerous then than now. A training day which passed without any fighting was reckoned a dull one. The principal amusements at those musters were foot-racing, throwing the shoulderstone. jumping, wrestling, and a free-for-all row, in which the strongest came out best.
There has been no license in Clover since about 1875.
PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
The following were elected November 2, 1915: Walter Ifall, J. B. Ross, school direc- tors; Clyde Brocius, supervisor ; Frank Bro- cius, constable.
SUMMERVILLE
Summerville was made a borough in March, 1887. It is located on warrant No. 3.078, to Leroy & Linklaen. It is on the right bank of Red Bank, seven miles below Brookville. Not far from this place is a Seceders' church, one of the first built in the county.
BUSINESS
Summerville had in 1860 one sawmill, one gristmill, two taverns and two physicians. Captain Kelso is one of the prominent resi- dents of the borough.
The Summerville telephone exchange of Brookville was first opened November II, 1 898. Mrs. Sarah C. Carrier was first operator.
ELECTIONS
The first election, after it was made an elec- tion district, was held March 15, 1887, with the following result: Burgess. H. F. Guth- rie : justice of the peace, Charles Jacox; con- stable, D. L. Moore; high constable. W. M. King : overseers of the poor, Dr. R. B. Brown, G. S. Garvin; town council, B. F. Osborn, H. W. Carrier. J. Vandevort, R. B. Vermilyea, D. K. Moore, Dr. J. K. Brown ; auditors. C. E. Carrier. David Campbell, John McElroy; assessor, James Guthrie ; school directors. S. W. Osburn, S. W. Carrier, G. S. Garvin, H. F. Guthrie, J. C. Simpson, E. Carrier ; judge of election, Frank Flick; inspectors. R. M. De- haven, F. H. Haven.
At the election of November 2, 1915, J. F. Markle, A. O. Smith and John Slicker were chosen school directors, and Irvin Stahlman constable.
POPULATION
The population in 1880 was 348: 1890, 338; 1900, 380 : 1910, 609.
CHAPTER XXXV
GASKILL TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION AND POPULATION- CHARACTERISTICS-SETTLEMENT-EARLY INDUSTRIES-MOUNT PLEASANT CHURCH-VILLAGES-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
Gaskill township was taken from Young, was organized in 1841, and was named after Charles C. Gaskill. Gaskill township was bounded on the east by the Clearfield county line, on the south by the Indiana county line, and on the west and north by Young town- ship. Its population in 1850 was 603; 1860, 320; 1870, 478; 1880, 540; 1890, 682; 1900, 713: 1910, 888.
CHARACTERISTICS
"This is a good township," an observing farmer from eastern Pennsylvania remarked ; and well he said, for the landscape is dotted with real farm homes, and the products of the soil are of many kinds, and of a quantity and quality that would suit the fastidious taste of an Orange county (New York) agriculturist. This was the home of Joseph Winslow, the pioneer. The primitive tilling of the past has been followed by the advanced (theoretical as well as practical) culture of the present, and they who could not raise wheat in the early part of the century are known only by tradi- tion. The times have changed. and with them the moon-consulting and sign-believing wise- acres of fifty years ago. There has been a good deal of improvement noticeable in this township of late years, in contrast to this once wild and picturesque region, where roamed the bear, wolf and deer.
In 1853. in this township, John Miller killed a wild boar which had been seen in the woods for seven or eight years. His tusks were nine inches long.
This township occupies the southeastern corner of Jefferson county. A considerable part of the township is uncultivated woodland ; other parts of the region, as for example the ravines of Ugly run and Clover run, are rugged from the outcrop of the Mahoning sandstone. The surface generally is high. Chestnut Ridge in the southeast corner has elevations of nearly two thousand feet above
tidewater, along its summit and western flank. This ridge is the dividing one between the waters of the Susquehanna and the Ohio. Its summit (and anticlinal axis) is just east of Jefferson county in Clearfield, hence all the surface drainage of Gaskill township flows into Mahoning creek. According to baromet- ric measurement, the water level of Mahoning creek, at Big Run village, is 1,226 feet above tide ; the top of the ridge at Bower's is 1,931 feet above tide ; Ugly run has an easy fall; so has Clover run, though less gentle than the other.
SETTLEMENT
About the year 1820 Francis Leech, Reuben Climpson, Daniel Coffman, John Bowers, Philip Bowers and John Vanhorn came to Jefferson county, and settled in what is known as the Bowers settlement, in Gaskill town- ship. Those first named young and hardy pio- neers were natives of the famous Shenandoah valley of Virginia, whence they emigrated by wagons, arriving in the town of Clearfield after a six weeks' journey. Philip Bowers erected the first cabin, and then sheltered his companions until they had erected a cabin for each family. This first cabin stood near the residence occupied by Isaac Bowers in 1878, while that of Daniel Coffman occupied the site of his son Samuel's residence. Philip Bowers died in July, 1866, aged seventy-nine years, and Mrs. Catharine Bowers, his wife, died January of the same year, aged about sixty- eight years. Andrew Bowers was a great hunter.
When these families settled in the neighbor- hood game was very plenty, and it is said that they were frequently obliged to go out at night and drive whole droves of deer out of their grain fields. Like all the other early pioneers, these people had to encounter hardships, pri- vations, and dangers, which called forth all their powers of endurance, and they were for
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many years obliged to practice the closest economy ; but hope, faith and endurance over- came all difficulties, and they lived to see beau- tiful farms as the result of those years of toil.
TAXABLES IN 1842
.According to the assessment list of 1842 the pioneers in Gaskill township were as fol- lows: Levi Anthony, unimproved land judg- ments, $38; Henry Bowman; Philip Bowers; Andrew Bowers; John Bowers; Eli Bowers ; Henry and Samuel Beam; Calvin Brooks; William Brooks; Peter Buchite; George Culp; John Cary; Daniel Coffman; John Coffman ; Oliver Cathers ; Joseph Cofflett ; Abraham Cof- flett : Jacob Cofflett, single man; Josiah Cov- ert : John Douthett estate; Francis Doros; John Deamer: James Dickey; Alexander Dickey : Thomas Davis; Josiah Davis ; George Gregg; David Henry; John Hoover; Joseph Hoover ; Sally Hess : Rufus Jorley ; Frederick Kuthuley ; Thomas Kerr, one promissory note, $20: George Keller, occupation; Joseph Kel- ler: Abraham Keller : Alexander Lyons; Henry Lot; Francis Leech ; George Leech, occupation : Abraham Ludwick; George Lud- wick: Elizabeth Ludwick; John Long; An- drew MeCreight; Sharp McCreight; James McCreight, single man ; Henry Miller, mason ; John Miller: George Miller; Henry Miller, farmer : William McElleny: George Pifer, single man; John Pifer; Jonas Pifer; Henry and John D. Philipi; Samuel Pershing ; Adam Quigley : John Rider : George Rhodes; Jacob Smith, Sr .; Jacob Smith, Jr. ; Jonathan Stouse ; James Solesley : Samuel Smith : Adam States ; Henry Sprague: Ashel Sprague; Milton Sprague, carpenter: Thomas Thompson : Adam Wise: Jacob Weaver; Joseph Wilton; Richard Wainwright; George Wainwright ;
William Williams; James Williams; Adam Yohey ; Henry Yohey; Samuel Yohey, single man ; Samuel Zufall, one sawmill.
EARLY INDUSTRIES
The pioneer lumberman was Philip Bowers, in 1836. The pioneer graveyard was at Bowers, in 1840. The pioneer grist and saw- mill in the township was built by William Neel in 1843. The pioneer store was opened by H. Kinter in 1848, and in 1850 stores were conducted by H. Kinter & Son and Wilson & Kerr. John Rider started a store in 1852.
MOUNT PLEASANT CHURCH
About the year 1848 a congregation was organized in the Bowers schoolhouse in Gas- kill township. It is known by the name of Mount Pleasant, and is a Cumberland Pres- byterian Church. Rev. J. I. Means was an early pastor.
One of the most prominent and useful cit- izens of Gaskill township for many years was Vallicius S. Murray, who left a number of children who are upright and honorable cit- izens in Jefferson county.
VILLAGES
Hudson and Winslow are villages in this township. The latter has a post office.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
On Nov. 2, 1915, the following officials were elected in the township: Elmer Craft, John C. Brooks or S. A. Green (tie vote), and Homer Kuntz, school directors; A. C. Bow- ser, supervisor ; Emanuel Sheesley, constable.
THE ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD OF ANDREW BOWERS IN GASKILL TOWNSHIP, JEFFERSON COUNTY, BUILT IN 1825
THE METY YORK . WAV LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX
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CHAPTER XXXVI WARSAW TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION AND CHARACTERISTICS-POPULATION-ASSESSMENT LIST OF IS3-EARLY DAYS- RICIIARDSVILLE-JOHN BELL-"JERICHO"-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-TOWNS-AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING-"RATTLESNAKE DEN "
Warsaw township was so called after the city of that name in Poland. Organized in 1842, it was taken from Pinecreek township. Warsaw was bounded by Snyder and Wash- ington townships on the east, by Ridgway on the north, Eldred on the west and Pinecreek on the south. Geographically it is the largest township in the county. The country is very hilly and much broken, though few of the hills rise more than four hundred feet above the level of the largest streams. Some bitu- minous coal of good quality is found in the hills, lying in veins of three feet above the water level; it is therefore very accessible for mining. Fireclay has a place among these coal measures, and ought to be utilized. Various kinds of iron ores are abundant, and white and blue sandstones suitable for build- ing purposes may readily be found in many places. Limestone in very large deposits is found in many localities. The soil is mod- erately fertile, and will amply reward the careful cultivator for his well-directed efforts. For some reason, a large extent of the town- ship was called by the early settlers "The Bar- rens." The hills, as well as the vales between them, were formerly covered by a dense and heavy growth of timber of various kinds. Pine and hemlock predominated. Chestnut and oak grew in some localities. Birch, sugar maple, ash and hickory occupied a wide range. Birch and cherry trees were numerous, and linwood, cucumber and poplar trees grew on many of the hillsides. Butternut and syca- more, black ash and elms grew on the low grounds. The township has developed some oil, and there is a great gas belt in Hazen.
POPULATION
The population in 1850 was 870; 1860, 933 : 1870, 1,122; 1880, 1.414; 1890, 1,567; 1900, 1,563; IOIO, 1,256. This is the largest town- ship in the county.
PIONEERS AS PER ASSESSMENT IN IS43
William Anderson, John Alexander, Gilbert Burrows, Ira Bronson, John Bell, John W. Baum, Joseph Buell, Nathaniel Butler, Philo Bowdish, David Butler, Bartholomew Cav- inore, - Chapman (one cow and trade), l'eter Chamberlin, Elihu Clark, David Carl- ton, Sarah Dixon, John Dill, Thomas Dixon, Jared A. Evans, Thomas Ewing, John Flem- ing, George Frederick, Aaron Fuller, Milton Gibbs, William Gray, Francis Goodar, Miron Gibbs. William Humphrey, Matthew Humph- rey, Philip Heterick, Samuel Howe, Joel Howe, Elijah Heath, James K. Huffman, George Hunter, John Heterick, Joseph E. Hannah, Joseph Hoey, Davis Ingraham, Eli I. Irvin, William Jack, Milton Johnson, Henry Keys, William Long, Michael Long, Sarah Ann Lithgow, Josiah Loomis, Sarah McCor- mick, Thomas McCormick, David McCor- mick. Jr. (one silver watch), James and John Moorhead. David Moorhead, Joseph McCon- nell. Matthew Metcalf (one silver watch). William and James McElvain, Asa Morey, Jacob Moore. Mundale Metcalf, Ozias P. Mather. Robert Montgomery, Andrew Mc- Cormick, Samuel P. McCormick, Findley Mc- Cormick (one silver watch). David McCor- mick. Sr., Thomas McWilliams. Elnathan Marsh. Charles Munger, Nathan Perrin, John M. Phelps, Arad Pearsall (trade), John Pear- sall, Solomon Riggs, George Russell, William R. Richards ( two sawmills, one silver watch), Peter Rickards, Sr., Peter Rickards, Jr., Abra- ham Rufsnyder, William Russell, John N. Riggs. Davis E. Riggs, James L. L. Riggs, Daniel Snyder, Eli Snyder, Abraham Snyder, Nathan Snyder, Samuel Shul (one sawmill and house), Moses, B. St. John, Gideon Trum- bull, Isaac Temple, Jacob Vastbinder, Sr., Joshua Vandevort, Sr., Jacob Vastbinder, Jr. ( single man), John Vasthinder, Andrew Vast- binder, Abram Vandevort, Levi Vandevort.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Joshua Vandevort, Jr., Peter Vastbinder, James A. Wilkins, John J. Wilson, Isaac Walker, John Wakefield, John Walker, Sol- omon Wales. William Weeks. John R. Wilkins, Galbraith Wilson, Jeremiah Wilson (one tan- nery), Hiram Wilson.
EARLY DAYS
Before the white man came to settle in this county a part of Warsaw was "a barren" and thickly settled with Indians, and what is now called Seneca Hill, on the M. Hoffman farm, is where they met for their orgies. They had a graveyard on the Temple place, and the late S. W. Temple found a number of curious Indian relics from time to time while he lived there.
The pioneer settlers in what is now War- saw township were John. Jacob and Peter Vastbinder. They settled on farms in 1802. About the year 1803 John Dixon, Sr., settled in what is now Warsaw. on the farm now owned by C. H. Shobert. The venerable John Dixon, of Polk township, son of John Dixon, Sr., related some of the incidents of those early days to me. Ile remembered when coffee was seventy-five cents and tea four dollars a pound, salt ten dollars a barrel. His father on one occasion walked to Indiana, where he bought a bushel of salt, for which he paid four dollars. He carried it home on his back, and then found that he had been cheated in the measurement, as it lacked considerably of being a bushel. The family subsisted chiefly on wild game. deer, bears and wild turkeys being abundant. Their corn was ground in handmills, or else taken to Blacklick, in Indi- ana county, until Joseph Barnett erected his little mill at Port Barnett. John Dixon, Sr., was the pioneer schoolteacher in Jefferson county. Ile was an exemplary citizen. He died in 1834. aged about seventy-six years. Mrs. Dixon, nee Sarah Ann Armstrong, died in 1860, aged about ninety-two years.
In 1825 Joshua Vandevort located at the place where Maysville, otherwise Boot Jack, now stands, the pioneer settler in what is now Boot Jack. In 1834 Thomas MeCormick, Myron Gibbs and Milton Johnson, Esq., set- tled on farms about two miles from Vande- vort's. In 1835 Elihu Clark, Isaac Temple and Andrew McCormick. moved into that neighborhood, which afterwards became War- saw. Temple was the pioneer hotel-keeper here. Mrs. Chloe Johnson died, and hers was the first interment in the burying ground near Isaac Temple's residence.
The pioneer settlement near Richardsville was made by James Moorhead, who built a house on the farm now owned by the heirs of Jackson Moorhead in 1835, but he did not move his family there until the spring of 1836. John Wakefield built a house and moved his family on the farm now owned by Joseph McCracken in 1836, but returned to Indiana to spend the following winter. William Humphrey built a house on the farm now owned by his son, Samuel M. Humphrey, in the fall of 1836, and moved his family there in April, 1837. Michael Long built a cabin on the farm now owned by Matthew Humph- rey in 1836, and occupied it for a short time. Isaac Walker built a house the same year on the farm now owned by Thomas Brownlee, to which he moved his family the next spring. Matthew Humphrey commenced operations on the farm on which he still resides in 1837. He is the only one of the original settlers of West Warsaw remaining. He says when he came to the township there were no roads, only a trail leading through the woods to "Boot Jack" (also called Hazen).
William Russell, father of "Indian" George Russell, the hunter, settled in what is now Warsaw in 1834, and built a sawmill on the North Fork, the pioneer sawmill. The North Fork boys were all physically large.
In 1837 William R. Richards located on the north fork of Red Bank creek, six miles from Brookville, built a sawmill, woolen fac -- tory and gristmill, and called the place Rich- ardsville. He had cleared a farm in Snyder township the year before, which he left in care of Alex. Hutchinson. Daniel Gaup and Thomas McCormick settled on farms that year also. In 1837 David McCormick, Moses B. St. John, John Wilson and William Perrin set- tled on farms. In 1838 John Bell, Peter Ricord and Nelson Riggs also located there. John Bell, who settled here in 1838, "while the country was yet a wilderness, and selected as his future home a tract of land in upper Warsaw township," died at his home there in 1884. in the seventy-third year of his age. Though illness had confined him to his room for several months, he had been one of the most rugged men physically in the county. .\ man of strong convictions, with self-will written in all his acts, he became a central figure in the county at an early day, and care- less of public opinion or what others might favor. he followed his own convictions. This disposition was strongly manifested in his political preferences, he being an ultra oppo- nent of all secret societies, frequently voting
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
almost alone for the candidates of that oppo- sition, and in local politics it was useless to ask him to support a man whom he knew to belong to a secret order. An honest and up- right citizen, a kind husband and indulgent father, his memory will always be preserved with the greatest of love and respect.
The pioneer gristmill was built on Mill creek by E. Holben. The pioneer merchant, Sol- omon Wyant, did business in Dogtown, or at what is now John Fox's hotel.
In the forties Peter Ricord, Sr., and his son Peter erected on their farm, in what was then called "Jericho," now Warsaw post of- fice, a frame gristmill structure thirty by thirty feet in dimensions. This mill had one run of stones, and the motive power was one yoke of Oxen. I cannot describe it. The capacity was about thirty bushels of corn or grain a day. Ephraim Bushly was the mill- wright, Peter Ricord, Jr., the miller. The scheme not proving a financial success, the running gear was removed in a few years, and the building utilized as a barn by the Ricords, and afterward by Joh. A. Fox.
The first tannery was erected at Dogtown, where John Fox now lives, by Jeremiah Wil- son, in 1842-43.
The pioneer road was opened from Rich- ardsville to Brookville in 1838. The pioneer coal was dug out of the head of the hollow below the present schoolhouse at Richards- "ville in 1845. The pioneer licensed hotel in Richardsville was opened in 1853 by Thomas Craven. The pioneer store was opened in Richardsville in 1847 by D. W. Moorhead, who also kept the first hotel. The pioneer school was taught about 1840 by a Mr. Wil- son, in an old log schoolhouse; he was fol- lowed in 1841 by Miss Rachel Drain. There is a post office at Richardsville.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
On Nov. 2. 1915, the following township officials were elected: F. E. Johnson, Harvey Wingard. M. M. Chamberlain, school direct- ors; Cad Morey, superintendent : Mark F. Irvin, constable.
TOWNS
Maysville or Hazen was, for a long time, called "Boot Jack," the roads that center there forming a place in which the town is built, in the shape of a bootjack. The proper name of the place is, however, Maysville. In 1882 a post office was established and named Hazen,
for the first assistant postmaster general, since which time the place has taken that name. Maysville has one store, kept by John Mayes, and the temperance hotel of W. R. Anderson. Joshua Vandevort first settled in Maysville in 1825. He died in 1861, aged eighty-six years. The pioneer church was built at Maysville in 1845.
Allen's Mill is a small village and post office on the Shawmut railroad, laid out by the late Jere Allen and now principally owned by his son, Dillis Allen.
Pekin, Pueblo and I'arsaw are all villages in this township with a small population.
At Richardsville, in 1850, David and R. Moorhead were retail merchants. They sold whisky. In 1860 Jackson Moorhead was a merchant there.
Where John A. Fox now lives was called Petersburg. It was the home of culture and theological instructors; to wit: Rev. Jesse Harding and Ira, his son; Rev. Dexter Fails, Rev. Mr. Solida, and Rev. Mr. Smoot. These were all Freewill Baptists. William Clyde was the poet laureate of Warsaw township, later moving down on the Clarion river, where he lived to an advanced age. About 1849 lie wrote the following poem about Rev. Mr. Smoot, who was also a school teacher :
There is a man in calfskin boots, I am indifferent who it suits ; At teaching school has tried his skill In the town of Gudgeonville.
But if he is no better at school teaching
Than he is at gospel preaching, He had better leave his rod, and leave his quill, And give leg bail to Gudgeonville.
"RATTLESNAKE DEN"
When the Pittsburgh. Shawmut & North- ern railroad was built through Warsaw town- ship the workmen penetrated "Rattlesnake Den," a point famous for many years for these reptiles. Large numbers of snakes were slaughtered by the employes of the railroad, frequently exceeding fifteen a day. The rat- tles were removed from the reptiles and stored in a sack, and at the end of two months the workmen had collected over half a bushel. These souvenirs ranged from three to as high as eighteen rattles from each snake. One
man was employed to kill. clip the rattles and bury the snakes, and he did nothing else He dressed in a shield suit, including shield gloves. and no snakes escaped. He picked them up with his hands and administered a painless death to them. The highest number this em-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ploye killed in any one day was twenty-seven. According to one of the foremen of the con- struction crew, a man one day dumped a load of baled hay in front of the workmen's cabin, where it lay during the night. None could sleep that night on account of the rattling and buzzing, and it was debated by the wake- ful men whether it was caused by locusts or snakes. In the morning when the men put the hay in the barn they found twenty-five rattlesnakes under the hay, and the snake man succeeded in killing twenty-four of them.
One moonlight night when the workmen were sitting in front of their tent some visitors
who had called remarked : "What a fuss those locusts keep up on the hill here." Where- upon they were informed that they were rat- tlesnakes thrown from their resting place by a couple of blasts late that evening. The visitors borrowed a lantern for the return trip.
To protect from rattlesnakes the construc- tion crew would bind the legs of the horses with a material that the snake cannot pen- etrate, and the workmen also bandaged their legs and arms with it. It was said that after a blast rattlesnakes were more plentiful than red worms after a summer shower.
CHAPTER XXXVII IIEATH TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION AND RESOURCES -- TAXABLES OF 1848-POPULATION-EARLY SETTLERS-BUSINESS -FIRST OFFICIALS-PRESENT OFFICIALS-FIRST MURDER IN COUNTY
Heath township, named after Elijah Heath. an associate judge, was organized in 1847. It is bounded on the north by Forest county, on the cast by Polk township and Elk county, on the south by Eldred, Warsaw and Polk townships, and on the west by Barnett town- ship. The territory was taken from Barnett, and lies along the Clarion river, and adjoin- ing Elk county. Until recently its principal industry was lumbering, but since 1895 it has been an extensive oil and gas belt.
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