USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 86
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REV. AUGUST F. ERNST, President of the Northwestern University ; born in flanover June 25, 1841 ; educated in the colleges of Celle and at the University of Gottingen ; taught one year in Germany ; then, in 1863, came to America and located in New York City, where he was engaged in the holy ministry ; in 1864, he was ordained at Pottstown, Penn .; preached in New York City until 1868; for ten months thereafter, he had pastoral charge of a congregation at Albany, N. Y., then came to Water- town. Prof. Ernst married Agnes Hartwig Jan. 7, 1868; she was born in the city of New York ; they have six children-George R. A., Charles P. A., Adolfine W. B., Elizabeth D. G., Mary A. G. and Frederick II. W.
EDWARD R. EVANS, proprietor of livery stable; born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, Nov. 21, 1822; came to America in 1840; located in Utica, N. Y., one year ; spent two years in Lexing- ton, Ky., and some time in St. Louis and other places before coming to Watertown in the spring of 1846 ; engaged in blacksmith and wagon-making business here until 1870, when he engaged in livery business. He was married in Delafield, Waukesha Co., Wis., Nov. 13, 1846, to Sarah Jones; she was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales ; they have six children-George W. (associated with his father), Sade (now Mrs. Eugene Bradbury, of Watertown), Gomer E. (a resident of Chicago), Eliza, John Quincy ( telegraph operator for the C., M. & St. P. R. R. Co. at this place) and David C. (who resides with his parents).
THOMAS D. EVANS, carpenter and joiner; born Dec. 16, 1823, in Carmarthenshire, Wales, where he was educated and learnt his profession ; came to America in 1853, and located in Water- town, Wis .; worked for himself till 1856, when he entered the employ of the C. & St. P. Railroad, and
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worked in several departments till, in 1869, he became foreman carpenter, and still holds that position. Married Miss Margaret Jones, of Wales, in September, 1851 ; have one child-David T. Members of the Welsh Presbyterian Church ; Republican.
JOHN FORD, of the firm of Hanlin & Ford, dealers in lumber, building-paper, paints, eoal, etc .; born in Scotland June 30, 1825; came to America and located at Watertown in August, 1849; for sixteen years, he worked at his trade of plasterer, stone and brick mason ; in 1863 and 1864, he spent a year and a half in Arkansas in the Quartermaster's Department of the United States Army ; afterward, he worked for a year at his trades and for seven years he was in the office of the Chief Engineer of the Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway Company ; Feb. 1, 1873, he engaged in the lumber business with Mr. Ham- lin, and they have been associated together in the same business ever since. Mr. Ford was first Superin- tendent of Schools under the union plan, afterward Commissioner of Schools for the Sixth Ward for one year, and in 1878 was Commissioner of Schools for the First Ward. Dee. 3, 1847, he married Martha McKritchie ; she was born in Scotland ; they have had six children; the living are James G., John C. and Julia J .; lost three children ; two sons died in infancy ; one daughter. Anna, died Dec. 29, 1866, aged 17 years. Mrs. Ford and Julia J. are members of the Congregational Church.
AUGUST FUERMANN, brewer ; was born in Germany Jan. 8. 1822; eame to Wisconsin in 1847, locating in Milwaukee, where he opened a grocery and saloon ; he then moved to Watertown and engaged in the brewing of lager beer in a building 24x50 and gradually made additions to the same until he has the handsomest brewery in Watertown. He married, in 1846, Christiana IIengott, of Prussia ; he has uine children-Charlie, August, Amelia, Julius, Aida, Henry, Iette, Albert and Gerhard.
AUGUST FUERMANN, Jr., proprietor of saloon; boru in Watertown Sept. 3, 1850; associated with his father in the brewing business here. and Chicago agent of the Fuermann Brewing Com- pany from October, 1871, until he returned to Watertown, and engaged in present business in February, 1878. Dec. 19, 1874. he was married to Eliza Speer (daughter of Ferdinand Speer) ; she was born in Water- town; they have one child-Amanda, born April 29, 1878. Mr. F. is a member of A., F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., Turners' and Concordia Musical Societies.
WM. FUERSTENAU, teacher; born in Prussia April 16, 1830; came to America in 1857 ; located iu Chicago ; was employed as a teacher there and in that vicinity for seven years; theu he came to Watertown. and has been engaged in teaching here ever since; he is Principal of the school which he is now connected with ; educated at Stettin Seminary, in Germany. Mr. F is a member of the Missouri German Lutheran Synod. Oct. 12, 1854, he was married, in Germany, to Wilhelmina Gramzow; she was born in Prussia ; they have six children-Martha (now the wife of Rev. Mr. Machmiller, of Fair- bank, lowa), Renata (now teaching in Milwaukee), Martin (a student in the Northwestern University), Paul and Anna.
S. B. FULLER, wholesale and retail dealer in new " Home," " Eldredge," and the best makes of Singer Sewing Machines. Mr. Fuller came to Watertown in August, 1866; he has sold about 4,000 sewing machines since he engaged in that business in 1869 ; the first three years of his residence here, he was in insurance business ; then, for nine years, he was district agent for the "Singer Manufacturing Com- pany ;" he was born in Milford, N. H., June 24, 1841 ; from 1855 to 1866, resided at Fond du Lac. In April, 1870, he was married to Mary I. Avery, daughter of Dr. Avery, of Richmond, Ind .; she was born in Ohio; they have three children-Gertrude, Anna and Abbie. Mrs. Fuller is a member of the Congre- gational Church.
EMIL C. GAEBLER, musical instruments and musical merchandise, Watertown ; was born in Eisenberg, Saxony, Sept. 30, 1828, and came to Wisconsin November, 1856, locating at Lake Mills ; he received his literary education at the college at Eisenberg. and after that taught school for two years. On Aug. 15, 1849, he came to the United States to look after some land that was ceded to his father by a brother who was engaged in the Mexican war in the 15th Wis. V. I .; he then went to Danbury, Conn., and became teacher of musie and languages in John W. Irwin's Institute, six months after which he estab- lished himself in the teaching of music, tuning and repairing pianos, which he continued there for seven years ; on account of his health, he went to Lake Mills, Wis., and entered the hardware business, in which he remained two years, when he went to Watertown, and at first manufactured melodeons ; afterward started the music store which he now occupies; he is also engaged in teaching music and leading singing societies, and is now leader of the Concordia Musical Society ; he has been engaged for the past eight years in the manufacture of pipe organs, and has made and placed organs in the following churches : Emanuel Church, Lebanon, Wis .; St. John's Lutheran Church, at Watertown, Wis. (this organ has two banks of keys and twenty-eight stops) ; Lutheran Church, at Lomira, Wis .; Evangelical Church, at Ripon, Wis., and the Lutheran Church at Fall Creek, Wis. In 1876, he was elected School Commissioner, which
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position he now holds. He married, July 3, 1819, Bertha Von Beust; he has five children-Max H., Emcline A., Otto F., Sophie C. and Arthur.
A. J. GAMM, bill clerk for the C., M. &. St. P. Ry. Co .; born in Watertown June 4, 1853 ; he was engaged in teaching for three years prior to his connection with the railway company, in 1873 ; he is a son of Angust Gamm, one of the prominent merchants of Watertown.
C. H. GARDNER, attorney, residence in the Sixth Ward, Dodge Co .; born in St. Petersburg, Russia : came to Wisconsin in June, 1846 ; was a resident of the town of Emmett, Dodge Co., until 1862 ; from 1868 to 1870, he was a student at the State University at Madison ; graduated from the Law Department of that institution in June, 1870. Mr. Gardner is now serving as City Attorney.
RICHARD GESCHKE, dealer in stoves, hardware, tinware, ete .; born in Prussia March 9, 1848; son of Charles Geschke, who came to America with his family and located in Texas in 1853; resided there until 1861, then returned to Germany and remained until 1865, when they came to Water- town. Charles Geschke died here in April, 1874; his widow is now a resident of this eity. Richard Geschke has carried on business here since 1862, associated with his father and also with his brother Edward, until the death of the latter, about two years ago ; since then, Richard has conducted the business alone. March 4, 1872, he was married, in Watertown, to Ida Eckhoff, daughter of Ludwig Eckhoff; she was born in Watertown ; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the German Evan- gelieal Lutheran Church.
GUSTAVUS GLOGER, general merchant; born in Saxony July 6, 1838; came to Clyman, Dodge Co., Wis., with his parents, in October, 1849 ; lived there until the spring of 1861, then he moved to the town of Emmett, in the same county. Sept. 18, 1866, he was appointed Supervisor, and was elected to the same office April 4, 1867 ; he was again elected Supervisor in April, 1877 ; after serving eight months, he resigned on account of removal to Watertown ; he was Treasurer of Emmett Township in 1865; prior to coming to Watertown in the fall of 1877, he was engaged in farming. He has been carrying on mercantile business since he came here. He was married in Clyman, May 29, 1862, to Mary M. Freber; she was born in Clyman, where her parents, Charles and Margaret Freber, settled at an early day. Mr. Gloger has five children living-Gustavus E., Alva C., Estella, Lena and Edey ; lost one daughter, Alma Endora ; she was born May 11, 1864, and died Sept. 6, 1864. Mr. G.'s father, Ernest Gloger, came with his family to America and located at Troy, N. Y., in 1840; lived there about two years, then removed to Northampton, Mass., where he resided until he came to Wisconsin in 1849. He died in Emmett Township in April, 1867.
WILLIAM GORDER, grocer, and dealer in flour, feed, crockery, wooden ware, lime, cement, stneco, fire-clay, plaster, etc .; farmer's produce bought and taken in exchange for goods ; store located on Main street, near Sixth. Mr. Gorder was born in Prussia July 3, 1848; came to America with his par- ents in 1851 : located in Lebanon, Dodge Co .; came to Watertown in 1876. Married Amelia Krouitz June 23, 1871 ; she was born in Lebanon, Dodge Co., Wis .; they have two children-Eda and Henry. Mr. Gorder is a son of Angust and Louisa Gorder ; his father died in April, 1878, and his mother May 2, 1872.
REV. FREDERICK GOTTSCHALK came to America in 1856; spent abont four months in Buffalo, N. Y., then came to Milwaukee and has made that his home most of the time since. He was born in Prussia July 18, 1843; received his elementary education in Europe ; he was for two years a student at the Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio ; Sept. 29, 1867, he was ordained Deacon in the Methodist Church ; Sept. 19, 1869, he was ordained Elder : his first charge was at Fond du Lae, where he remained one year and a half; afterward at Beaver Dam and Herman for a year ; two years at Colum- bus ; three years at Oshkosh ; two years at Madison, having commenced work two years and a half prior to his ordination. Mr. Gottschalk graduated from the Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, Ill., Jan. 15, 1876; after several years of labor in the holy ministry, he decided that he would enter that institution and derive the benefits and advantages of a thorough English theologieal education, thereby being more fully fitted for the glorious work to which he had dedicated his life. In September, 1876, he came to Watertown. Ang. 19, 1866, he married Louisa Amalia Adam, daughter of' George Adam, a native of Alsace, France, who came to Clyman, Dodge Co., in 1846. Mrs. Gottschalk was born in Erie Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1845 ; they have four children living-Franklin Benjamin, born in Clyman, Dodge Co., Wis., Aug. 19, 1867 ; Albert Wesley, in Oshkosh, June 30, 1870; Emma Louisa, in Madison, Feb. 17, 1872; Benjamin Theophilus, Sept. 15, 1877 ; lost two children-Lydia Martha, who died at the age of 3 months, and Arthur Frederick. aged 11 months.
GEORGE GRAFFE, basket manufacturer ; born in Prussia April 6, 1853; came to Amer- ica with his parents in 1856. He commenced work as a basket-maker when he was about 13 years of age and has continued at the same work ever since, for the last two years in business for himself. He was
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married, Oet. 23, 1837, to Regina Colle ; she was born in Germany ; they have one ehild-Mary, born Aug. 20, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Graffe are members of the German Catholic Church. The basket factory was established by Mr. G.'s father, John Graffe, in 1857; he carried on the business until his death, which oeeurred Dee. 6, 1877, being 54 years of age ; his widow. Margaret Graffe, survives him and is now a resident of Watertown.
REEVE GRISWOLD, born Jan. 23, 1809, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y .; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1836 and located in Watertown, claiming 160 acres of land, which he sold and took up 160 aeres further west, all wild land, plenty of wolves and Indians and not a home between here and Waukesha. Griswold, Baldwin and Johnson built the first log house in Watertown, which he sold with the land, and it stood four or five years ago, just north of where Evans' livery stable now stands. He afterward bought forty acres of the School Seetion in Dodge Co., but sold it, and is now liviug on the West road. Married Miss Lucy Ann Hewett, of Watertown ; he has five children-Reeve, Jefferson, Charles, Frank and Nettie.
AMAND GRITZNER, proprietor of barber-shop; eame to America from Silesia, Prussia, in 1854, where he had been a musician, but learned the barber trade after he came to the United States and has since followed it. He married Miss Berdener Seaberg, of West Farland, Germany, in 1868, by whom he has one child, whose name is Max, now 9 years of age. He, his wife and son, are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Gritzner has been a member of the Temple of Honor since 1877; was in the 3d United States Regulars for seven years, from 1861 to 1867 ; was mustered out of the service at Fort Leavenworth, Kan .. in 1867, when he returned to Watertown a: d continued his trade.
JOHN HABHEGGER, general merchant; born in Switzerland April 19, 1844; came to Watertown with his parents in 1853. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. D. 23d W. V. I., at Madison in 1862 ; he was in all engagements that his regiment participated in, and was mustered out as Corporal at Mobile, Ala., July 4, 1865. He has been engaged in mercantile business for the last eleven years. He is Alderman of the First Ward. He is connected with the Turner Society ; he is also a member of the Concordia Musical Society. He was married. July 16, 1868, to Lena Schultz, daughter of C. W. Schultz, a prominent citizen of this city ; she was born in Watertown ; they have four children -Emma, Charles J., Bertha and Hattie. Mr. H. is a son of John Habhegger, Sr., who is now a resident of Fort Atkinson, this county.
U. HABHEGGER, grocer, Sixth Ward, Dodge Co .; born in Switzerland March 12, 1834; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1853; engaged in farming until 1861; he then engaged in mer- cantile business, which he continued until 1867, when he again went on a farm and remained until 1869; since 1869, he has been carrying on mercantile business and also giving his attention to his farming interests. He has held various city and town offices ; he is now serving as Supervisor. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge and Concordia Musical Society. Dee. 31, 1857, he married Lena Gfeller, a native of Switzerland ; they have six children-Sophia, Lizzie, Emil, Lena, Albert and Lillie.
CHARLES HAEFFNER, butcher ; born in Prussia Jan. 22, 1839; came to Watertown in 1847, with his father, Michael Haeffner ; they came to Milwaukee in 1846; Michael Haeffner was a cabinet-maker and turner by trade; he died here June 16, 1869. Charles commeneed business as a buteher in 1860. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 20th W. V. I .; he was mustered out at Galves- ton, Tex., August, 1865. Returned to Watertown and resumed business as a butcher. He has been a member of Pioneer Fire Company No. 1 for the last eleven years; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge. Jan. 16, 1868, he was married to Helena Karcher, daughter of John Karcher, one of the early settlers of Watertown, having come here about 1850; she was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 6, 1845; they have four children-Charles, Helena, Frederick and Ernst. Mrs. Haeffner's father died Sept. 3. 1868.
JOHN C. HALLIGER, Justice of the Peace and insurance agent; born in Prussia Oct. 14. 1814 ; came to Watertown Oct. 14, 1848; for eight years, he was engaged in the business of muasou and bricklayer; afterward appointed Notary Public ; from 1859 to 1863, he was County Clerk of Dodge Co .; afterward remained a resident of Juneau until 1866, carrying on farming and nursery business there; lived in Brown Co., Wis., and Minnesota a few years ; was employed as book-keeper in Bursin- ger's brewery five years. Alderman of the Sixth Ward two terms; Assessor one year ; two years acting City Treasurer ; about two years Justice of the Peace. ITis first wife was Margaret Ehleis; they were married in Germany in 1842; she died in December, 1858, leaving one daughter-Sophia, who now resides in Watertown ; Mr. Halliger's second wife was Emma Toelke; married in January. 1860; she died in 1864; one child by this marriage-Charles ; Mr. H.'s present wife was Johanna D. Schultz, a native of Prussia ; married in 1864; they have six children-Louisa, Rosa, Ernst, Dora, Fred and Emma.
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T. S. HARRISON, veterinary surgeon ; born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., Dec. 1, 1815; lived there until he was 21 years of age, then went to Fort Ann, N. Y .; remained there two years, and removed to Glens Falls, Warren Co., N. Y .; resided there twelve years, then went to Buffalo, where he stayed two years ; afterward he spent two years in Cincinnati, seven years in Norwalk, Ohio, seven years at Fort Wayne, Ind .; in July, 1868, he came to Watertown. The Doctor has practiced veterinary sur- gery more or less for the last forty years ; for the last thirteen years, he has devoted his entire attention to the practice of his profession ; he spent fourteen or fifteen years of his life in mannfacturing business, locomotive works, etc., manufacturing springs, etc .; he invented the first spring furnace for heating and tempering the entire length at one heat ; he had charge of the locomotive works at Nashville, Tenn., prior to Hood's battle there during the late war. His first wife was Sarah Strong, of Norwalk, Ohio; she died there, leaving two children-Adelaide (she died in infancy, soon after her mother's death), Jarvis C. (now a resident of Watertown) ; the Doctor's present wife was Sophia Charlotte, a native of Berlin, Prussia ; they were married in Watertown Oct. 19, 1870.
PHILIPP HEINRICHS, proprietor of planing-mill and manufacturer of chairs, sash, doors, blinds, etc .; he is also a member of Jungman & Co., furniture dealers; Mr. H. was born in Prussia Nov. 8, 1843 ; came with his parents to Albany, N. Y., in the spring of 1854, and to Watertown in the fall of the same year ; he commenced learning the trade of carpenter and joiner when only 13 years of age ; about eleven years ago, he commenced the manufacture of bedsteads; carried on business for some time in company with Peter May ; two years ago, he commenced business alone where he is now located; contracting and building is also a part of the business which he carries on. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Sons of Hermann, Turner Society and Workman's Society, also of the Hook and Lad- der Company. Dec. 3, 1865, he was married, in Watertown, to Caroline Ratsch; she was born in Prussia ; they have three children-Ida, Theodore and Caroline.
HERMANN HEISMANN, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes ; was born in Ger- many Nov. 18, 1832; came to Watertown in 1852; when 16 years of age, he commenced his present trade. Jan. 9, 1857, he married Eliza Spingler, also a native of Germany, by whom he has had seven children, five of whom survive-John, Edward, Bertha, Charles and Frank, Mena and Emma having died. He is a member of the German Methodist Church.
D. HEIMSEHR, merchant; a native of the Kingdom of Prussia, where he was born April 16, 1848; came to America in 1854, locating at Waukegan, Ill., where he resided four years ; removing thence to Watertown. For some time he was engaged in peddling, and thirteen years ago began his present business in Watertown. In October, 1858, he was married to Josephine Stueklih, a native of Bohemia, at Waukegan, by whom he has had three children-Mary, Anna and Charles. Mr. Heimsehr and his family are members of the German Methodist Church.
CASIMER HENRICH, foreman of F. Miller & Co.'s flouring-mill; born Oct. 13, 1851, in Prussia; came to America in 1869 and located in Lowell, Dodge Co., Wis., where he learned and worked at his profession ; came to Watertown in 1873; worked for Milton Blanchard till 1875, when he entered the employ of F. Miller & Co .; he was made foreman April 1, 1879. Married Miss Louisa Kreuger, of Watertown, Oct. 7, 1876, and has one child-Lilly, born Oct. 24, 1877.
GEORGE HENZE, City Marshal; born in Hanover Jan. 9, 1841 ; came to America with his father in 1854; spent a few weeks in Milwaukee; then located in the town of Summit, Waukesha Co .; engaged in farming pursuits there one year ; then removed to Richwood, Dodge Co., where his father purchased a saw-mill ; worked on a farm most of the time until 1859, when he came to Watertown; here he served an apprenticeship at the wagon-maker's trade, working for Charles Krueger until Aug. 12, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. E, 20th W. V. I. He was in all the engagements his regiment partici- pated in, and was mustered out as Second Lieutenant in July, 1865 ; returned to Watertown and worked at his trade of wagon-making until 1874; afterward, for nearly two years and a half, he was in the employ of Jacob Weber & Son, lumber merchants ; then worked at his trade again for a few months ; then entered the employ of J. B. Bennett, thrashing-machine manufacturer, building trucks; continued with Mr. Bennett until May 1, 1877, when he was appointed night-watch on the police force of this city ; held that position until he was appointed City Marshal April 8, 1879 ; he was Constable in 1872; he spent a year and a half at Rio, Columbia Co., Wis., between 1869 and the spring of 1871. He was married in Watertown in 1865 to Amelia Nicolai; she was born in Germany ; they have six children-Geo., Jr., Wm., Angusta, Amelia, Augusta and Lisette ; lost one daughter, Lena, who died at the age of 6 months. Mr. Henze is a prominent member of the Fire Department and the following societies : I. O. O. F., Workmen's and Turners'.
WILLIAH HERBST, tailor, Fifth Ward, Dodge Co .; born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Jan. 5, 1837; eame to America in 1851; located in New York City; remained there until 1852; then
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came to Watertown ; commenced learning the tailor's trade in Germany when only 14 years of age; has continued to work at the same business ever since. He was married in Watertown to Paulina Roder March 5, 1856; she was born in Silesia ; they have had nine children; lost five; the living are Paul, Robert, Priscilla and Emma; those who have died were named William, Calvin, Emil. Willie and Eddie. Mr. Herbst has been a member of the School Board; he is a member and one of the Trustees of the Evangelical Reformed Church.
CHARLES WILLIAM FRED HILGENDORF, grocer and saloon-keeper, Sixth Ward, Dodge Co .; born in Prussia Dee. 29, 1832; came to America and located in Watertown in 1854; for six months he was engaged in brickmaking; clerked two months for HI. Bellach ; for twelve years, he was with William Buchheit ; afterward, for two years he carried on business as commission merchant at Beaver Dam, Wis. ; in May, 1878, he commenced the business he is now carrying on. Mr. Hilgendorf's first wife was Louise Roeber ; she died Sept. 16, 1878, leaving two children-Charles and Anna. March 1, 1879, Mr. II. married Mary Roeber, his present wife. Mr. H. is a member of the Sons of Hermann and Workingmen's Societies.
M. A. HIRSH, dry-goods merchant; was born in Fellheim, Bavaria, Aug. 8, 1838, and eame to Wisconsin in March, 1866, loeating in Watertown. Mr. Hirsh landed in New York without one eent and immediately went to work at any honest employment he could find to do, such as carrying newspapers, driving express wagon, porter in stores, etc. In 1854, he went to Chicago and became a clerk in the wholesale dry-goods house of Rosenfield & Rosenberg, after which, he moved to Wilmington, Ill., and, in connection with Mr. Levi Abt, under the firm name of' Hirsh & Abt, opened a dry-goods store. which continued about three years, or until burnt ont by fire, the insurance just paying the indebtedness. Hav- ing lost every cent by this disaster, he came to Watertown, Wis., when his old employers, Messrs. Rosen- field & Rosenberg, loaned him money to again start in the dry-goods business ; this business he has carried on to the present writing with the most gratifying success. He married, June 17, 1868, Fannie Gold-
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