USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 7
USA > Vermont > Essex County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 7
USA > Vermont > Orleans County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 7
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
fraternity of Vermont, and probably knows more men in the three coun- ties than any other man living, and his genial and cheerful personality have made him universally popular. In 1890 he was the regular nominee of both political parties and received an almost unanimous election. He
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represented Wheelock in the legis- lature in 1876, and was six years overseer of poor of St. Johnsbury.
Mr. Sulloway married November 2, 1871, Lizzie, daughter of John and Jane (IIerron) Ranney of Whee- lock. They have one son, Ralph C., reporter for the St. Johnsbury Caledonian.
Lorenzo Sulloway is a member of Creseent lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., of Haswell chapter, Caledonia coun- cil, Palestine commandery, Mount Sinai temple, and the Eastern Star. He also affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, with Caledonia lodge, I. O. O. F., and with Olive Branch lodge, Daughters of Rebekah.
FAIRBANKS, EDWARD T., son of Joseph P. and Almira Taylor Fairbanks, born May 12, 1836, graduated at Yale, class of 1859. After two years in Andover Theo- logical seminary, and two and a half years abroad, he became acting pas- tor for one year at Chester, Ver- mont. On New Year's day, 1868, he was ordained pastor of the First Congregational church, St. Johns- bury Center. Six years later, Jan- mary 30, 1874, he became pastor of the Sonth church, St. Johnsbury, which position he held for twenty- eight and a half years. He is now librarian and director of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum.
PORTER & THOMPSON. David E. Porter, the senior partner of this law firm, was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 16, 1872, son of Perry and Electa (Trall) Porter. Perry Porter is a veteran of the Civil war, and promi- nent G. A. R. man and citizen of West Burke. David E. removed to Burke with his father's family in early childhood, and completed his
education at St. Johnsbury acad- emy, from which he graduated in the class of 1892. Soon afterwards he began reading law in the office of Bates & May, attended the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he graduated and where he was admitted to the bar in 1894; he returned to Vermont and resumed his legal studies with Bates & May and was admitted to the bar of Vermont at the October term, 1895.
In 1896 he became a partner of the law firm of Farnham & Porter, which continued three years. He was appointed referee in bank- ruptcy in July, 1898, and reap- pointed two years later, but resigned December 1, 1900, when he as- sumed the duties of state's attor- ney of Caledonia county, a position which he creditably filled for two years.
He married, in October, 1902, Miss Amelia Wolff of New Haven. Connecticut, and they have one child, Isabelle Wolfe Porter. The firm of Porter & Thompson was formed April 2, 1902, and is central- ly located in Republican block, where they ocenpy a commodious suite of rooms. They have one of the best and most extensive law li- braries in northern Vermont, and the prospects of the firm are very good. Both partners are good practical lawyers and have been ad- mitted to practice in the district and cirenit courts of the United States.
Frank D. Thompson, son of Judge L. H. and Eliza (Dutton) Thomp- son, was born in Irasburg, Vermont, April 9. 1876. He was educated in the public schools of Irasburg, and at St. Johnsbury academy, from.
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which he graduated in 1894. He spent one year in the University of Vermont. He began reading law with Judge W. P. Stafford in 1896 and graduated at the Boston Uni- versity Law school in 1899. He married Mabel A., daughter of Hon. W. W. Miles of Barton.
THE ST. JOHNSBURY CALE- DONIAN was established in 1837 by the late Albert G. Chadwick, one of the leading citizens of the town, " in the interests of the Whig party, the protection of American indus- try, the cause of temperance, and equal rights." In 1855 Mr. Chad- wick sold the paper to the late Charles Marshall Stone, who was editor and proprietor until his death in 1890. During that time he made the Caledonian one of the best- known weeklies in New England, and a real power for good in the
CHARLES M. STONE.
community. At his death the paper passed to the management of his oldest son, Arthur Fairbanks Stone, the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Stone was born in St. Johns- bury, February 18, 1863, being the son of Charles Marshall and Sarah (Fairbanks) Stone. His
ARTHUR F. STONE.
mother was the daughter of Erastus Fairbanks, one of the founders of the scale company, and twice gover- nor of Vermont. After an ele- mentary education he was graduated from St. Johnsbury academy in 1881, and from Amherst college in 1885.
Ilis scholarship elected him to a membership in the Phi Beta Kappa society while in college, and he was also a member of the Amherst chap- ter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. For the first two years after grad- uation he was reporter for the Northampton Daily Herald and in 1888 was on the staff of the Fall River Evening News. He returned to St. Johnsbury in 1889 and be- came editor and publisher of the
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Caledonian in 1890 and has con- tinued in this capacity ever since. In 1891 he published "St. Johns- bury Illustrated," a handsomely il- lustrated work and one of the first of its kind in Vermont. During his business life in St. Johnsbury he has been interested in the various activities of the town. He is chair- man of the school board, clerk of the North Congregational church, and vice-president of the Vermont International Telegraph company. On January 1, 1890, he married Helen Lincoln of Northampton, Massachusetts. They have one daughter, aged twelve years, and one son, aged seven years. One son died Angust 14, 1895, aged thirteen and one half months.
IHITCHCOCK, EMERSON W., son of John and Jeannette (Blodgett) Hitchcock, was born at Marysville, Province of Ontario, in 1863. John Hitchcock, D. D. S., was a promi- nent member of his profession, lo- cated many years at Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York. Em- erson W. was eduated at the union schools at Canton, with a special course at St. Lawrence university. and began the study of medicine with Dr. Edmund Carleton of New York city, completing a four years' course at the New York Hommeo- pathic Medical college and hospital, from which he graduated in 1890, receiving an appointment as clinical instructor to the chair of pediatrics in that college after graduation.
He first engaged in the practice of medicine in New York city, and later practised in Goshen, Orange county, New York. He came to St. Johnsbury in 1895, where he has since continued in the successful practice of his profession. He is a
member of Vermont Homoeopathic Medical society and the Surgical Gynæcological society of New Eng- land. Dr. Hitchcock is a member of Palestine commandery and of the subordinate bodies of Masonry.
STEVENS, JOHN COLBY, son of Roswell P. and Melissa S. (Dol- loff) Stevens. was born in East Charleston, Vermont, September 11, 1873. R. P. Stevens was a native of St. Johnsbury, formerly a prominent business man of Charles- ton, Vermont, and represented that town in the legislature. Mrs. Me- lissa (Dolloff) Stevens was a success- ful teacher many years, before and after her marriage.
Of their eight children, only
JOHN C. STEVENS.
three are living, John C., Martha A., and Charles G., who is an as- sistant of his brother in business. John C. Stevens supplemented his
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common school training by attend- ance at Lyndon institute and Derby academy and successfully taught several terms of school. He spent a year as a traveling salesman for a New York tailoring house, and in August, 1895, established his mer- chant tailor business at 47 Railroad street, over Merchants' bank. Mr. Stevens carries a well-selected stock and an extensive line of handsome samples in gents' clothing, and his artistic taste is evident both in the choice of his materials and the ar- rangement of the stock. Of genial manners and attractive personality Mr. Stevens has formed a wide ac- quaintance. His business has ex- tended and embraces a branch store at Lyndonville and he also has a representative on the road. He spares no efforts to be well informed and up-to-date in the styles and fashions of the day.
J. C. Stevens married Elva M., daughter of E. D. and Ellen C. Bradley of St. Johnsbury Center, and they have one son, Graydon B. Stevens. Mr. Stevens is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the New England Order of Protection and a past representative of both orders to their respective grand lodges, and was two years represen- tative to the supreme lodge of the New England Order of Protection.
SCOTT, FRANK A., son of N. M. and Alvira (Bean) Scott, was born in Glover, Vermont, in 1858. N. M. Scott is a veteran and prosperous merchant of Barton, and his three sons, who are all in trade at St. Johnsbury, seem to inherit the thrift and ability of their sire.
Frank was educated at the Or- leans County Liberal institute at Glover, and at St. Johnsbury acad-
emy. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the harness-maker's trade at Glover, where he remained during his minority. After two years' experience at this business at Clinton, Massachusetts, he went to Boston and was employed two years by French Brothers, provision deal- ers. Returning to Vermont he took another two years' period of experi- enee in company with his father in the grain and feed business in the old wholesale store.
In 1886 he came to St. Johns- bury and bought a half interest in the grocery business with his brother, A. W. Scott, and five years later bought the Nelson block on Eastern avenue, where Scott Broth- ers continued to do a flourishing business, until in 1896, when the firm was dissolved by mutual con- sent, F. A. taking the stock of gro- ceries, also crockery and glassware, and A. W. the boots and shoes, re- moving to Railroad street.
Frank A. Scott has continued to do an extensive and increasing bus- iness, and in 1902 took in as a part- ner R. E. French of Glover, a broth- er-in-law, under the firm style of F. A. Scott & Co.
The firm have recently added a bakery, a great convenience to their large circle of patrons.
Mr. Scott owns a large warehouse on Railroad street, 40x100 feet, the upper story being rented for tene- ments, and the lower story used for storage. He has handled maple sugar for twenty years, and exten- sively during the last few years.
Mr. Scott married Martha, daugh- ter of Lindol French of Glover. They have two sons and two daugh- ters, Edna E., Lindol M., Roy F., and Phebe Scott.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Mr. Scott possesses great energy and acumen in business affairs, and is serving his third term as a trus- tee of the village.
He is a Republican in politics, a Universalist in religious belief and support, and affiliates with the Odd Fellows and the New England Or- der of Protection.
IDE, ELMORE TIMOTHY, son of Jacob and Ladoski (Knights) Ide, was born in Barnet, Vermont, in 1839. The Ide family in America all descended from Nicholas Ide, who came from England in 1636, and settled in Rehoboth, Massachu- setts, in 1643. He was a commis- sioner on behalf of the colony to settle with the renowned King Philip. John Ide, a descendant of the fourth generation, was a soldier of the Revolution, and at the close of the war came to St. Johnsbury and settled on Barker hill, in 1792. He was the great-grandfather of Elmore T. Ide. In 1813 Timothy, son of John Ide, bought the grist- mill at Passumpsic. Ile was the father of a family of twelve chil- dren, of whom Jacob, the youngest son, remained at home and suc- ceeded to the ownership of the grist- mill, which he conducted until suc- ceeded by his sons.
Jacob was station agent and post- master at Passumpsie many years. A noted teacher in his younger days, and eminently practical in all his undertakings, he retained his bodily and mental faculties almost unim- paired until his death in 1900, aged ninety-three.
The three sons of Jacob and La- doski (Knights) Ide, were Elmore Timothy, Horace Knights, and Henry Clay Ide (see page 16).
General H. K. Ide, born in 1842,
was a gallant officer in the First Vermont cavalry, later quartermas- ter-general of Vermont, represented Barnet in the legislature, was a trus- tee of the village of St. Johnsbury, and a member, until his death, of the firm of E. T. & H. K. Ide. He married, in 1867, Margaret Hidden Chamberlain, and died in 1897, leaving a widow and one son, Dr. Philip Sheridan Ide of Wayland, Massachusetts.
Elmore T. Ide was educated in the public schools of Barnet. and at St. Johnsbury academy. In 1866 E. T. and H. K. Ide bought the grist-mill at Passumpsic of their father, and greatly enlarged the business, so that at the present time it is one of the leading mills in northern New England, having one of the best water powers in the state, and a business extending from Can- ada to Massachusetts. The title to Ide's mills has not changed hands, except from father to son, since 1813. After the death of H. K. the business had so increased that it was incorporated with a capital of $50,000, with E. T. Ide as president and principal stockholder.
The headquarters has been for several years in the large elevator on Bay street, St. Johnsbury, adjoining the coal pockets, which, together, constitute one of the best plants for the line of business followed by this corporation to be found. The eleva- tor is equipped with latest improve- ments for handling grain and feed, with electric power, automatic grain shovels, grain and platform eleva- tors.
Mr. Ide not only built these build- ings, but "made" the land on which they stand, so to speak. In 1894 he purchased three acres of
5
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mill pond and swamp between the railroad and Portland street-the cesspool of the village-that had be- come a grave danger to public health and seemed of no use; but at great expense the whole tract has been re- deemed, and through it runs Bay
cold storage plant, Jones & Shield's furniture shop, A. L. Bragg's shop, a large blacksmith shop and two tene- ments, with several valuable lots for business blocks on Portland street, Bay street, and the railroad.
E. T. Ide possesses the highest
ELMORE T. IDE.
street, one of the busiest streets in town.
This part of the village is some- times called Ide Addition, but Mr. Ide calls it his " Back Bay." There are now on this street besides the Ide plant, the Farmers' Mutual creamery, George C. Cary's exten- sive warehouses, Harry H. Carr's
order of executive ability and great industry, and his well-directed ener- gies have been an important factor in the financial, political, and relig- ious affairs of St. Johnsbury. He has been president of the Caledonia County Fair Ground Co., of the Re- publican club, of the Board of Trade, and is president of the Merchants'
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
National bank, and director for Cal- edonia county of the Vermont Mit- tual Fire Insurance Co .; also a di- rector of the Tredegar National bank of Jacksonville, Alabama, Mr. Ide married, in 1862, Cyntma. daughter of William and Mary (Felch) Adams of Waterford, scion of a staunch and pioneer family.
Their union has been blessed by three sons and three daughters: Katherine D. is the wife of George M. Gray, vice-president and secre- tary of the Ide corporation; George Peabody Ide is a banker and super- intendent of a manufactory at Jack- sonville, Alabama; Henry C., 2d, is a physician at MeIndoes, Ver- mont; Mary Ellen is curator of Fair- banks museum; Fanny is an artist, and William Adams is a director and bookkeeper of the Ide corporation.
RANDALL, SIAS, son of Thomas and Annie (Batchelder) Randall, was born in Danville, Vermont, in 1822. His grandfather, Israel Ran- dall, came from Nottingham, New Hampshire, prior to the Revolution, and took up a large tract of land near North Danville.
He reared a family of six sons and three daughters, and after the manner of the times the sons all sought careers elsewhere, except Thomas, the youngest son, who re- mained on the home farm, reared a family of eight sons and three daughters, and died in 1830, at the age of fifty-one.
Sias, the youngest child, found a home with Judkins, his eldest brother. After receiving a good common school education and one term at Phillips academy, he taught two terms of school.
Four of his brothers were then
settled in that neighborhood, and three of them in company with Sias, and a brother-in-law, began the manufacture of threshing machines, which was continued seven years. Not a single Randall now remains in North Danville, and Sias is the sole survivor of this large family. In 1850 he withdrew from the firm, moved to Paddock Village, and there began the manufacture of threshing machines, founding the business long conducted by B. F. Rollins. Mr. Randall helped make the doors, sash, and blinds of the old Passump- sic House, which was erected on blocks in the spring of 1850, just before the coming of the railroad. Paddock Village was the business center and contained the J. H. Pad- dock iron foundry and machine shop, Lindorf Morris' sash and blind factory, Hancock's furniture factory, a sawmill and a grist- mill. Mr. Randall erected in 1854 the nucleus of Randall's block, 30x50 feet, two stories, and soon started with Dr. Hoyt the second drug store in St. Johnsbury, Bing- ham's being the first. He carried the lines of paints, oil, and glass, and during the rapidly growing period following the close of the war his business amounted to $30,- 000 annually.
In 1868 he rebuilt the block, mak- ing it fifty feet front on Railroad street, with a depth of more than 100 feet, and from three to five stories high, and at the present time there are fourteen tenements. In 1862 Dr. Hoyt withdrew, and Mr. Randall continued to successfully conduct the business alone until 1884, when he sold to his son, George Randall, who died in '87. Edson Randall, another son, soon
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engaged in the drug business and conducted it for a dozen years.
Although practically retired since 1884, Sias Randall continues to work in the store when occasion re- quires and carries his eighty-one years bravely. He has served the
he has helped many a man to his personal loss. During a period of half a century he served as conduc- tor to more than eleven hundred funerals, and always without com- pensation. He is one of the eldest Odd Fellows in town and a charter
SIAS RANDALL.
town repeatedly as constable, col- lector, and selectman, six years as overseer, and nearly half a century as surveyor of wood and lumber.
Although a shrewd and success- ful financier, Mr. Randall has ever been liberal to public enterprises, and of generous, kindly impulses,
member of the Knights of Pythias. He was a member of the building committee in the erection of Odd Fellows' block, and the rebuilding of the M. E. church.
Sias Randall married, in 1846, Laura Ann Weed, who died twenty years later, leaving four children,
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
George, Clara (Mrs. P. J. Noyes of Lancaster, New Hampshire), Frank of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Ed- son.
In 1867 he married Philura Stearns of St. Johnsbury, who died in 1863, leaving one son, Arthur, a traveling salesman in Iowa. His third wife is Mary Ann Kenison, widow of Lyman Babcock. Edson N. Randall was born in 1859. Ile began in business for himself to sell small wares at eighteen years of age.
Ilis store in Randall block is really a department store, an expo- sition of almost everything used m housekeeping, including a great va- riety of ladies' garments and dry goods.
HUDSON, AMASA, son of Joseph T. and Lydia (Farnham) Hudson, was born in Concord, Vermont, in 1848. Joseph T. Hudson was an in- dustrious and worthy mechanic and reared a large family. Amasa be- gan to work out on farms when he was eleven years old, and after that time paid his own way and assisted his father, thus early learning the lesson of industry and perseverance. He attended the common and select schools of his native town, mean- while working for his board. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner of his father, and two years later came to St. JJohnsbury and ob- tained employment at his trade with the Fairbanks company.
For about a dozen years he was engaged on the woodwork in the scale works. Ile there gained a good reputation as a faithful and efficient workman and later was as- signed to take charge of repair and construction work on the residences of members of the company and un-
der the direction of Architect Pack- ard had entire charge of the con- struction of the museum. His skill, good judgment, and honesty were recognized by his appointment in 1895, just before the death of Col- onel Fairbanks, to the position of foreman of the joiner shop depart- ment and during the past year of the paint shop also.
Amasa Hudson married, in Feb- ruary, 1843, Ella, daughter of Whit- ney Stowell of West Concord. Four children have been born to them, Carl (deceased), Florence M., Har- riett A., and Mabel E. Hudson, the three daughters residing with their parents at their pleasant home on South park. Mr. Hudson is an in- dustrious and worthy citizen, a member of Palestine commandery and of the New England Order of Protection.
CLARK, COLONEL JOHN C., son of Captain John S., and Eliza Ann (Robinson) Clark, was born in Lun- enburg, Vermont, June 3d, 1852.
Hon. Spencer Clark, his grand- father, was an early settler in Lunenburg and. purchased and cleared the famous meadow farm of about 600 acres extending nearly three miles along the Connecticut river, always known as the Clark farm. John S. and George Clark resided on this large estate and jointly conducted it prior to the Civil war.
John S. Clark enlisted in the Eighth Vermont regiment; on the organization of his company was chosen captain and proceeded to Louisiana with the Butler expedi- tion. and died in the hospital in March, 1863.
Captain J. S. Clark was a stanch and true man. a noble type of the Vermont volunteer, who resigned
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the pleasures and ambitions of home to maintain the Union.
The widow of Captain Clark left the farm soon after her husband left for the seat of war, and John C. re- sided in Detroit, Michigan, from July, 1864, to November, 1869,
1883 he returned to St. Johnsbury as assistant cashier of the First Na- tional bank and in January, 1886, became cashier.
In 1893 he was appointed treas- urer of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., a position which he still fills. In
JOHN C. CLARK.
where he completed his education in the city and private schools.
He soon after came to St. Johns- bury and took a position in the First National bank in 1870, where he remained three and a half years, when he became cashier of the Chel- sea (Vermont) National bank, hold- ing that position ten years. In
May, 1895, soon after the death of Colonel Franklin Fairbanks, Mr. Clark was elected a director of the company as his successor and was appointed its secretary.
lle is secretary and treasurer of the St. Johnsbury Electric com- pany and a director of the First National bank. In 1894
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
he was elected to the legislature from St. Johnsbury, where he served on the committee on ways and means, on banks, and other impor- tant committees. In 1896 he was appointed on the staff of Governor Grout with the rank of colonel.
Colonel Clark is a member of Passumpsie lodge, No. 27, F. & A. M., and the Mizpah Lodge of Per- fection. He married in 1886 Miss Lida E. Puffer of Chelsea, Vermont. Their pleasant home on Summer street is cheered by the presence of four children, Robert Puffer Clark, who is employed in the Fairbanks office, Margaret Robinson, Arthur Dana, and Dorothea Clark.
HILL, FRANK D., son of Dyer H. and Hannah (Chase) Hill, was born at West Concord, Vermont, in 1855. His grandfather, Elijah Hill, and a brother, Isaac, came to Concord early in the last century from Athol, Massachusetts; they were pioneer farmers and reared large families of children, who be- came active and useful citizens.
Dyer H., the youngest son, re- mained on the home farm, later re- sided many years at West Concord, but is now a citizen of St. Johns- bury.
Frank D. was educated in the public schools of West Concord. His first business venture was in the meat market at West Concord, which he conducted a year. He came to St. Johnsbury twenty-six years ago and engaged as a painter with E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., where he remained two years and later fol- lowed his trade one year on the street. He married, in 1887, Lizzie, daughter of George F.and Sophronia E. (Richardson) Miner of St. Johns- bury.
In 1880 the firm of Miner & Hill was formed and for seventeen years was a leading firm in St. Johnsbury, in the line of house, carriage, and ornamental sign painting, paper hanging, kalsomining, etc., when owing to impaired health Mr. Miner withdrew from the firm. Since that time Mr. Hill has conducted the business successfully without a part- ner, being assisted in recent years by his sons. Ilis headquarters are in the basement of the old opera house on Summer street, where he occupies large storage rooms. His business has steadily increased from small beginnings.
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