History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 124

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052


USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 124


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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In 1855, Charles Chaffee located at Melrose, and erected the grist mills now owned and operated by Mark Douglas ; the same year Sullivan White, Jacob Johnson and Henry Richards were added to the population. They built a saw-mill one mile east of the village site, and for several years conducted a successful lumber business. A period was put to their prosperity, however, in 1860, by the burn- ing of the mill, which has never been rebuilt.


During the war there were no arrivals or improvements of importance. A post-office had been established in the village four years previous, and with the buildings men- tioned, constituted the improvements completed up to that time, except the establishment of a store by Joseph and Julius Maddock, about 1862. It was located in an old building, put up by B. S. Brewer, and the first store in the village, so remaining until about 1870, when the Newland family appeared on the ground, and compelled a division of the patronage by the Maddock Brothers.


In 1870, the old hotel was destroyed by fire, and the same year B. S. Brewer erected one to supply its absence,


423


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


that was regarded as superior in many respects for the time and place. The school-house also was erected this year, and the Methodist church, the Baptist edifice having been completed some years prior. The only improvement that has been made in latter years, has been a handsome dwell- ing house by B. S. Brewer, the re-building of the mill by Mark Douglas, and some other accommodations of less moment and at a limited expense.


Melrose is, as stated above, a thrifty country hamlet, in communication with Black River Falls and La Crosse, by stage, and boasts of upward of 200 inhabitants. It has three stores, two church edifices, two blacksmith and wagon shops, two hotels and a grist-mill. It is handsomely situated, and possesses an abundance of attractions as a place of resi- dence, and some advantages in a business point of view.


Melrose Mills were erected in 1855, by Charles Chaffee, at which time they were 46x54, three stories high, of frame, supplied with two run of stone, and cost about $4,000. Mr. Chaffee operated the business successfully until 1871, when on the 4th of July of that year, they were disposed of to Mark Douglas, for a consideration of $8,000. The lat- ter made additions and improvements at a heavy expense, increased the capacity to three run of stone, and has been since conducting this investment as a custom mill.


The capacity of the mills is stated at one hundred bar- rels of flour daily, and their value at $15,000.


The Methodist Society was organized at an early day, before churches or school-houses were nearly as plentiful as at present. At first, services, at odd intervals, as circuit riders happened along, were held in private residences, and when the school-house was built, in that edifice, the confer- ence being annually convened in the barn of Mark Douglas. In about 1870, the present church edifice was erected at a cost of say $2,500, and has since been occupied.


The present number of members of the congregation is seventy-five, and services are conducted every Sunday by the Rev. James T. Bryan.


The Baptist Society, too, is of early date, and the experi- ence of this sect in Melrose is similar to that of every cler- ical effort begun in a new country. The present church was built in 1867, at an expense of $2,500, but until the present writing, services have been irregular, owing to the uncer- tainty of the supply. Recently, however, this embargo was removed by the appointment to the pulpit of the Rev. L. G. Catchpole, who is stationed at Black River Falls, but preaches in Melrose alternate Sundays.


The present congregation numbers forty communicants.


The first school in the vicinity of Melrose village was erected in 1854, at which time teachers were less numerous than pupils. Here the young idea was inducted into the mysteries and miseries of primary and advanced education by Mrs. Mary Merrill and others until 1870. During that year the present school-house was built, $2,000 being paid therefor. Since this event, Melrose has supported a graded school, employing two teachers and contributing $600 to the payment of expenses. The average daily attendance has been forty-five, during 1880, when the School Board


was composed of J. H. Willard, director; V. B. Newland, treasurer, and D. J. Aller, clerk.


The Post office was first located in Melrose when the same was called Bristol, in 1854. Mark Douglas was ap- pointed Postmaster and served successfully for a period of ten years. In 1858, the office was removed to Melrose vil- lage, where it still remains. Mr. Douglas was in turn suc- ceeded by B. S. Brewer, Jacob Johnson, V. B. Noonan, and D. J. Aller at present in charge.


Mails east and west are tri-weekly.


The Cemetery is located one and a half miles from the village, where it was removed in 1860 (from its former loca- tion on Black River), by an association organized in 1860, and under whose care the cemetery grounds still continue to be.


Melrose Lodge, No. 300, I. O. O. F., was chartered Oc- tober 1, 1880, with five members and the following officers : Charles Warren, N. G .; E. H. Polleys, V. G .; B. H. New- land, secretary, and A. D. Polleys, treasurer. The present officers are: E. H. Polleys, N. G .; V. M. Newland, V. G .; A. D. Polleys, secretary, and B. F. Thompson, treasurer. The lodge now has twenty-five members, and meetings are held weekly on Wednesday evenings.


Melrose Lodge, No. 222, I. O. G. T., was organized Jan- uary 12, 1865, with forty-nine members and the usual offi- cers. The present officers are : A. K. James, W. C. T .; Della Millard, W. V. T .; W. Sims, Mary Beach and Mark Beach, secretaries; Mrs. J. A. Johnson, W. T .; Rev. J. T. Bryan, W. C .; John Nimmo, W. S., and H. C. Sims, P. W. C. T. Meetings are convened weekly on Wednesday even- ings, and the number of members is stated at seventy-eight.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


DAVID J. ALLER, of the firm of Aller & James, dealers in dry goods and groceries, Melrose. Was born in Evansville, Rock Co., Wis., Oct. 31, 1852. Came to Melrose in January, 1877 ; started in his pres- ent business. Mr. A. is a very promising young man, and is a member of the Good Templars. Was married Oct. 17, 1880, to Miss J. D. But- ton, of Tomah ; she was born in Green Co., Wis., May 17, 1855.


MRS. HARRIET CHAMPLIN, Sec. 8, P.O. Melrose. Was born Oct. 28, 1824, in Vermont. Came to Manitowoc Co., Wis., in 1841, where she and her husband settled on a farm ; remained there twelve years ; returned to Vermont and commenced in the merchandise business, which they fol- lowed for seven years; came back to Wisconsin in 1861, and settled in Melrose; moved on the farm where Mrs. Champlin now lives, Mr. P. M. Champlin died in 1864. Mrs. Champlin built the house where she now lives, on the site of their first log cabin. She has five children- Frank P., Ellen J. (now Mrs. M J. Chapman), Hiram H., Cora H. and Porter M.


NELSON COLBURN, miller, Melrose. Was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1835 ; first came West in 1855, and worked in Jeffer- son County, as a miller, for Nelson Hulbert, one year ; went on the Yel- low River, following lumbering one year, and then went back East to Pennsylvania ; remained there a short time and returned to his native State. Ilas roamed around a good deal, having lived at Dunkirk, N.Y., Arcadia, Trempealeau Co., Hixton, Jackson Co., Wis., Cataract, Wis., North Bend, Wis., and at Salem, La Crosse Co. Mr. C. built a mill, in partnership with his brother, at Arcadia, and ran it a short time and then sold out. In 1874, moved to Melrose and took charge of Mark Douglas's mill, where he has remained ever since. Was married Nov. 26, 1858, to Miss Nancy J. Rathburn; she was born in Erie Co., Penn., Aug. 16, 1839, and by whom he has four children living-N. Irving, Lily L., Cullen and Carrie. They have lost two sons, Frankie, died at Arca- dia in 1868, and James E., died Nov. 8, 1880. Mr. C. is a member of A., F. & A. M., Black River Lodge, No. 74.


FRANK G. DAVIS, dealer in drugs and groceries, P. O. Irving, was born in New York, Jan. 4, 1832. Came with his parents to Jackson Co., Wis., in 1840, where his father built a saw-mill and farmed. Com-


424


HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.


menced business in the building where he now is, said building being an addition to the oldest building now standing in Jackson County. Enlisted in Co. F, 25th Wis. V. I., in August, 1862, and served for three years. Was the last Town School Superintendent under the old system in Irving. He was married to Miss Margaret E. Leland in 1866; she was born in New York State, March 6, 1829.


MRS. 11UGHI DOUGLAS, proprietor of Hotel, Melrose, was born in Vermont, May 31. 1820. Came to Wisconsin in 1847 and settled in Melrose, Jackson Co., and was married, Oct 4, of the' same year, to Mr. llugh Douglas. They built their first house on the site where the brick blacksmith shop now stands, and lived there for nine years, and built the house where she now lives, in 1856. She has been engaged at farming, and for the last four years has kept hotel. Mrs. Douglass has lived six months at a time without seeing a white woman, She has four children living-Mary Jane (now Mrs. Arnold), Libbie, Hugh, Price, and one infant son who died April 4, 1862.


HON. MARK DOUGLAS, dealer in saw-logs and pine lands, also in flour, feed and all kinds of farm produce, Melrose, is a native of Dumfries, Scotland, born Sept. 19, 1829. He came to America in June, 1845, and located at Melrose, which place has ever since been his home. IIe has held various local offices, having been the first Postmaster in his town, holding that office ten years ; has also been Town Treasurer, and Chairman of Town Board for over twenty years; was elected member of Assembly in 1874, and Senator for the years 1876-7 : was also a dele- gate to the National Convention at Cincinnati, in June, 1876; was pres- ident of the Jackson County Agricultural Society for two years, and is one of the State Board of Fish Commissioners.


ROBERT DOUGLAS, Sec. 20, was born Aug. 30, 1815, in Scot- land ; came to America in 1837, and was one of the eight brothers who first settled in Wisconsin. Mr. Douglas went to Potosi, Grant Co., in the Spring of 1839, and worked in a smelting furnace there for one'year ; came up the Black River, attracted by the report that there were banks of coal to be found along the river, but has seen none up to this date. Mr. Douglas pre-empted a claim from the Government, April 13. 1840, and went to farming and lumbering ; built a saw-mill at North Bend, in partnership with his brother Thomas, in the year 1842, and followed the lumber business for twelve years, at the same time improving his farm. In 1858, he built a small steamboat for the purpose of transporting sup- plies from La Crosse up the Black River, but it did not prove a very suc- cessful enterprise. He then began running his boat up the Mississippi and Root rivers, where he met with an accident which sunk his boat. Feeling somewhat discouraged, he returned to his farm on the Black River, with his boat crew, and built a larger steamboat for the purpose of running up and down the Black River. This did not prove a very profitable investment. Mr. Douglas was married to his first wife, Miss Louisa Hurd, Dec. 3, 1852. She was born June 16, 1825, and by whom he has two sons, John R. and Arthur A, Mrs. Douglas died Feb. 13, 1870, and he was married again to Mary M., widow of Clinton Pardon. They have one daughter, Mary Jane.


A. K. JAMES, of the firm of Aller & James, dealers in dry goods and groceries, and Postmaster, Melrose, was born at Deerfield, N. H .; came with his parents to Richard Center, where he worked for his father in a boot and shoe shop. At the age of twenty, he began teaching school, and in 1872 went to Hillsbury, where he clerked in a store for two years, then went to Millston and clerked for J. Parker until Septem- ber, IS77; removed to Melrose and bought in the store where he now is. The firm do a very good business, and carry a stock of about $3,000. Mr. James has been Town Clerk, is a Good Templar, and a member of the Baptist Church.


JACOB A. JOHNSON, lawyer, Melrose, was born Aug. 26, 1819, in New York State ; came to Melrose, Jackson Co., Wis., May 1, 1857, where he has remained ever since. He first engaged in the lumber busi- ness, and built a saw-mill at the mouth of the Douglass Creek, and con- tinued to run it for three years, at which time the mill was destroyed by fire. lle then moved into the village. Mr. Johnson was admitted to the Bar in 1858, and has practiced his profession since then, also operat- ing his farm. He was elected District Attorney in 1861, and held the office four years ; has been Chairman of Town Board five years, and is a member of the Good Templars. Mr. Johnson was married May 3, 1846, to Miss Matilda Herkimer, who was born in New York, March 9, 1825. Herkimer Co., N. Y., was named after Mrs. Johnson's great- grandfather, Henry Ilerkimer, who was a member of the Safety Com- mittee in the time of the Revolutionary War. Mr. Johnson's family consists of three children-Orinda S. (now Mrs. S. R. Davis, of Clark County), Mary B. and Carroll B. He has held the position of State Organizer, and has traveled through the State engaged in that work, and has instituted over 100 different Good Templar Lodges; has also held the positions of State Counselor and State Deputy in the order.


VINCENT B. NEWLAND, dealer in general merchandise, Mel- rose, was born Oct. 5. 1821, in Hardwick, Mass. Came to Jackson Co., Wis., in 1853, where he stayed but a short time and then went back to Massachusetts and stayed four years. Returned to Wisconsin in 1857 and settled in Melrose, Jackson Co., and followed farming until 1865


He then moved into the village, did blacksmithing two years, kept hotel two years and then returned to his farm and stayed there until 1870; re- moved again to the village and opened a store, which business he has been in ever since, In January. 1857, was elected to the Legislature from Sturbridge, Worcester Co., Mass, Has been a member of Melrose Town Board and was also Postmaster under Grant's administration. He was married in March, 1844, to Miss Prudence Tuttle. She was born June 20, 1827, in New York, They have four children living - Benja- min H., Virgil M., Charles and Wilbur F. There was another son, Hiram F., who was killed by a bushwhacker in the late war. He was a volunteer of Co. D, 14th Reg. Wis. Inf., as a musician, and at the battle of Shiloh was promoted to principal musician of his regiment.


WILLIAM H. POLLEYS, farmer and lumberman, Sec. 17. P. O. Melrose, was born in Nova Scotia. May 18, 1824. Came to the United States in 1835, and worked in a store in Wasbington Co., Maine, for two years, then went to lumbering and continued at that until 1849, then came to Wisconsin. After exploring the pine lands in the northern counties, he returned to Maine and continued his former business for six years. In 1856, moved his family to Wisconsin and settled on the Black River, where he has remained ever since. Owns about 11,000 acres of land, in timber and farming land. Has 1,000 acres under culti- vation. Runs a large farm at Melrose and also runs three farms up in the pineries ; has a fine lot of blooded stock, including horses and cattle. Runs a large saw-mill at La Crosse, and in 1880-81, had his largest run of logs, which was about 13,000,000 feet of timber. Employs 200 men in Winter and seventy-five in Summer. Married Miss Dora Woodcock. She was born in Maine in September, 1829. Mrs. P. is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a member of A. F. & A. M., Black River Lodge, No. 74, Chapter, No. 41.


ELI TIFFANY, farmer, Section 31, P. O. Melrose, was born in Yorkshire, England, Feb. 21, 1817. Came to America in. 1842, and set- tled in Walworth Co., Wis. In 1844, went to McHenry Co., Ill., and farmed there for eleven years. In 1855, returned to Wisconsin and set- tled in Jackson County, where he has since remained. Owns eighty acres of good land. Was married in England, Dec. 25, 1838, to Miss Mary Turner. She was born in England. They have three children- Hannah (now Mrs. Harvey Jaynes), Joseph and Charles H. They lost two children, John (who was killed at the battle of Perryville in the late war), and Ida (who was Mrs. Henry C. Callendar).


WILLIAM A. SHOLES, farmer, Sec. 7, P. O. Melrose, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y .. Dec 27, 1835. Came to Wisconsin in 1856, and settled in the town of Irving. Remained there until 1874 ; moved to Melrose on the farm where he now lives. Enlisted in Co. B, 9th II], Cavalry in 1865, and served till the close of the war. Returned to his farm and went to work. Was a member of Town Board of Irving one year, and is a member of the Grange at Melrose. Mr. Sholes was mar- ried to Miss Ellen Marvin. December, 1857. She was also born in New York, in 1838 ; came to Wisconsin with her parents in 1856. They have nine children living - Cassius A., Mabel (now Mrs. Peter Simpson), Charles, Ellen, Gertrude M., William. Elizabeth, Estell and Arba. They had one daughter, Rhoda, who died Feb. 16, 1872.


JOHN H. WILLARD, retired farmer, P. O. Melrose, was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1821. Came West in 1853, and located at Burr Oak, La Crosse Co., Wis., where he farmed and kept hotel for four years. Moved to Melrose, Jackson Co., in 1857, and farmed until 1877, at which time he moved into the village and continues to live there. Mr. Willard was married to Miss Charlotte J. Gear, in 1842. She was born in Vermont, Sept. 4, 1823. They have four children - Franklin J., Mary J. (now Mrs. Charles Newland), Della and Edith. They have lost and son, Clifford, who died in 1853. Mr. W. has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, of Melrose ; Justice of the Peace and Assessor, at Melrose and Burr Oak, and Postmaster at Burr Oak.


NORTH BEND.


A pleasant country hamlet on Black River in Melrose Township, eight miles south of the village of Melrose, was first settled by Thomas Douglas during the year 1845, when he came into the county and erected a saw mill on the pres- ent village site. He was soon afterward followed by W. H. Marshall, M. K. Pyn, Samuel Stevens and family, Sylvester Abbey, W. A. Thomas and others, and in 1865 the last named surveyed the village, platted the same and erected a grist mill, which is still standing. Soon after this he opened the first store established in the village, though Thomas Douglas had been recognized as the town store-keeper since 1846, when he added mercantile to his business of farming and milling.


425


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


In 1866, William H. Chamberlain, who became a resi- dent about 1861 or 1862, opened a hotel, which is the only house of entertainment accessible to travelers. In 1879, John MacDonald became its proprietor, re-modeling and improving the same in a marked degree. The arrivals be- tween 1860 and 1870 of prominence include Thomas Mc- Lean, the village Justice, Alexander Burr, merchant, Alex- ander Anderson, wagon-maker, B. F. Gipple, Postmaster, and others. In 1878, Dr. McMurtry came in, but the arri- vals previous and subsequent to the dates mentioned were neither numerous nor important.


The post-office was established early in the '60's, with Thomas Douglas as Postmaster, followed by Alexander Burr and B. F. Gipple, the latter in charge.


There is no school-house in the village, and but two church edifices-the Presbyterian, erected in 1863, at a cost of $1,000, with the Rev. Robert Christiansen as pastor at present, and the Methodist, built in 1864, at a similar cost, with the Rev. Mr. Bryan pastor in charge.


The mill is supplied with two run of stone and cost $4,000.


In addition to these evidences of prosperity, there is an Odd Fellows' lodge, chartered in 1865, and a lodge of Good Templars, instituted in 1866 or '67. The village contains a population of about 125 souls.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


LEWIS F. CRANDELL, farmer and insurance agent, Sec. 29, P. O. North Bend, was born July 7, 1845, in Chenango Co., N. Y. Came West with his parents in 1855 and located at Farmington, La Crosse Co., Wis., where he worked on the farm for his father until twenty-one years old, going to school during the Winter months, removed to Jackson County, in the Fall of 1876 and still lives there. Mr. Crandell was Justice of the Peace at Farmington, also at North Bend, and Postmaster at Burr Oak for nine years. Is a member of A. F. & A. M., Salem Lodge, No. 125, and of I. O. O. F., North Bend Lodge, No. 291. He was married, in 1865, to Miss Carrie Wilda, she was born June 24, 1845. Their family consists of four children-Carrie M., Herma, Charles F. and Homer. They have lost one son, Lewis H., who died Ang. 28, 1874.


JOHN GLENNIE, farmer, Sec. 22, P. O. North Bend, was born in Scotland, March 22, IS28 ; came to America in 1870, and settled in the town of North Bend, Jackson Co., Wis. He owns 180 acres of land ; has been a member of Town Board three years, and Assessor for one year. Mr. Glennie kept a general merchandise store in Scotland, and was also in Australia thirteen years, engaged in mining and farming, he- fore he came to America. He was married to Miss Eliza Scott, in Scot- land, in 1865. They have seven children-Ann D., Jessie S., Elizabeth S., Maggie, John, James G. and William W.


BENJAMIN F. GIPPLE, Postmaster and dealer in general mer- chandise, North Bend, was born April 26, 1827, in Scipio, N. Y .; came West in 1856, and settled in Hokah, Minn., where he did carpentering for one year ; began clerking for Anderson & Co., and remained eleven years in their employ. In 1873, he went to La Crosse, Wis., and com- menced business for himself, and from there removed to North Bend. He is a member of A. F. & A. M., Frontier Lodge, No. 47, Chapter, No. 13, at La Crosse, and is also a member of I. O. O. F., North Bend Lodge, No 291, and of the United Workmen, No. 2. at La Crosse. Mr. Gipple was appointed Postmaster under President Hayes, and was married to Miss Mary A. Sneur, in May, 1849, who died Aug. 6, 1862, and by whom he has five children living-John L .. George W., Harriet A. (now Mrs. B. F. Heistand), Ella E. (now Mrs. W. D. Roberts) and Charles M. Mr. Gipple was married the second time, June 2, 1865, to Miss Emily R. Bradford. She was horn Oct. 9, 1843, in Indiana. The second family of children consists of Benjamin F., Albert A., William B. and Mary A.


JOHN H. MCDONALD, farmer and hotel keeper, North Bend, was born in Scotland, March 4, 1849; came to America with his parents in 1852; remained with them in Maryland until 1858, when they came West in June of that year, and located in Jackson County. They then returned to Maryland in 1872, and remained there seven years. He came back to Jackson Co., Wis., and worked at carpentering for some time, and then commenced to farm and keep hotel. He was married to


Miss Eliza Amburn, Sept. 6, 1870. She was born in Germany, in Octo- ber, 1849. They have five children, all of whom are living-Flora B., Delilah, John R., Donald J. and Mary E. He is a member of I. O. O. F., Lanacaning Lodge, No. 85, in Maryland ; also a member of Inde- pendent Order of Free Gardeners, Thistle Lodge, No. I, in Maryland.


MILLSTON.


This is a small station on the West Wisconsin Railroad, located on Sec. 20, in the town of Millston.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


H. B. MILLS, farmer and lumberman, Sec. 20, P. O. Millston, was born in Canada, July 14, 1828. Went to New York with his parents at the age of four years. Commenced to work for himself when fourteen years old, and two years afterward returned to Canada and went up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec. Came to Wisconsin in 1849, with one David Watwell, landing at Sheboygan and walking from there to Fond du Lac. In 1849, went to Lake Shawano, on Wolf River; worked at lumbering for two years. In 1851, went with a party of five up Black River to Robinson's Creek, and had quarters in a log-cabin. It was the custom that if any one stopped over night with them, one of the party would say : " Are you going to stop with us long? If so, we will kill a large deer; if not, we will only kill a small one." In 1853. he began con- tracting for banking logs, which he continued for about four years, after which he erected a saw mill on Robinson's Creek, in company with Albert Wheeler and Charles Kelly. Afterward, commenced lumbering for himself, during which time he opened a farm, and still owns it. In 1863, his mill, and all the surrounding outbuildings, were completely destroyed by fire. Two years previous to the fire, he started a hotel on Black River Falls and Tomah road, called Mills' Tavern, and from there he returned to his farm, and there remained until 1874, when he built the saw mill where he now is, at Millston station, said place being named for him, and is on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad. Mr. Mills was Chairman of the Town Board at Manchester a number of years ; also, Town Treasurer of Millston ; and was a member of As- sembly from Jackson and Clark counties in 1876. Is a member of A. F. & A.M., Black River Lodge, No. 74, Chapter, No. 41, and of La Crosse Commandery, No. 9. He was married in 1857, to Miss Mary Rodgers. She was born in Canada, Feb. 2, 1839. Have seven children- Thomas B., John H., Alexander, Edward, Hugh B., Mary M. and Margie M. There were also two who died, Ira P. and Dennis. Mr. Mills also ran the store at Millston for three years. and was Postmaster and express agent. Is now vice-president and director of the Jackson Bank at Black River Falls.




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