USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin > Part 148
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" On Monday, the 4th inst .. one of those anniversaries occurred, which but few ever see, the cele- bration of the fiftieth year of their married life. Yet this event was duly celebrated in Lima, Monday. At 1 o'clock P. M., the hour fixed, there assembled the following persons of the family and invited guests : Uncle Morgan Cooley, of Granby, Conn., a brother some eight years younger than Sherman and the jolliest old Yankee that ever hailed from the ancient lands of the Pequods and Mohegans. He knows all the genealogy of the Cooley and Holcomb family back, away back in the history of Connecticut, well not exactly to Adam, but to the Big Injun, who was scalped in the Fairfield Swamp, in 1764; and if they had any humorous or amusing characteristics, or if any event occurred in their career on which to found a good story, ' Uncle Morgan' remembers it; G. S. Whitcher and family, whose wife was the eldest of their children present; R. D. Cooley, wife and two children, of Waverly, Neb .; Alfred S. Cooley, wife and three children, of Eagle, Neb. ; L. E. Cooley, wife and child, of Cross Plains, Wis .; Mr. William Beebe and wife; Mr. Lane and wife; J. H. Holcomb and wife, the last three named are cousins to the Cooleys, their mother having been a Holcomb; Mr. E. P. Dickinson, wife and Miss Ina Dickinson ; Mr. John Burney and wife, Miss Lima Burney ; Miss Ella Dougherty.
" The best of feeling prevailed. Pap Cooley's face was all over smiles, and Mother Cooley seemed equally happy, while Uncle Morgan, humorous and joyous, told some of his queerest stories. 'I tell you I was there,' said he, 'and, Diana, I thought you was the purtiest gal that ever went into the Granby Meetin' House. I was at the wedding, I know how they were dressed. Sherman wore a swallow tailed coat, a bell crowned plug hat, and I suppose the accompanying costume of that ancient time. Mrs. Lane says ' the bride wore a drab colored silk dress, a white belt around the waist, a sash attached, a deep ruffle around the neck and a white silk head-dress.'
"The belt referred to she wore as ornaments on the present occasion, it having turned a golden color by the fifty years intervened.
" It was a joyous occasion, and why should it not be ? There is a proverb that ' It is our privilege to enjoy ourselves in this world, and that if we do not it is our own fault.' No use of putting on a long
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face, and always be in the straight jacket of restraint considering this life a probationary state, making a hell of earth, as Byron says, to merit heaven; living with elongated faces as though the grave was pho- tographed before us, with hell in the background, but let us rather make the best of that which we are sure of, and enjoy ourselves in this world; why, a person can experience plenty of enjoyment after they are fifty years old. I have a strong belief and an abiding faith that there is lots of fun in this vale of tears yet, and expect to see plenty of it or, to say the least, my hopes are very buoyant on that poiut.
"The cat that sits in the corner and washes its face with its paw and purrs is a better type of hap- piness than the old cat under the stove, that lays and burns its back, and yeaws and spits at every one that passes. Let ns, then, be contented and happy, enjoying ourselves, and those around us will be more likely to, as our course of action on this point is reciprocal and mutual. Fifty years of married life, a half a century, of mutual cares and joys, reciprocal in its experiences for better or worse, happy in the love and society and friendship of their family, and more happy if that life has been agreeable in the society of each other. And as time moves us along as it surely will to last scenes, as life's milestones fly past more rapidly, as the loom of land on the other shore rises to view, our affections, our friendships will be nearer, purer and truer. No jealousies which the aggressiveness of earlier life begets and fosters, when our old heads whiten, our thoughts rise to a higher and more dignified sphere, and we realize the fact that we are friends-we are brethren. How much more firm and enduring than the friendship, the attachment between husband and wife, considering the relation, its fruits, its consequences. If they have endeavored to make each other happy, to please each other, then will they be pleased in each other's society. For the philosophy is based on reciprocal mutuality. And they can look back on the past, so well expressed by Burns.
"There were four of their children present with their families. The eldest daughter, Mrs. Mary Everett, of Cortland, Trumbull Co., Ohio; Richard and Timothy Cooley, of Nebraska, were absent."
JOHN S. DEITZMAN, Sec. 13; P. O. Washburn ; was boro May 12, 1844, in Pennsylvania ; came with his parents to Wisconsin in 1848; settled in the town of Mifflin ; at the age of 21 years he left home and worked out, driving team for $18 per month, then rented a farm and commenced for himself, and continued to rent land for four years, then bought the farm where he now lives, which originally con- tained 186 acres, but has added to it until he now owns 400 acres ; 300 is uoder cultivation and 100 io timber. Was married to Sarah. Ann Miller April 9, 1865, who was born in Sullivan Co., Ind., March 25, 1839 ; they have eight children, viz., Anderson B., Charles W., Rosa A., Alice M., Elmer F., John A., Perley E., Lula S. Mr. Deitzman has been a member of the School Board eight years : has been a dealer in live stock, and is at present raising and feeding stock on his farm.
E. P. DICKINSON, Sec. 31 ; P.O. Platteville ; was born May 26, 1819, in the town of John- son, Trumbull Co., Ohio; in early life, he followed the trade of carpenter and joiner; in 1845, he came to Wisconsin, locating on a farm in Harrison. Three years later, he settled in Lima, where he has owned several different farms; has resided on his present farm of 80 acres since 1853; also owns about 100 acres in Ellenboro; was Treasurer of the town of Lima eighteen years, and served twice as Assessor and four or five years as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; until 1868, he worked more or less at his trade. He married, in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Fanny S. Whitcher, who was born in Lisbon, Grafton Co., N. H .; when she was 10 years of age, her people settled in Michigan, and later removed to Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have nine children-Elizabeth, John, Loraine, Samuel, Phebe J., William, Everett, Ina and Charles ; four of these, Loraine, Elizabeth, Samuel and Everett, are in the San Juan Valley, Cal .; Will- iam is in Arizona, John in Nebraska and the others in Lima.
GEORGE DAILY, wagon-maker, Washburn ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Aug. 3, 1826; came to Wisconsin in 1857 ; resided in Lancaster about seventeen years, then came to Washburn ; owns 80 acres of land. His wife, Adelia Carrie, was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, May 30, 1833 ; married Oct. 28, 1848 ; they had eight children-Eleanor, Albert, Isabel, Lewis, Martha (deceased), George, Lyman, Cyrus. In politics, Republican ; in religion, a liberal believer.
PERRY FRUIT ; P. O. Washburn ; was born in Madison Co., Ill., Oct. 26, 1819; continued to live there until 1846, when he came to Grant Co. and bought the farm he now resides upon of the Gov- ernment, built a home, and has lived here ever since. He was married to Miss Matilda Lampkin, of Mad- ison Co., Ill., in 1841; they have six children living-I. I. (who graduated at the Platteville Normal School and is now practicing law at La Crosse), Nancy Ellen (now Mrs. A. E. Rundell), Martha G. (now Mrs. Brazelle), Henry D. (also a lawyer), Julia N. (now Mrs. E. A. Biddick), and James P., living at home. Mr. Fruit owns about 600 acres of good farming land as the reward of many years of honest toil. He is one of the pioneer members of the M. E. Church here. Assisted in building the first church in the town
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of Clifton. Is a stanch temperance man and member of the Good Templars, and has been a member of the Town Board many years.
EDWARD FOULKS (deceased) ; was born Feb. 14, 1812, in Wales; at 16, he came to America and began work on the Pennsylvania railroads and canals ; in 1835, he came to Wisconsin and engaged in the mines about Dodgeville and Mifflin, being one of the first Welsh settlers in what is now Iowa Co .; abont 1845, he came to Lima and settled on the farm where he died Dec. 15, 1876. His wife was formerly Ann Burney ; they were married in Lima, she having come here in 1845, from Pickaway Co., Ohio, her birthplace ; they had seven children-Mary, George, Thomas, Sarah, Ellen, Emma and Ida, all born in Lima. Mr. Foulks was a hard-working and upright man, who earned and left a good farm and home.
SAMUEL FRAIZER, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Platteville ; was born Jan. 27, 1822, in York Co., Penn .; nine years later, his parents removed with him to Wayne Co., Ohio; from there with a brother- William Fraizer-he came to Apple River in 1843; spent eighteen months in the mines and returned to Ohio. In her native county (Wayne), he married Elizabeth Burns, and with her and two children he again came to Wisconsin, in 1851, locating upon his present farm of 141 acres, which he had purchased while in Ohio. The small log cabin stood upon the only cleared acre, and into this Mr. Fraizer moved his family. The thirty years spent here have not been wasted, as may be seen by the homelike farmhouse and capacious barn, surrounded by the well-tilled fields, once a forest. Mrs. Frazier died Oct. 17, 1865, in Ohio; she left six children-Hector V., Mary E., John J., William C .. Thomas J. and Frank E. The present Mrs. Fraizer was Mary J. McClurg, born in Ellenboro, and a daughter of William McClurg, who lives on an adjoining farm in Lima. Mr. and Mrs. Fraizer have four children-Millie M., Louis E., Daisy and Samuel F. The two oldest of the ten children were born in Wayne Co., Ohio, and the others on the Lima homestead. Mr. F. is a Republican, and has been Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, etc.
MILLER FISH, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Platteville; was born in Connecticut Aug. 20, 1818. Came to Wisconsin in 1855 ; a carpenter by trade ; bought 40 acres of land ; now owns 95 acres and works at his trade. His first wife, Celista Pritchard, was born in Connecticut in 1816. Married in 1843, died in 1862. They had three children-Colinus, who enlisted in Co. I, 10th W. V. I., in October, 1861 ; taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga ; taken to Libby ; then to Andersonville, and escaped twice, but was recaptured by hounds when nearly in the Union lines ; released from Salisbury Prison at the close of the war. Anson H., in Crawford Co., Wis .; Mary, now Mrs. Meekin Marshall, in Iowa Co. Second wife was Elizabeth Evans, who was born in Ohio in 1828. Married in 1863 ; they had two children- Samuel E., and Elizabeth J., deceased. In politics, Republican. In religion, liberal believer. Has been Clerk and Director of Schools. The second wife had two children by a former marriage-Eva, deceased, and Joseph, at home.
WILLIAM N. GLENN; P. O. Washburn ; was born in Cleveland Co., N. C., Oct. 9, 1816; lived there until he was about 11 years old, when his family moved to Bond Co., Ill., where he lived mauy years. Here he married Miss Cynthia J. McCracken, whose people moved from Tennessee to Bond Co. Mr. G. has followed farming all his life, and when he came to this county, in 1856, rented the place he now owns for three years ; then resided on a place near by, but, for the last seventeen years, has owned the farm he now resides on, consisting of 80 acres, west one-half southeast one-quarter Sec. 13. The farm was originally heavily timbered, but there was about 30 acres cleared when he first rented the place. He has cleared the remainder himself. Mr. and Mrs. G. have had eleven children, seven of whom are now living-Sarah, Washington R., Martha, Eli B., Charlotte V., Philip Lincoln and Cynthia E. Mr. G. has been a member of the M. E. Church for forty-eight years, a local minister for twenty five years ; assisted io forming the M. E. Church in Washburn, and has been a Trustee most of the time since. He has been an active temperance man, uniting with the Washingtonians, Sons of Temperance, Good Templars and Blue- Ribbon men, giving his influence and active sympathy to every effort made to stay the tide of intemperance and promote the cause of sobriety and total abstinence in the community where he lives.
ROBERT C. HALE, Sec. 29 ; P. O. Platteville; is a son of John and Isabella (McColloch) Hale (see sketch of John Hale) ; was born March 28, 1848, in Hazel Green, Grant Co, Wis .; came to Lima in 1850, and has since resided here ; was for a number of years on a small farm on Sec. 20, and lo- cated where he now is in 1873. He married Mrs. Hannah M. (Condry) Reed ; she was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, and came to Grant Co. in 1871, with her former husband, William Reed, who died a year later, leaving an only son, James Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have three children-William T., John J. and Jessie May, all born in Lima. Mr. Hale is one of the three owners of a recently purchased portable steam saw-mill, and is at present engaged in operating it in the heavily-timbered districts of Grant Co.
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JOHN HALE, Sec. 28; P. O. Platteville ; was born March 4, 1815, in Somersetshire, England ; came to America in 1840; landed at New York City ; spent some time in the Pennsylvania and Ohio coal mines, and six months in St. Louis. He married at Cannellton, Ind., Isabella McColloch, and, in the spring of 1842, came to Hazel Green, and engaged in mining there until he came to Lima in 1850. Here he bought his present 80-acre homestead farm, then in a state of nature. The first year was spent in a log cabin surrounded by the dense growth of oak, hickory, etc., which originally covered his and all the adjoining land. He has cleared 65 acres of this, and, besides, owns 70 acres on Sec. 29. Mrs. Hale died July 14, 1864, leaving nine children-John P., Margaret C., Robert C., Sarah A., Elizabeth J., Lafayette, Alvin, George T. and Jacob A. The present Mrs. Hale was Sarah M., daughter of Jacob and Sarah Quick ; she was born Jan. 9, 1815, in Neversiok, Sullivan Co., N. Y. Jan. 7, 1834, she married in Caro- line. Tompkins Co., N. Y., G. A. Graham, who was born June 25, 1815. They removed to Illinois, and, in 1835, came to Plattevile, camping-out the night of July 4, 1835, near the site of the city. Mr. Gra- ham went to California in 1849, and died there. He was one of the earliest settlers in Lima, and left six children-Robert, Alexander, William, Maria L., Emma M. and Sarah A .; Mary J. died before her father went to California. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have a most pleasant home, and look back to pioneer days as times when hardships and privations were cheerfully borne that such a home might be finally secured.
PAUL JEARDON, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Platteville ; was born at Vincennes, Ind., Feb. 7, 1819 ; emigrated to Platteville, Wis., in 1841 ; a blacksmith by trade, which he continued to follow ; he then removed to Dodgeville in 1847, and remained until 1862, when he entered Co. C, as 31st W. V. I., as private. and elected to First Lieutenant ; mustered out in 1865 ; returned to Platteville, and bought and now owns 140 acres of land ; was burned out Nov. 30, 1871, he then built a fine stone house, and has a beautiful home. His wife, Jane Nettle, was born at Liverpool, England, Feb. 9, 1827 ; came to America with her parents, who settled near Pottsville, Penn., in 1834 ; started for Mineral Point; her father died at St. Louis, Mo., where the family remained until the next spring, when they came on to the Point, then to Belmont, then to Platteville. They married in 1845; they have had thirteen children-Maggie, born Jan. 12, 1846, and now Mrs. Colman ; Richard, born Jan. 10, 1848, freight conductor on the Chicago & Alton R. R., in Missouri; Frank Preston, born July 1, 1850 ; Charles A., boro May 21, 1852; Eva J., born June 26, 1854 ; Louis, born July 10, 1856, in Colorado on the railroad as fireman ; Stephen N., born July 24, 1858, in Nebraska; Kate I., born Sept. 9, 1860; Jessie J., Feb. 20, 1863; Allen W., born April 1, 1866 ; Lucy A., boro Jan. 4, 1869 ; Paul H., born Nov. 16, 1871 ; Helen N., born Dec. 11, 1875. In politics, Republican. In religion, Congregational, is Deacon. Has been Treasurer and Clerk and Di- rector of School ; also Good Templar.
FARNAM JOHNSON (deceased) ; was born in New Jersey Dec. 12. 1802. In 1827, he came to the lead diggings about " Hardscrabble " ( Hazel Green), and spent the summer there and at Sin- sinawa Mounds. In 1828, he came to Platteville, and began hauling lead for Maj. Rountree; he was known to have bauled some of the beaviest loads that ever left the place, and was a most expert driver of oxen. During the Black Hawk war, he served with credit, and later went to the Fevre River lead mines. In 1835, he married, at Old Belmont, Miss Amanda Eastman ; she was born May 12, 1812, near Dela- ware, N. Y. ; her early life was spent in Ohio and Indiana. In 1830, her parents, Moses and Elizabeth Eastman, settled at Belmont ; they were among those who " forted " at Elk Grove during the summer of 1832. After his marriage, Mr. Johnson spent three years on a farm near Horseshoe Bend, Fevre River. In the summer of 1838, he bought of Elijah Mayfield 240 acres, which is still in the family ; during the fall, his wife and himself erected a log house ; apertures for windows and doors were sawed out with a.
crosscut saw. Mr. Johnson standing on the inside and she outside ; this house stood on the site of that now occupied by Henry W. Johnson, and was torn down to make room for it when the latter married Maria Quimby, of Etna, Wis. Farnam Johnson and wife resided on this farm from Christmas, 1838, until his death, July 6, 1879. He left five children-Mary (Mrs. John Wallace) ; Elizabeth ( Mrs. George Clem- mer) ; Nancy (now the widow of J. W. Humiston, drowned June 27, 1878, in the Gulf of Mexico) ; Henry W. and Warren ; Henry W. enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, in Co. E, 25th W. V. I .; served in the Sioux war in Minnesota, through the siege of Vicksburg, and fought under Sherman to Atlanta ; thence marched with him through Georgia and the Carolinas. He was discharged with the regiment June 21, 1865. Is now on the homestead, containing in all 390 acres ; Warren Johnson is also here, as is the widowed mother. The former married Phebe J. Dickinson, of Lima. Mrs. Johnson is the picture of a brave old pioneer lady, and enjoys the comforts of a well-earned home.
F. W. KIRKPATRICK (deceased) ; was born in Madison Co., Ill., Dec. 8, 1808. Went with his brother Jesse to Galena, Ill., in 1826, and in 1827, came to Platteville, Wis. Engaged in min-
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ing and smelting lead for ten years ; then went to Lake Superior and worked in copper mines; from there went to Missouri; then came back to Wisconsin ; stayed here two years and then went to Pike's Peak for one year, after which he returned to Wisconsin, and lived here until his death. Was married to Ann R. Hamilton March 12, 1851, who was born April 14, 1824, at Springfield, Ill .; have had four children, of whom only one is living-Mary Alice, who married Maxwell Fawcett, and now lives at Emporia, Kan .; those deceased are Sarah J., twin sister to Mary A., Francis and Lillian ; the two latter are buried at Rock Church Cemetery, and Sarah was buried near St. Louis. F. W. Kirkpatrick died April 2, 1863, and was buried in Rock Church Cemetery. His wife lived for fifteen months after her marriage at Wingville, then moved on to the place where she now lives, and has resided there ever since with the exception of four years when she lived in Kansas. She is a member of the M. E. Church. The homestead contains 140 acres of land.
VALENTINE KRAMER, Sec. 4; P. O. Platteville ; was born Feb. 8, 1820, in Prussia ; came to America in 1841, landed at New Orleans ; spent a winter in the mines at French Village, Ill., and in March, 1842, reached Platteville; engaged in mining at Big Patch, Dodgeville and Bectown ; in 1847, he bought 80 acres of his present farm ; it was timbered openings, with only log buildings upon it ; has cleared some, and added 160 acres, part of which was improved before his purchase. He married Catharine Wonn, of Prussia, in August, 1847 ; they have eight children-Maggie, Mary, Henry, Valen- tine, Fannie, Minnie, John and William ; all were born in Lima, as was Louisa, who died when 24 years of age. The family belong to the Lutheran Church.
A. V. KNAPP, farmer, Sec .. 31; P. O. Platteville; was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., June 27, 1832; came to Wisconsin in 1854 ; engaged in farming east of Lancaster in 1865; removed to his pres- ent place ; now owns 260 acres of land; enlisted October, 1861, in the 10th W. V. I., Co. F, as private ; mustered out December, 1863, as 2d Lieutenant ; member of Good Templars' Lodge. His wife, Laura C. Woldorf, was born in Harrison, Grant Co., Jan. 27, 1844; married Oct. 4, 1864; they have eight chil- dren-Fred W., born July 2, 1865 ; Frank S., Feb. 16, 1867; Sidney D. B., July 23, 1869 ; Clara L., Oct. 16, 1870; Charles D., Feb. 16, 1873 ; Jessie E., July 2, 1875 ; Horace H., Feb. 26, 1877; Arthur V., June 2, 1880, died Dec. 19, 1880.
THOMAS MCKOWN, blacksmith, Washburn ; was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., Feb. 1, 1847 ; learned the trade of blacksmith at Wheeling, Va., then removed to Keokuk, Iowa, was engaged by the United States on the Government works; came to Wisconsin March 22, 1876, and worked for Mr. Harris; enlisted in the 129th Ohio V. I. His wife, Sarah Harsha, was born in Mifflin, Iowa Co., in 1856; married in 1872; they have three children-Elmer, Delia F., Herbert. In politics, Republican ; a liberal believer.
WILLIAM McCLURG, Scc. 19; P. O. Platteville ; born Aug. 6, 1812, in Mercer Co., Penn. Married Miss Ann Manson, who was born March 7, 1817, in Venango Co., Penn. Engaged in farming until he came to Wisconsin, which was in 1843; they came via the Ohio and Mississippi to Galena, thence, to " Whig," where they wintered ; the next spring he took up land on Buckwheat Ridge, and was there five years ; afterward rented farms for a time, and, in 1843, settled on his present farm of 43 acres ; the log house and surrounding forest have given place to cultivated fields and a pleasant frame house. Mr. and Mrs. McClurg have three children-Mary Jane, now Mrs. Samuel Fraizer; James A. and Henry ; the two eldest were born in Ellenboro, and the youngest in Lima. Mr. and Mrs. McClurg belong to the Christian Church of Platteville.
JOSEPH O. McREYNOLDS, Sec. 13; P. O. Washburn ; was born March 14, 1826, in Bond Co., Ill .; left there with his parents in 1836, and came to Wisconsin and settled on the farm known as the Conklin farm ; took poultry and produce to Old Belmont, where the first Legislature was then in session ; bought the farm he now lives from the Government; owns 140 acres of land; held office on Town Board in 1879, and has been on School Board thirteen years. Was married to Sarah Glenn, July 18, 1858; have seven children living and two deceased-the former named Walter E., William S., Jessie G., May C., Arthur V., Bertie L., Ethel M .; the latter named Clara E., Joseph L., both buried in the family cemetery on the place. The stone house which they occupy was built on the site where the old log cabin stood which his parents lived in, and has always been a landmark for travelers. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order at Mifflin Lodge, and also belongs to Lodge No. 28, I O. O. F. When Mr. McR. first came to Platteville, there was only one store kept by Maj. Rountree, and a blacksmith-shop.
JOHN McCLURG, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Platteville ; born in Salem, Mercer Co., Penn., Nov. 16, 1803. Married Miss Jane Manson, of Venango Co., Penn., and came in 1844, to Wisconsin ; in May of
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that year, they began in a log cabin in the timber that then covered his farm of 60 acres. Mrs. McClurg died Oct. 27, 1856, leaving seven children -- Henry, James, Louisa, Martin, Margaret, Albert and John ; the two youngest were born in Lima, and the others in Pennsylvania; Louisa is now in Missouri; Henry in Washington Territory, while John is in Highland, Iowa Co .; Albert McClurg died in the Union serv- ice, and James, pressed into the rebel army, was killed by his own men. The second wife, formerly Han- nah Klingensmith, died Aug. 11, 1879. Mr. McClurg now leases his farm, and will probably spend the remainder of his days here. He is a member of the Baptist Church.
GEORGE MARTIN, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Platteville ; was born in Grant Co., Wis .; has always been on the farm ; now owns 80 acres of land. His wife, Sarah Chilson, was born in Adams Co., Ill .; her parents were old settlers in Wisconsin; her father died in 1869; her mother is now living in Liberty, Grant Co., Wis. Married, Christmas, 1876. In politics, Republican ; in religion, believer.
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