OAKLAND TOWNSHIP
Venango County Map 1903
Oakland Township was organized in 1840 from parts of Plum, Cornplanter and Sugar Creek Townships.
Lawrence Dempsey was probably the first settler. Among other early pioneers to the area were: Robert McElhaney, William McClain and James Gordon, Jonah Reynolds, Charles Stevenson, John Hays, William Moorehead, Edward Patchel, James Mason, Alexander McCormick, Alexander Fowler, George Kean, Francis Carter, William Hays, William Reed, Philip Walls, Philip Kees & John Fetterman.
Dempseytown - Samuel Dale, deputy surveyor, surveyed land for Peter & Lawrence Dempsey in 1800
Early Industry & Business Establishments
- Samuel Beatty owned a tannery.
- Henry Booth was an early medical practitioner
- J. R. McClintock, in company with Brewer, Watson & Merrick, established the first permanent business house in the area of Dempseytown.
- Christian Cauvel was a blacksmith and mechanic in the area of Dempseytown.
FOLKS
- James Roland CROWTHER, III - b. 3 Mar 1808 in Centre County, PA, d. 1892, s/o James II & Catharine ARMOGOST Crowther; m. in 1833 to Eleanor BAUM, 1815 - 1888, d/o Peter & Mary C. ROUSCHE Baum; children: Samuel, 1834 - 1910, m. Crissie A. McLAFFREY; Catherine J., 1836 - 1900, m. Elisha BEATLY; Ira C., 1837 - 1909, m. Sarah H. FETTERMAN; Eli M., 1840 - 1840; Marion B. ,1843 - 1923, m. Elizabeth 'Lyde' Jane RITCHEY; Mary A., 1846 - 1914; James Roland,IV,1848 - 1938, m. Mary ROWLAND; Alden M., 1850 - 1901, m. Melissa HAYES; Clara E., 1853 - 1922, m. Norton C. HENDERSON; Ida Emma, 1855 - 1908, m. Donald C. HENDERSON; Homer L., 1858 - 1938, m. Lizzie A. GROVE.
- Michael CAUVEL - b. 1824, s/o Christian & Mary LAMEY Cauvel; m. Rebecca REED; children: P. Sylvester, 1848 - 1928; James R., 1849 - 1918, m. Mary J. MYERS; Christian, m. Rachel PRICHARD; Margaret A. 1853 - 1905; Mary Jane, b. 1855, m. L. MARK; Amy Jane, b. 1857, m. John MASTERSON; Rachel, b. 1859; Frederick H., 1864 - 1889, m. Mary Ann LUSHER; Rose S., b. 1867, m. James MOORE; Ora Nettie, 1869 - 1897.
- Lawrence DEMPSEY - a native of Ireland first settled in Centre Co. before coming to Venango Co. in 1797. He developed and planted an orchard on land near Dempseytown; wife: Mary KAFMAN; sons: Peter and Daniel. Lawrence died in the eastern part of the state and the remains of his wife and son, Peter, are in the family graveyard.
- Peter DEMPSEY - s/o Lawrence & Mary KAFMAN Dempsey; was responsible for laying out the town of Dempseytown; Peter built a house on this site that adjoined the land of his father and later built a hotel/tavern on the same land. The tavern was destroyed by fire in 1885. Married to Rosanna "Susanna" CARTER , daughter of Thomas & Sarah BEATTY Carter; children: Thomas C., b. 1806, m. Mary Ann ARTHURS; Cicero T., b. 1808, m. Nancy KELLEY; Maria, b. 1810, m. James REED; David, b. 1813, m. Jane ARTERS; Washington, b. 1816, was lost on the Ohio River in 1844; Hetty C., b. 1818, m. Robert KELLEY; John C., b. 1820, m. Jemima RENINGER; Sally, b. 1820 (twin), m. John KELLEY; and Isabel, b. 1823
- Capt. John FETTERMAN - b. 25 Feb 1776 in Perry Co., d. 23 May 1854, s/o George Michael & Hannah STURGIS Fetterman; arrived in the southern area of Plum Twp. in 1805; veteran of the War of 1812; Justice of the Peace for many years; m. in 1800 to Barbara FRANK, d/o Daniel & Dorothea RUBLEY Frank; children: Polly Ann, b. 1801, m. Robert BRADLEY; Juliana, m. Alexander McDOWELL; Isaac, b. 1803, m. Nancy TITUS; Samuel, b. 1804; John Nelson, m. Levinah GROVE; Mesopotamia 'Timey', b. 1810, m. Joseph KEAN; Hannah, m. Robert RUSSELL; George Washington, m. Sarah GROVE; Eliza, b. 1817, m. Samuel Mark HOMAN; Rachel, 1822 - 1896, m. Jonathan LESH.
- James GIBSON and family settled in Oakland twp. prior to 1850. Both James and his wife, Martha GREGG were born in Ireland. Children: William, m. Elizabeth McNUTT; Margaret, m. __ HAYS; Jane, was an advocate of veterans and attended all veterans funerals, m. John A. BLAIR; James, m. Blanche __; Annie, m. __ CLEMENTS; Robert; Daniel; John, m. Kate McCANN; & Samuel.
- James GORDON - immigrated to America from Ireland and settled first in eastern PA and then moved west to the area of Oakland twp. where he had a distillery. He later sold his property to James HASLET and moved to the area of Cooperstown in Jackson Twp.
- Eliza GREGG - b. 17 August 1826 near Dempseytown. m. James McNUTT. Eliza is the daughter of Richard and Mary WARD GREGG.
- John HAYS - removed from Westmoreland Co., PA to Oakland Twp. abt. 1803-04; m. first to Mary McNUTT and second to Martha RAMSEY; children of John & Mary: Hugh; Greer, m. Jennie McKNIGHT; Robert, m. Mary McKNIGHT, sister to Jennie.
- John H. HAZEN - b. 7 Feb 1857 in Crawford Co., s/o Benjamin G. & Rachel McCLINTOCK Hazen; after choosing a medical profession moved to Dempseytown in 1882; m. Sarah E. TAYLOR; children: Merl Victor and Elma May.
- Joseph KEAN - b. Sept. 22, 1801 in Mifflin Co. in Mifflin Co., PA, died Nov. 2, 1892, 89yr 10mo 20da, At age 16 he commenced teaching a school and taught for a number of terms. In 1824 he purchased the farm on which he resided until his death. s/o George Kean died May 3, 1861 who settled in this area abt. 1802; G/s/o Cornelius Kean who served in the American Revolution and died in Mifflin county at the age of 84. m. In 1829 he married Mesopotamia FETTERMAN, daughter of Capt. John Fetterman.; Seven children were born; five survive: C. C., J. M., Martha, Eliza and Barbara, wife of D. E. Thomas. Interment at Lutheran Cemetery in Dempseytown.
- John KELLEY - arrived in this area from Franklin Co., PA prior to 1810, son of Edward and Elizabeth KELLEY; m. Mary Ann Beatty, daughter of Robert and Nancy Calhoun BEATTY of Jackson twp.; John served in the war of 1812; children of John and Mary Ann: Nancy, m. Cicero T. DEMPSEY; John, m. Sally DEMPSEY; Robert, m. Hetty C. DEMPSEY; Beatty, b. 1829; John d. 13 June, 1849 and buried with wife, Mary, d. 1829 , in the Dempsey family cemetery in Dempseytown.
- James McNUTT - b. in Scotland abt. 1818, settled in Oakland twp. and married Eliza GREGG. Their children were: Elizabeth, m. William Gibson; David; Joseph; William; Robert; Mary , m. WARD; Jane, m. CURTIS; Margaret, m. SCHUMACKER; Jessie, m. FOUST; Gertrude, m. Henry ?; Emma; Florence; Viola.
Siblings of James McNUTT : William; Joseph; Jane,m. HAYS; and Mollie, m. MORROW
- Robert B. NEELY - b. 23 Dec 1822 in Westmoreland Co., s/o Joseph and Martha BELL Neely; moved with is parents to this area when very young; kept the general store at Dempseytown and served as Justice of the Peace for 10 years; married in 1847 to Mary A. BEAR, d/o Martin & Maria Bear of Centre Co.; children; Mary Jane; Lois E.; John M.; Margaret A.; Joseph; Martha M.; R.C., m. Laura GAHRING; Sarah L.; Emma C.; Elizabeth M.; Samuel E.; Eva M.; Ina B.; James M.; Wilson A., m. Ada Irene HIGHBARGER.
- C.A. McCLINTOCK - b. 7 Dec 1846 in Dempseytown; son of James R. and Jerusah TENNENT McClintock; interests were in farming and oil production; he later removed to West Virginia; m. in 1870 to Adaline RICHEY; children: James Pliny, Herbert DeWitt, William Richey, Emma, Mabel and Laura
- Daniel REYNOLDS - served in War of 1812; came to this twp. area from Centre Co., PA and cleared land for his farm in 1841; m. Eliza ___; children: Martha J; Elizabeth W.; William C.; John, m. Louisa A. CAUVEL,d/o Christopher Cauvel and continued to live on the farm.
- William T. RICHEY - b. 25 Feb 1852 in Oakland Twp.; s/o Thomas H. and Mary NOLE Richey; m. in 1872 to Emily A. KITNER; children: Lyman B., Charles E., Israel R., and Chloe E.
- Robert RUSSELL - b. 9 Sept 1808 in Westmoreland Co., PA, s/o James Harper & Mary 'Polly' McQUISTON Russell; md. in 1835 to Hannah FETTERMAN, d/o John & Barbara FRANK Fetterman; children: John, b. 1836; Robert McQuiston, 1837 - 1849; Mary Barbara, 1838 - 1917, m. Jackson ALEXANDER; Barbara L., 1840 - 1922, m. 1 Feb 1855 to Charles W. REYNOLDS; Ann, b. 1842, m. A. A. TIMMON; Eliza Jane, b. 1847, m. Thomas MAGEE; James McQuiston, 11 July 1845 - 26 Apr 1917, m. in 1869 to Mary Jane FLEMING, d/o William Henry & Hannah HOMAN Fleming; Willilam Elias, 11 Jul 1845 - 30 Apr 1904, m. Mary HINDMAN & Lyda Jane JONES; Juliana, 1848 - 1 May 1925, m. Samuel SMALL.
- James THOMPSON - b. 1807 in Centre Co., PA, d. 1883 in Oakland Twp.; md. Margret HAYS d/o John & Hannah McCLAIN Hays; known children: John M., b. 1838, m. Caroline __; William McClain, b. 1835, m. Susanna HASLETT; Hannah Jane, b. 1839, m. Edward MIDDLEBOROUGH; Mary, b. 1841; Margaret, b. 1843; Gilbert, b. 1847, m. Effie __; James, b. 1849; Jane, b. 1851, m. Fred HAYS; Mary, died young.
- George WEBER - b. in 1830 in Centre Co., PA; son of George and Barbara KREITZER Weber; arrived in Dempseytown in 1852 and established his trade of tailor until 1887; m. Elizabeth HOMAN, d/o Michael HOMAN; children: Newton, 1853 - 1862; Emerson, 1854 - 1862; Pira, 1856 - 1858; James, b. 1857; Charles, b. 1860; Howard, b. 1862, a physician in Forest Co.; Judson, b. 1864, a merchant in town; Edgar, b. 1866; Norton, b. 1871; Duff, b. 1873. Some of the children removed to Colorado and Oregon
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP EARLY PIONEERS 
The April 2, 1903 issue of THE CITIZEN-PRESS, Franklin, contains a list of citizens of Oakland Township, Venango County, who were then over the age of 70 and gives the following information about them: name, age, where born, wife & marriage date if known & number of children
- R.B. Neely, 80, Venango County, Mary A. Bear, 5 sons & 9 daughters
- P. G. Haslett, 76, where born is not given, Elizabeth Reynolds - Oct. 22, 1852, 4 sons & 3 daughters
- Jonas Weber, 77, Centre Co., Hannah Pontius - 1850, 1 son & 6 daughters
- John Frankenberger, 82, Centre Co., Jane Archer, 4 sons & 2 daughters
- John Ward, 75, Venango Co., Mary A. Hays, 0 sons & 2 daughters
- Jno. Phillips, 78, Centre Co., Rosanna Carter, 8 children
- James Carter, 80, Venango Co., Mrs. Martha Weikal, 5 sons & 4 daughters
- John Cauvel, 77, Centre Co., Matilda Ketner, age 75, 14 children
- Robert Crispen, 82, Centre Co., Mary Deets, age 83 - 1840, 5 children
- Jonathan Lesh, 83, Berks Co., Rachel Fetterman, 4 sons & 3 daughters
- Mrs. Geo. Aurand, 80, Centre Co., no marriage information, 3 sons & 3 daughters
- Mrs. James Thompson, 87, Venango Co., no marriage information, 4 sons & 4 daughters
- J.J. Haslet, 79, Venango Co, "Though never hit by Cupid’s darts, he is pleased to be 1 of a family of 21 children."
- Christian Seber, 77, Germany, Sadie Whitman - 1849, 4 sons & 4 daughters
- John Gahring, 70, Germany, Miss Baney - 1853, 2 sons & 2 daughters
- Anna Fuller, 77, Broom Co., NY, "One of a family of 10 children"
- Peter Ulrich, 88, Baden, Germany, md. 1853 & wife is 75; 2 sons & 4 daughters
- Michael Cauvel, 78, Centre Co., Rebecca Reed - 1847, 12 children
- Andrew Spangler, 78, Centre Co., no marriage information, 6 children
Fraternal Organizations 
- I.O.O.F Dempseytown Lodge No. 632 - instituted May 20, 1868. B.F. MARK, R.B.NEELY, George K. WEBER, George FULLER, Jonas WEBER
- I.O.O.F Dempseytown Lodge No. 171, A.O.U.W. - was organized March 3, 1880. D.W. WEIKAL, R.C.DUNCAN, Lewis PRICHARD, T.J. KIMES, Robert REED, Freeman DYSON, N.C. HENDERSON, E.P. FOSTER, F.A. McCLINTOCK, P.S.CAUVEL
- Morning Star Union, No. 91, E.A.U. - organized December 11, 1888. Freeman DYSON, J.S.HOOD, Fidus WEBER, G.O. DEWOODY
Cemeteries 
The numbers on this list correspond with the map in the Heritage Room of the Oil City Library which is staffed by the Venango County Genealogy Club.
R92 Dempsey Cemetery in Dempseytown
The fairly large stone in the center of the photo marks the Kelley graves.
The cemetery is located a good bit off the road not too far from the Fire Dept. Community Hall in Dempseytown.
There is a large memorial stone placed in 1930 in memory of Peter Dempsey 1784-1867 and his wife Rosannah Carter Dempsey 1788-1873, placed by their descendants.
"Pioneer settlers of this locality and donors of the
land upon which this cemetery is located."
- *Mary Dempspey, d. Sept. 1825, w/o Lawrence
- *John Kelley, d. 6/13/1849, War of 1812, s/o Edward & Elizabeth
- *Mary Ann Beatty Kelley, d. 19 Dec 1829, w/o John Kelley
- *Hetty C. Dempsey Kelley, d. 15 Feb 1853, w/o Robert Kelley
- *Peter D. Kelley, d. 31 May 1863 , age 16y, s/o Robert & Hetty
- *Priscilla Kelley, d. 8 Nov 1855, d/o Robert & Hetty, age 14y 9m 12d
- *Peter Dempsey Kelley, Civil War, b. 31 Mar 1841, d. 1908
- *Catherine Jane King Kelley, b. 22 Nov 1851, d. 20 May 1927, w/o Peter D. Kelley
- *Elizabeth J. Kelley, b. 1855, d/o John & Sally Dempsey Kelley
- *Lucetta Brennaman, d/o Elizabeth Kelley
- *Nancy Kelley Cutler, b. 1844, d/o John & Sally Dempsey Kelley
- *George Cutler, h/o Nancy Kelley Cutler
- *Peter Dempsey, b. 1833 - d.1915, Civil War, s/o Cicero & Nancy Kelley Dempsey
- *Thomas Carter b. 1753 d. 1852, Rev. War, father of Rosannah Carter Dempsey
- *Margaret Bierly Carter, 3rd wife of Thomas Carter
- *Rachel Reynolds, d. 2 April 1813, w/o Jonah Reynolds
- *Jane Caruthers, d. 16 Sept 1827, w/o John Caruthers
- *Lewis Herring, d. 23 Sept 1836
R90 Berlin
R95 Kaneville area, behind Brown School
R91 Bethel
- *Oscar Whitman, 1851 - 1941
- *Mary Whitman, 1853 - 1924, w/o Oscar
- *Andrew Whitman, 1887 - 1922
- *Lemuel Keely, 1853 - 1942
- *Harriet Keely, 1857 - 1939, w/o Lemuel
- *Mary Haslett, 1854 - 1907, w/o B.F.
- *Benjamin F. Haslett, 1850 - 1922
- *Asher C. Webber, 3 Aug 1830 - 8 Mar 1891
- *Samuel C. Whitman, 1889 - 1968
- *Florence M. Whitman, 1893 - 1968, w/o Samuel C.
- *James F. Whitman, 1935, 1966, s/o S.C. and F.M.
- *Charles P. Whitman, 1896 - 1981
- *Grace E. Whitman, 1897 - 1974, w/o Charles P.
- *Isaphene Crispen, 1851 - 1925, w/o Emanuel
- *Emanuel Crispen, 1850 - 1919
- *L. Myrtle Crispen, 1889 - 1959, w/o Melvin
- *Melvin H. Crispen, 1893 - 1930
- *Harriet A. Crispen, d. 2 Jan 1887, 1y 3m 27d
- *Irene H. Gibbons, 1903 - 1962, w/o Frank Henry
- *Frank Henry Gibbons, 26 Jan 1905 - 21 Feb 1940
R17 Cherrytree -3 graves - south of village
R93 Dempseytown
R94 Fetterman
- *John Fetterman, d. 23 May 1854
- *Barbara Frank Fetterman, died June 2, 1856, 77yr 1mo 17da, W/o John F. Fetterman, D/o Johann Daniel & Dorothea Rubbley Frank
- *Samuel P. Fetterman, 1804 - 1877
- *Mary A. Fetterman, 1812 - 1884
- *George W. Fetterman, 1845 - 1904, GAR
- *Evalena Fetterman, 1850 - 1850
- *S.P. Fetterman, 1835 - 1865
- *Rachel R. Fetterman, 1839 - 1865
- *Joseph H. Fetterman, 1845 - 1865, GAR
- *John Fetterman, 1808 - 1890
- *Levinah Grove Fetterman, 1815 - 1898
- *Joseph Fetterman, 1841 - 1865
- *Marion Fetterman, 1843 - 1865
- *Sarah A. Boal, 1839 - 1868
- *Ethel E. Crowther, 1865 - 1877
- *Mildred Greenlee, d. 1861
- *Robert M. Russell, 1838 - 1849
- *Robert Russell, 1808 - 22 July 1849
- *Hannah Fetterman Russell, 1813 - 1890
- *Robert McQuiston Russell, 10 Sept 1837 - 23 July 1849
R96 Lamey
- Margaret Perry LASHER TAYLOR d. 5 January 1890
R97 Neely-Carter
R98 Oakland - at Hamilton's Corners
- *John Baney, 22 Aug 1796 - 5 Mar 1889
- *Susannah Baney, Jan 1802 - 11 Feb 1867, w/o John
R99 Oakland Seceder
Greer HAYS - helped to establish and maintain this cemetery
Early Schools 
The first school building was erected in 1807 on the farm of George KEAN near the land later owned by Moses WALL. Michael HARE taught at this first school. The second facility to be built for a school was on KEAN run and Oil Creek road. William MOREHEAD was the first instructor. Joseph KEAN became the teacher at a new school that was built in 1817 on the Franklin road, 1 mile west of Dempseytown. Others to hold the honor of instruction at this school were: James VAN NATTAN, Mary GAGE, John BEERS and Alexander HAYS. In 1827 a school house was built on the FOLWELL farm in the northwest area of the twp. and another near the residence of Robert HASLET.
Early Churches 
One of the first services held in Oakland Twp. may have been in 1806 at the Patchel still house. The summer of 1810 saw the first church building as one was erected near the residence formerly occupied by George TARR. This 25 X 30 foot structure was built of unhewn logs and had a clapboard roof. A Baptist church was at a school house on the Franklin road prior to 1840. An early Sunday School was organized in 1827and located at a school house on the Franklin road. Early members of the Sunday School were: Francis CARTER, Jacob SUTLEY, Henry HERRING, Joseph KEAN, and John CARTER.
Trinity Evangelical Luthern Church - organized ca. 1840-50. Some members were: Jacob BAUM, Samuel and John FRANKENBERGER, Mrs. Susan HOMAN, John BENNEHOFF, John KINCH, GHARING, MEALS, ULRICH, PHILLIPS.
Oakland United Presbyterian Church - Rev. Anderson McCLANE organized this church in 1851. Prominent names associated with this church were: William STORY, John CULBERSON, Sarah McCLINTOCK, William and Margaret STEWART, Baptist and Margaret MASSON, Daniel and Margaret GREGG, Jane McFATE, Sarah McFATE, Nancy WARD, Mary Ann HAYS, Jane HAYS, Rebeccca McKNIGHT, and Nancy GREGG. William McALWEE donated some land and other pieces were purchased for the church and graveyard.
Oakland Evangelical Church - erected in 1851 and located a mile east of Dempseytown. The Dempseytown circuit was formed 1859; prior name was Sugar Creek circuit. Reverends appointed to the circuit were: H.W. THOMAS, 1853; E. PEER, 1854; John PFEIFER, 1856; W.H. STOLL, 1856; W.H. PFEIFER, 1857; James CROSSMAN, 1857; J. WEAVER, 1858; J. HONECKER, 1859; G.L. DOMER, 1859; G.W. CUPP, 1860; J.Q.A. WELLER, 1860; S.F. CROWTHER, 1861-62; E. BEATTY, 1863-64; C.W. DAVIS, 1865; L.M.BOYER, 1866; G.W.BROWN, 1867-68; J. CROSSMAN, 1869; J. WOODHULL, 1869; L. SCHOBERT, 1870; J. WOODHULL, 1870; J.D. DOMER, 1871-72; P.W. PLOTTS, 1873; J. CARMANY, 1873; J. GARNER, 1874-75; A.W. TEATS, 1876-78; L.A. RHOLAND, 1878-79, L.H. HETRICK, 1880; J. ESCH, 1881-82; D.M. BAUMGARDNER, 1883-85; B.F. FFEITT, 1886-88; J.W. DOMER, 1889.
Zion Evangelical Church - known as the LAMEY church, began in 1863 with Rev. L.M. BOYER. J. LAMEY was the first class leader and Mrs. Margaret MASTERSON was an early member.
Dempseytown Presbyterian Church - the Reverends R. CRAIGHEAD and William ELLIOTT assisted in the organization of this church in 1868. The first elders were: Robert ALEXANDER and William RICHEY.
Trinity Evangelical Church - in Dempseytown; Rev. H.B. SUMMERS held the dedication on January 4, 1880.
Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church - located on the Franklin road about three miles from Dempseytown. Reverend John ABBOTT held the dedication on September 26, 1870.
Sources
History of Venango County Pennsylvania, Its Past and Present , Chicago, IL; Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers; 1890; pps: 680-689, 1067-1070.
Venango County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co.,1919
Venango County Pennsylvania Death Book Summary & Index 1893-1905, compiled by Joan Search Hanson, C.G. and Kenneth L. Hanson, Ph. D. This book may be purchased from the Venango Co. Historical Society, P.O. Box 101, Franklin, PA 16323 or from Closson Press, 1935 Sampson Drive, Apollo, PA 15613 - 9208. Price: $35.95 + $4.00 postage/handling. PA residents add 6% sales tax.
Note: Extractions & transcriptions may have errors and are missing portions of the original source material. You will want to refer to the original source material whenever possible.
Research Contributors
Shanon E. Crowther
MSCO@aol.com
Crowther Family
Pam GIBSON Bingham
CWB9087@aol.com
Gibson, Gregg, McNutt
Ken Gibbons
kengib@toolcity.net
Meadville, PA
(FETTERMAN)
Bob Kean
bkean@pa.net
Kean, Fetterman
Kathy Goodman
athyg@infospinner.com
Baney
Linda Kelley Winkler
LEW1991@aol.com
Kelley, Dempsey
Joyce Grill(i) Neidich
Ancestral & Historical Research Venango County
Karen S. Golden Rodgers
FAMILY TREE RESEARCHER
karenandsteve@embarqmail.com
Penny Haylett Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net
(LASHER, BLAIR )
Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription of
information from both early and late (current contributors) work.
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