History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 36

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767


USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 36


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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John Dahlgren, now deceased, was a substantial citizen of Rice Lake, was connected with the logging and flouring industries and did good work on the streets of the city as street commissioner for four years. He was a hard working man who believed in giving his employers the best that was in him, and he took much pride in his home life and his family. Mr. Dahlgren was born in Norway, June 5, 1859, and was there educated and reared to the occu- pations of farmer and fisherman. In 1880 he came to America, and after liv-


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ing a short time in Minnesota, became a logger in the Wisconsin woods, work- ing at that in the winter and farming in the summer for ten years. In 1890 he started work in the flour mill of Knapp, Stout & Co. at Rice Lake, and by successive promotions became second miller. He died April 5, 1913, and is laid at rest at Rice Lake. His fraternal relations were with the Modern Wood- men. In 1883, Mr. Dahlgren returned to Norway on a visit and while there was married to Anna Schall, who was born in that country July 6, 1860, daugh- ter of Andrew and Marie (Ullen) Schall, who are still living there. Mr. and Mrs. Dahlgren had six children: Jennie was born Sept. 14, 1884, in Norway, and is the wife of Rudy Conrad, of Hammond, Wis .; Bernard was born Feb. 10, 1887, and died March 14, 1919; Albert was born Nov. 23, 1888, and now is a barber in Minneapolis; Gilbert was born July 24, 1890, and is a barber in Rice Lake; Helen was born Dec. 21, 1894, and lives with her mother; Elmer, born May 4, 1903, is attending the Rice Lake High School. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.


Arthur J. Bull, of the A. J. Bull Co., Inc., operators of a feed mill, and dealers in farm produce, feed and machinery, at Rice Lake, was born in Menomonie, Wis., Dec. 5, 1881, son of John L. and Carrie (Hoffmeyer) Bull. He was brought to Rice Lake by his parents, and after passing through the public schools, attended the La Crosse Business College at La Crosse, Wis. Then he became accountant for the Signor & Crisler Lumber Co. from 1902 to 1911. His next employment was with the L. Starks Farm Produce Co. In 1916 he was appointed manager of that company. Two years later he purchased a half interest in the concern, and it was reorganized and incorporated under its present name. The company does a large business, has a capital of $25,000 and a surplus of $6,000, and is gradually extending the scope of its operations. In addition to his other holdings, Mr. Bull is a stockholder in the Rice Lake Dance Pavilion, a structure erected to make summer life in the city more at- tractive to the younger people. He is a member of the Blue Lodge and Eastern Star in the Masonic Order. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bull was married Sept. 12, 1902, to Grace Whitney, born Dec. 22, 1882, in Trempealeau County, this state, daughter of Dr. D. C. and Rose (Smith) Whitney, now of Rice Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Bull have one daughter, Mercedes, born Jan. 27, 1904, now attending the Rice Lake High School.


John L. Bull, for some years engaged in the flour and feed business in Rice Lake, was born in Pennsylvania. He came West in the early days, and located at Menomonie, in Dunn County, this state, where he married Carrie Hoffmeyer, a native of Germany. Then he worked for Knapp, Stout & Co. at that place for several years. In 1885 he came to Rice Lake in the employ of that company as foreman in their planing mill here. He engaged in the flour and feed business in 1888, and so continued for the remainder of his life. He died in February, 1905, and his wife died in 1891. They were the parents of four children: Alfred, John, Florence and Arthur. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Bull married again, and had another child, Chestley.


Gilbert L. Bredeson, connected with the employment department of the Park Falls Lumber Co., of Rice Lake, and living in a sightly residence at 20 West Humbird Street, Rice Lake, was born in Eau Claire, Wis., April 26, 1879, son of Ole and Bertha (Larson) Bredeson. He received his early education in the schools of Chetek, in this county. For thirteen winters he was employed in the lumber woods of this state, for twelve springs on the river log drives, also in this state, and for eight autumns in the wheat fields of North Dakota, harvesting and threshing. In 1900 he engaged in business at Rice Lake. Eight years later he sold out, and became a traveling salesman, his territory cover- ing Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. In 1920 he took up his present employ- ment. Mr. Bredeson is a member of the Scandinavian-American Fraternity and of the Illinois Commercial Men's Association. In politics he is a Republican, and for two years served as deputy sheriff of Barron County. He attends the Nor- wegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Bredeson was married Dec. 14, 1910, to Hulda


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Field, born July 12, 1876, daughter of Olaf and Wilhelmina (Sanford) Field, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1884, and settled in Rice Lake. The mother died Sept. 7, 1891, and the father is now located at Shelby, Mont., where he practices his profession as a civil engineer, and serves as United States Commissioner. Mrs. Bredeson is prominent in fraternal circles, belong- ing to the Scandinavian-American Fraternity, and other organizations.


Robert Surdson was born in Norway, and when about seven years of age was brought by his parents to Auburn Township, Chippewa County, this state. He there married Nettie Lien, who was born in Norway, and was brought to Dovre Township, this county, when about ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Surdson started farming amid pioneer conditions in Auburn Township, when the Indians were still plentiful and when the nearest market place was at Chippewa Falls, many miles away. At first they used oxen, but later replaced these with a pair of mules. In 1887 they came to Rice Lake, where Mr. Surdson entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Company. He now farms a small tract inside the limits of Rice Lake. His wife died Aug. 12, 1920. Of their five children, three died in infancy, Theo C. is a prominent man of Rice Lake, and Randena married W. J. Rynders, died May 16, 1913, and left two children, Cathryn and Ruth.


Theo C. Surdson, of the Barron County Land & Loan Co., real estate, loans and general insurance, was born in Chippewa County, this state, Jan. 21, 1881, son of Robert and Nettie (Lien) Surdson. He came here with his parents in 1887, passed through the graded schools, and in 1898 was graduated from the Rice Lake High school, after which he taught in the rural and graded schools of the county for five years. Then he took up the insurance business, in which, with the exception of the time he has been away engaged in newspaper work, he has since been interested, adding real estate and loans in 1907, and in 1917 taking up real estate, insurance and loans exclusively. In 1903 he became editor of the Brown County "Journal" and the "Volksblatt", both at New Ulm, Brown County, Minn. Later in the same year he purchased a lease on the "Tribune" at Hibbing, Minn., of which he was editor and publisher for four months. For four years and three months, from November, 1911, to February, 1916, he was owner of the Cameron "Review", at Cameron, in this county, and then moved it to Rice Lake and on April 1, 1916, established the Rice County Journal. The I. O. O. F. building, which housed the plant, was totally destroyed by fire on Feb. 23, 1917, and Mr. Surdson then sold the subscription list to the Rice Lake "Chronotype". He salvaged the plant and sold that to W. F. Erick- son, who started the "Union Herald". Later Mr. Erickson sold the paper and plant to the Rice Lake "Chronotype." Jan. 1, 1919, Mr. Surdson became secretary of the Rice Lake Commercial Club, holding the position until Aug. 1, 1920, during which time there were organized and established in Rice Lake: the Rice Lake Wholesale Grocery Co., the Perfect Products Co., the Bartles Oil Co., the Rice Lake Steam Laundry Co., the Mckinnon Manufacturing Co., and the Horn-Blum Manufacturing Co., and various other enterprises. In the meantime, Mr. Surdson had continued his interest in real estate and insurance, and on Feb. 1, 1920, with H. M. Whitney, organized the Barron County Land & Loan Co., with offices in Rooms 107-108 First National Bank building. The firm has extensive real estate holdings in the county, renting out a number of farms, and giving personal attention to a sheep ranch of 172 acres, all fenced with woven wire, where attention is given exclusively to a fine flock of black- faced Shropshire sheep. Mr. Surdson also owns considerable property personally. He is the owner of the postoffice building, two tracts in the city limits of eleven and seven and a half acres, respectively, and two residences. He has a tract on the north shore of Rice Lake, one of the ideal summer resort spots of the county, and this he has already platted though he has not yet placed it on the market. He is likewise interested in the Perfect Products Co. and the Rice Lake Dancing Pavilion, being one of the twelve young men who built it. In public life he has served as an assessor of Rice Lake for two years,


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his knowledge of real estate being a great help to him in this position. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen. In politics he is a Republican. His recreation is found in out-of-door sport, especially in hunting. He was married June 23, 1904, to Elizabeth Brayton, born Dec. 19, 1880, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Brayton. This union has resulted in three children : Gwendolyn May, born May 27, 1905; Dorothy Bray- ton, born March 1, 1907, and Marjorie Elizabeth, born Sept. 12, 1914. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church.


George C. Soper, veteran of the Civil War, former business man, founder of the first greenhouse at Rice Lake, and now a market gardner, is one of the best known men of the city. He is well versed in the story of the early days in this vicinity, and his tales of lumbering and pioneer days are eagerly heard by the younger generation. He is accorded the respect and liking due to his long and active career in the community, and stands well with all who know him. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 21, 1842, son of Alfred S. and Harriett (Strickland) Soper, natives of New York State. He was reared in the Empire State, and there educated. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. K, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, and served in all, three years and three months. His regiment was assigned to Fort Hampton, then to Fort Monroe, then to Hampton Roads, and then to Hilton, thence being sent to Morris Island, a small island in the Atlantic Ocean, near Fort Sumter. From there the regiment was trans- ferred north and duly mustered out. In 1871, Mr. Soper came to Eau Claire, this state, and settled on a farm near Porter's Mills. That fall he went back to New York to get his family. In 1872 he started work as a millwright, and in 1874 he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., at Menomonie, in charge of their stock yards and abattoir. He became government farmer in 1876 for the Indians living on their reservation in Chippewa County, this state. Two years later, in 1878, he engaged in the meat business in Rice Lake, and in 1880 once more entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., for a few years. Since that time he has been variously employed. At present he is raising chickens and doing truck farming. At one time he owned the present site of the new Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Hospital. He now has a pleasant place on the lake front where he has erected a sightly residence. Some years ago, seeing the need of a green house in Rice Lake, he started one and successfully con- ducted it for three years. But when the lake was flooded, he was "drowned out," and accordingly went to Arkansas for a year. When he returned, he built up the greenhouse again. A year later he sold to Carl Hanneman who now conducts it. Mr. Soper is now spending the afternoon of life in quiet and con- tentment, he has watched the county grow into a flourishing dairy region, and in its development has taken his rightful share. For many years he has been active in Odd Fellow affairs, and holds in that order a Decoration for Chivalry, the highest degree conferred. Mr. Soper was married Dec. 4, 1864, to Katherine M. Rowland of Long Island, and this union has been blessed with five children. Clarence C. was born in 1865 and was drowned in 1876. Daniel A. was born in 1867 and was also drowned. Edward S. was born in 1871, is married, and lives in Eau Claire. Grace E. was born in 1873, and married Paul Fournier, who is employed in the Quinn Brothers hardware store in Rice Lake. Jessie P. was born Feb. 20, 1875, is married, and lives in Greenville, Miss. Mrs. Soper, a most worthy woman, a loving and helpful wife, a tender and sympa- thizing mother, and a good neighbor and friend, died in 1908.


Rev. Anton Emanuel Bomgren, B. D., pastor of the Swedish Lutheran congregations at Rice Lake, Shell Lake, Winter and Ojibwa, and a prominent man in the Apple River District, the Minnesota Conference and the Augustana Synod, was born in Smaaland, Sweden, Feb. 6, 1890, son of John and Christine (Johnson) Bomgren. He came to America at the age of eighteen and became a student in the Upsala Academy at Kenilworth, New Jersey. In 1912 he entered the Augustana College at Rock Island, Ill., graduating from the classical course with the degree of A. B. in 1915, and from the theological


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GEORGE C. SOPER


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course with the degree of B. D. in 1918. June 9, 1918, he was ordained at Minneapolis, by pastors of the Augustana Synod, as a minister of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church. July 3, 1918, he took up his duties as pastor of the congregations at Rice Lake and Shell Lake. He found at Rice Lake a congregation of 200 total members, and 165 communicants, with an old church building. Under his pastorate many new members have been added, and the church edifice has been practically rebuilt into a new and modern structure, sightly and convenient. The congregation at Shell Lake numbered 65 com- municants. This number has also been increased, and extensive improvements have been made on the church edifice. Mr. Bomgren has also organized two other congregations, the Zion Evangelical Congregation at Winter, which is contemplating erecting a church edifice in the near future, and the congrega- tion at Ojibwa. As soon as he entered upon his ministry here he was elected secretary of the Apple River District. In 1919, at the convocation of the Luther Leagues of the Apple River District, held at Hudson, he was elected president of the body. He is also a member of the committee on Ministerial Pension & Aid Fund, of the entire Augustana Synod. During the war he served as a member of a number of patriotic bodies and committees, and in 1920 he had charge of the work in Barron county of raising funds for the Central Europe Relief Fund. He was married June 10, 1918, to Elsie Thorwell of Duluth, born April 16, 1892, and they have a son, Linne Vincent Emanuel, born Sept. 7, 1920. John Bomgren, father of the Rev. Anton Emanuel Bomgren, and his wife, Christine Johnson, were born in Smaaland, Sweden, and there he still lives, she having died in April, 1896. They were substantial, God-fearing people, greatly respected by their neighbors. Their children were as follows: Oscar graduated from the Theological Seminary at Lindsburg, Kan., and is now pastor at Greensburg, Penn. Gustav graduated in theology from the Augustana College at Rock Island, Ill., and is now pastor at Calumet, Mich. Alma is the wife of Ira B. Hadden, of New York city. Aaron is a real estate dealer still living in Sweden. Emil, who for some years had charge of a mine elevator at Ludlow, Penn., met his death there in 1905. Anton Emanuel is a minister at Rice Lake. Hilda is studying music at Chicago. John is a farmer at Marathon, Iowa. Henry is in the mechanical trades in New York state.


Grover Sykes, of the Rice Lake Electric Co., was born in Eau Claire, Wis., Oct. 25, 1885, son of Robert and Anna (Anderson) Sykes, natives respectively of Scotland and New Hampshire. The father came from his native land to Canada, and then to the States, locating at Eau Claire. From there he came to Rice Lake, and after some years went to the state of Washington. He subse- quently returned and now lives at Rice Lake. Grover received his early educa- tion in Rice Lake, and took the regular four years' course in the Stout Training School at Menomonee. In 1908 he returned to Rice Lake, and did general electrical work for a year. Then for four years he was engineer for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. In 1913 he was employed by the Red Cedar Electric Co. at Rice Lake, and four years later operated a motor truck for a year for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. In 1918 he went to Duluth, Minn., to work in the steel mills there, and a year later became engineer for the Wisconsin State Normal school at Stevens Point, Wis. He came to Rice Lake again in August, 1920, and with Harry King established the company of which he is now part owner. The firm does general electrical work, and carries a complete line of electrical supplies. Mr. Sykes was married in 1914 to Helen Sigstad, born Sept. 29, 1887, daughter of Ole H. and Sophia (Peterson) Sigstad.


Harry King, of the Rice Lake Electric Co., was born in Fredericksburg, Iowa, Sept. 20, 1891, son of William and Phoebe (Coleman) King, natives of Norway, who came to Rice Lake in 1911, and for several years operated a restaurant here. Later they went to Farmington, Dakota County, Minn., where they now live and where Mr. King is employed as foreman of the coal sheds for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. In the family there are five children : Opal, Beulah, Everett, Carl and Harry. The family faith is that of


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the Methodist Episcopal Church. Harry King received his early education in Iowa, and later attended the Janesville (Wis.) High School from which he was graduated in the class of 1907. Then he came to Rice Lake, and was employed for four years by the Red Cedar Electric Co. His next employment was with the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Co. In August, 1920, with Grover Sykes, he established their present concern. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. King was married Nov. 3, 1913, to Emma Sigstad, daughter of Ole H. and Sophia (Peterson) Sigstad. Mr. and Mrs. King have one son, Orrin, born Dec. 19, 1915.


Louis A. Dunneboil, superintendent of the municipal waterworks and electric light plant, at Rice Lake, living at 322 Reuter avenue, was born in Germany, Aug. 29, 1876, son of Charles and Wilhelmina (Rost) Dunneboil. He attended school until he was a youth of sixteen, and then learned the machinist's trade. He came to America in 1892, and for three years was employed on boats plying the Hudson river and the Erie canal between New York city and Buffalo. In 1895 he came to Stanley, in this state, and became engineer for the Northwestern Lumber Co., with whom he remained for fourteen years. In 1909 he became chief engineer for the Conner Lumber & Land Co. at Laona. He came to Rice Lake in 1912 as superintendent for the Red Cedar Valley Electric Co. In 1918 he was superintendent for the Wisconsin & Minnesota Light & Power Co. at Rice Lake. The next year he worked for himself, and in 1920 assumed the duties of his present position. In addition to his other holdings, Mr. Dunneboil has a part interest with Ole Moe in a store on Main street, which is profitably rented. He was married Aug. 19, 1901, to Anna Wald of Stanley, Wis., daughter of Frank and Anna Wald, who came from Austria in 1877 and settled in Stanley, Wis., where they died, he Jan. 5, 1907, and she June 4, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Dunneboil have five children: Mary Anna, born July 30, 1902; Veronica Mary, born July 2, 1906; Albert Frank, born March 31, 1909; Clarence Edward, born Nov. 16, 1913, and Joseph Michael, born April 24, 1916.


Joseph L. Demars, proprietor of a flourishing boat livery at Rice Lake, is one of the well known men of the city and is liked both by residents and by strangers who have dealings with him. He is of genial personality, affable and kindly in manner, just the type of man to deal with the public in his own particular line of business. He has some excellent boats, in the best of con- dition, and knows the lake thoroughly, so that those who come to his place seeking either recreation or pleasure, are well satisfied with the results they receive. He was born in the Province of Quebec, May 11, 1853, the son of Louis and Ghuchite Demars, both of whom spent the span of their years in Canada. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, and as a youth started lumbering along the St. Lawrence River, both as a grader and a loader. Aug. 8, 1884, he arrived in Rice Lake, and became identified with the lumbering interests here, driving teams and working in the woods, in saw- mills, and in a stave factory. In 1910 he took up his present line of business. Mr. Demars was married in Canada, Sept. 25, 1873, to Elmira Gagne, the daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Fournier) Gagne. This union has been blessed with seven children, the oldest five having been born in Canada, and the other two in the United States. Archie was born March 11, 1876; Alice was born June 12, 1879; Laura was born March 11, 1880; Arthur was born March 1, 1881; Anna was born March 1, 1883; Arson J. was born Oct. 16, 1885, and Viola was born Jan. 31, 1895 and died Jan. 26, 1918.


Ernst Achtenberg, for some years identified with the lumbering interests of this county, was born in Germany, came to America as a young man, and married Eva Goodall, a native of Wisconsin. In 1887 he came to Rice Lake, as foreman in a planing mill for the Knapp, Stout & Co. With this beginning, he has followed some phase of the lumber business all his life. In 1893 he purchased 105 acres of wild land from his employers, within the city limits, erected a small house, and there established his family. Aside from a little


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gardening, however, he did no farming, devoting all of his time to his other interests. In 1912 he moved to Minneapolis, where he is now employed with the G. H. Tennant Lumber Co. He and his wife have three children. Charles B. was born May 8, 1889, and is now with the Madison Blue Print Co., of Madison, Wis. Herbert owns the home farm. Henrietta was born Oct. 8, 1893, lives in Friendship, Wis., the wife of E. V. Ryall, county agricultural agent of Adams county.


Herbert Achtenberg, formerly identified with the theatrical business, now a prosperous farmer of Rice Lake City, is a native of this city, born April 6, 1891, on the place where he still resides, son of Ernst and Eva (Goodall) Achtenberg, now of Minneapolis. He attended the public schools of Rice Lake, and as a young man went to Madison, Wis., where he worked one year as a carpenter and three years as a plumber, and then became stage carpenter at the Fuller Theater, there, for a year. His work there attracted the atten- tion of capable managers, and he was offered a similar position with the "Peg O' My Heart" troupe, with which company he traveled for three seasons, visiting the principal cities of the eastern half of the United States. Dec. 4, 1915, he returned to Rice Lake, and bought his father's farm of 105 acres within the city limits. He has a well-kept farm, suitable equipment and machinery, and successfully carries on general farming and dairying, making a specialty of a good grade of stock. He is well liked in the community, is a Chapter and Blue Lodge Mason, and a member of the Loyal Legion. He was inducted into the United States service Aug. 2, 1918, and was sent to Camp Taylor in Kentucky. He trained twelve days with Co. C, 159th Depot Brigade, and was then transferred to Co. C, 3rd Batallion, F. A. R. D., in which he remained for a few weeks, Sept. 6, 1918, he was assigned to the 19th Ammunition Train with headquarters at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. From there he was sent to Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., where he was discharged Feb. 17, 1919.


Mrs. Euseba M. Winchester, who has lived in Barron County for more than four decades, is one of the highly respected residents of Rice Lake, where she has led a busy and useful life and has been an active worker in many public causes. She was born in the village of Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont, April 5, 1841, daughter of Ahirah and Orvilla (Mead) Livingston. She acquired her early education in the public schools, and then took a finish- ing course in the Ladies' Seminary at Troy, New York. Then she came to Reedsburg, Juneau County, this state, and for fifteen years was a teacher in the public schools. Thoroughly grounded in the fundamentals herself, she had the faculty of imparting her knowledge to others, and she was a most suc- cessful teacher in a day when teachers of her stamp were greatly needed in the crude pioneer schools of her county. At the end of the fifteen years, the suc- cessful young teacher married George W. Barnes, now deceased. To this union was born one son, George S., now a prominent business man of Barnes, Bay- field County, this state. This son has been three times married. His first wife, Vivian Kelley, left one son, Horace S. Barnes, who was reared by his grand- mother, the subject of this sketch, is now a prominent farmer of Barnes, Wis., married Cyrilla O'Grady, and has three children, Ruth, Eleanor and Horace C. For his second wife, George S. Barnes married Martha Knutson, and to this union there were born five children: Euseba, Howard, Anita, Jennie May and Virginia. On Jan. 23, 1905, while living on their homestead in Bayfield County, Wis., their log cabin took fire, and Mrs. George S. Barnes, the two younger children, Jennie May and Virginia, and Elsie Meisnar, a teacher from Wash- burn, who was boarding with them, all perished. Later, Mr. Barnes married Mary Machom, by whom he had two children, Ruby and Stanley. After the death of George W. Barnes, his widow, the subject of this sketch, married Horace Sprague, of Reedsburg, Wis. They came to Rice Lake in 1880, and operated the Rice Lake Hotel for the Knapp, Stout & Co. This hotel was then the leading hostelry of the village, and was the headquarters for all the lead- ing lumbermen then operating in this part of the state. Mr. Sprague died in




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