Record book
Descendants of James Baxter
FIRST GENERATION
By Nancy Kennedy
1. James Baxter was born in 1766 in Lancaster, Pa. He died in 1830 in York County, SC. He was buried in Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery, York Co, SC. His estate papers show Matilda Kerr, William Barron Baxter and Andrew Baxter. Andrew traveled through Tennesse and settled in Drew county, Ark. His son William Barron Baxter stayed in McNairy County and then moved to Madison Co, Tenn. Matilda was in McNairy County several years but afte widowed she also went to Drew Co Ark.
He was married to Mary Hagins unknown. Mary Hagins was born in 1766. She died in 1835 in York County, SC. She was buried in maybe Ebenezer Cemetery, York Co, SC. Her will or estate papers says daughter Fanny (born 1788(, Elizabeth (born 1790) and Andrew to receive the land. Also mentions Margaret (born 1792) married James Garrison Cynthia (born 1789) married James Reeves Mary married a Webb Sarah married Thomas Parker Matilda married Andrew Kerr
Her parents were William Hagins born 1727 in Ireland, came to the United States 1745. He was tall, 6ft, blue eyes, light hair, reddish complexion. He built the Six Mile Creek Church in York County, SC. His wife was Mary Patton. James Baxter and Mary Hagins had the following children:
+2 i. Andrew Baxter (born on June 22, 1802).
+3 ii. Matilda Baxter (born on June 6, 1807).
SECOND GENERATION
2. Andrew Baxter was born on June 22, 1802 in York County, SC. He died on November 16, 1880 in Monticello, Drew County, Ark. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Drew County, Arkansas. He was a successful tiller of the soil. He migrated to Tennessee about 1836. In 1850 and 1860 he was in McNairy County and by 1874 moved to Drew County, Arkansas.
In 1850 he is in district 7 in McNairy county, right in the middle of all the Wilson families. His property was worth $400. Andrew 48 Violet 45 William 24 James 22, a cabinet maker, living with Bedford Kernodle Matilda 19 Thomas 16 Louisa 14 Margaret 12 - born TN Andrew 10 Francis 8 George 6 In 1860 Robert M is listed age 12
Robert M is llisted in 1860. However in 1850 next door with Simpson and Lucinda Kernodle is four Baxter children: Monroe 2 Sarah 6 in 1860 she is listed as Kernodle Thomas 4 in 1860 he is listed as Kernodle James 1 in 1860 he is listed as Kernodle Lucinda
Also close by is James Baxter age 22 as a cabinet maker living with W M and Rebecca Hendrix. He may be a son of Andrew. In 1880 J S Baxter is in Alcorn Co, Miss, cabinet maker. Did look for him after 1880. 1
Descendants of James Baxter Brenda Evans Johnson wrote in Reflection about the Baxter family. She was a descendant of William Barron Baxter. "Six of the Baxter sons served in the Civil War in different Regiments. Several were taken prisioners by Union soldiers. After the war some of the sons moved out of McNairy county because their homes had been destroyed during the devestation of the war. Some headed to Texas and some to Arkansas.
My ancester William Barron Dexter married Isabell Demetria Wilson. They had seven children , most of whom died at a younbg age. Isabell is buried at Bethel Springs Cemetery with three of their children. My g-grandmother, Ortna Lee Baxter was only three months old when her mother died. Later William Barron married Lydia Wilson.
He owned a general store in Bethel Springs but sold out and bought a farm two miles from Bethel Springs on the Old Stage Road that went to Purdy. About six years later they moved to Madison County, TN."
He was married to Violet Marion Barron unknown. Violet Marion Barron was born on March 1, 1803 in York County, SC. She died on May 10, 1886 in Monticello, Drew County, Ark. She was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Drew County, Arkansas. Andrew Baxter and Violet Marion Barron had the following children:
+4 i. William Barron Baxter (born on July 21, 1829). 5 ii. J S Baxter was born about 1830 in York Co, SC. In 1860 he was living close to his aunt Matilda in McNairy county. His wife was Mary A age 22 and they had three children Cordelia F age 4, Violet E age 2 and a baby girl. +6 iii. Margaret Addie Baxter (born on October 15, 1838). 7 iv. F M Baxter was born on June 3, 1843 in Hickman Co, Tenn. He died unknown in Berry Co, Ark. Dr F M Baxter, merchant, Monticello, Ark, well directed energy and honorable dealings walways tell in business and indeed in everything else. He has conducted a very prosperous business here since 1877. He was originally from Hickman County, Tenn where his borth occured June 3, 1843. He is the son of Andrew and Violet Barron Baxter, natives of South Carolina. Andrew moved to Tennessee about 1836. About 1874 they went to Monticello Arkansas and he died in 1880 and his wife in 1885. They had 12 children, nine are still living. Dr Baxter graduated at Vanderbuilt School of Dentistry in 1879, In 1885 he married C A Higgason and they have two children, Edgar and Roy. They are members of the Presbyterian Church/ 8 v. Robert Monroe Baxter was born in July 1848 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died on November 8, 1923 in Ouachita Parish, La. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Drew County, Arkansas.
3. Matilda Baxter was born on June 6, 1807 in York County, SC. She died on August 21, 1874 in Drew County, Arkansas. She was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Drew County, Arkansas. In 1860 she is a widow and living in or close to Purdy. In 1860 she took her daughter's Catherine Wilson's children and they all moved to Drew County, Texas.
In 1860 she is in McNairy County, district 7. Age 54, born SC and all children born in SC
Mary E 27
Harriet F 23
Amanda C 19
John H 17
Zenas E 15
McNairy County Court Records Matilda Kerr, et als VS Harriet F Kerr, et als, minor heirs November 1856 Petition to sell slaves. It is stupid when a man, without a will, leaving a woman and children because it leaves them helpless. To see land, slaves, etc a petition must be made to the court. That is the reason for this case. A Kerr departed this life sometime in the year 1848 leaving the following heirs Matilda, his wife and their children: 1. Catherine who has married John W Wilson 2. Margaret who has married William C Wilson 3. Mary E Kerr 4. Robert W Kerr, living in the State of Alabama 5. Harriet F Kerr, minor 6. Amanda C Kerr, minor 2
Descendants of James Baxter 7. John H Kerr, minor Matilda was appointed executor of the estate in 1848 and stated she had disposted of said personal propertty and paid off the debts of the deceased. They would like to sell their slave, a woman about 30 years old, named Burty and she has an infant about 10 months old. She also stated after the death of Mr Kerr, the slave had become unruly and it was best not to keep her.
8. Zanus E Kerr, minor
She was married to Andrew Jr Kerr (son of Andrew Sr Kerr and Catherine Unknown) unknown in York Co, SC. Andrew Jr Kerr was born on September 15, 1794 in York County, SC. He died on October 25, 1848 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. Matilda Baxter and Andrew Jr Kerr had the following children:
+9 i. Catherine Kerr (born about 1830). 10 ii. Mary E Kerr was born on April 9, 1831 in York Co, SC. She died on March 20, 1877 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs, Mcnairy Co, Tenn. +11 iii. Margaret J Kerr (born on April 3, 1833). 12 iv. Robert W Kerr was born on April 29, 1835 in York Co, SC. He died on March 3, 1862 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. 13 v. Harriett F Kerr was born about 1837 in York Co, SC. 14 vi. Amanda Cynthia Kerr was born about 1841 in York Co, SC. She married A Mayer Nov 22, 1860 in Drew County, Ark. 15 vii. John H Kerr was born about 1842 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. Died during the Civil War but place of burial unknown 16 viii. Zanus Edwin Kerr was born on April 29, 1845 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died on April 10, 1907 in Tarrant Co, Texas. He was buried in Mt Olivette, Tarrant Co, Texas. He was postmaster in Drew county, Ark March 11, 1878 to July 24, 1889.
He was in the Arkansas Confederate Army. His wife Emmya applied for pension Mar 1, 1924 and stated they married Feb 1, 1871. He was promoted to Adj to Col Morgan who was Provost (?) Marshall for the southern part of Arkansas un till surrender.
THIRD GENERATION
4. William Barron Baxter was born on July 21, 1829 in York County, SC. He died in 1903 in Madison Co, Tenn. He was buried in Rope Field Buring Ground, Madison Co, unmarked.
He was married to Isabell Demetrius Wilson (daughter of James A Wilson and Nancy Denny) about 1852 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. Isabell Demetrius Wilson was born on June 20, 1832 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died on October 30, 1871 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. They had several children to die young Louisa J Aug 24, 1853-July 21, 1869 Terry A Aug 22, 1860 - May 24, 1861 Josephine B Feb 7, 1855 - Aug 30, 1861 William Barron Baxter and Isabell Demetrius Wilson had the following children:
17 i. James Frank Baxter was born in 1857 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. 18 ii. Tracey C Baxter was born in 1864 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. 19 iii. Austin P Baxter was born in 1866 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. 20 iv. Ortna Lee Baxter was born on May 31, 1869 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died on May 1, 1952 in Madison Co, Tenn. She was buried in Hall & King Cemetery. She married Mike Glynn, who had come from County Clare Ireland . They had four children before he died in 1896. Later she married Matthew Merdith Jennings.
He was married to Lydia L Wilson (daughter of George D Wilson and Mary D Unknown) on December 4, 1873 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. Lydia L Wilson was born about 1848 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died before 1900 in Unknown. They had two girls Flora was born 1870 and Myrtle was born later. Newspaper: Jackson, Tenn April 14, 1900: 3
Descendants of James Baxter Misses Flora and Myrtle Baxter, are dead at the home of their father, W B Baxter, in the eighth district. A double funeral will take place tomorrow. The young ladies died of pneumonia. Burial at Rope field Burial Ground, Madison Co.
6. Margaret Addie Baxter was born on October 15, 1838 in Tennessee. She died on December 23, 1891 in Bell County, Texas. She was buried in Little River Wilson Valley Cemetery, Bell County, Texas.
She was married to William Wesley Curry on August 26, 1865 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. William Wesley Curry was born in November 1843 in Tennessee. He died in November 1916 in Bell Co, Texas. He was buried in Little Creek Wilson Valley Cemetery, Bell Co, Texas.
9. Catherine Kerr was born about 1830 in South Carolina. She died about 1861 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn, unmarked grave. Catherine's husband died first so when Catherine died her mother Matilda Kerr took the children. In 1860 they moved to Drew County, Arkansas.
She was married to John Washington Wilson (son of James A Wilson and Nancy Denny) about 1855 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. John Washington Wilson was born about 1829 in Guilford Co, NC. He died in December 1860 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn, unmarked grave. McNairy County Court Minutes show at the Jan1861 meeting W C Wilson was appointed administrator of John W Wilson's estate. Bond was set at $1,000 with A M MCKalip security. John Beauty, A M McCalip and P P Massey appointed to lay off one year support for Catherine Wilson, widow of John Wilson.
Washington taught school in 1859 for 42 days. Pay $41.
In 1850 Washington was a wheel wright
Returned to the County Court Clarke (Clerk) July 1859 Commissioners: George Bulliner, A S Moreson, A M Brown A school tate (I think he means taught) by Wurhenton (Washington) Wilson 41 dayes for 41 dollars this 1859 Catherine Kerr and John Washington Wilson had the following children:
21 i. James Henry Wilson was born on September 5, 1854 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died on April 15, 1931 in Ringgold County, Iowa. He was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Ringgold Co, Iowa. His obit stated one sister and one brother preceded him in death and one brother Tracy M Wilson survives in Wilmar, Ark. But then it says later one three children.
It states ' Mr Wilson's parents moved to West Tennessee soon after their marriage.' That is incorrect. The father moved to McNairy county when he was a small child. the mother moved their probably as a teenager. They married in McNairy County, Tenn,
'The parents died when he was about six years old, his brother 4 years old and his siter 18 months old and were taken to their grandmother Kerr, then a widow living near Monticello, in southern Ark." (they were taken to live with grandmother Kerr in McNairy County. she did not moved to Monticello until the middle of 1860.)
He married Mary Isabel Martin, Mar 15, 1877 in Iowa.
In 1860 he is living with his grandmother Matilda Kerr in Drew County, Arkansas, but listed as a Kerr instead of Wilson. 22 ii. Tracy Moss Wilson was born on November 20, 1856 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died on November 5, 1937 in Drew County, Arkansas. He was buried in Green Hill, Drew Co, Ark. His first wife was Malinda Brantly, born ca 1856. they married Jan 17, 1878 in Drew co, Ark. Known children: Majorie C born 1878, John W 1880, Robert 1880, Henry Cornelius 1882, Malinda 1884.
He married Mattie Huskey in Drew county, Ark Jan 23, 1889. She was born 1863 and died 1940. She is also buried at Green Hill cemetery.
Known children: Durand, Mattie L, Edgar C, Allie May, and Eulla
23 iii. Laura B Wilson was born about 1860 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn.
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Descendants of James Baxter 11. Margaret J Kerr was born on April 3, 1833 in York Co, SC. She died on May 8, 1908 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. MAY 15, 1908 Mrs. M. J. Wilson, aged 75 years, died at her home in Bethel Springs Saturday and buried Sunday, Rev. A. H. Dulaney officiating. Mrs. Wilson was the relict of Col. W. C. Wilson who died several years ago. The family was one of the pioneers of the county and had always lived at or near Bethel. Mrs. Wilson was a woman much over the ordinary in intellect and that which goes to make up a strong Christian character. Since childhood she had been a prominent member of the Presbyterian church. Her home, whose hospitality we have often enjoyed, was an ideal one. She leaves two daughters and one son, O. C. Wilson, editor of the Adamsville Enterprise, Mrs. Crump Wilson and Miss Lilly Wilson, daughters survive her. To the children and relatives we extend our feeble condolence.
She was married to William C Wilson (son of James A Wilson and Nancy Denny) unknown in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. William C Wilson was born about 1830 in Guilford Co, NC. He died on April 27, 1899 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. That had a baby that died: F M Wilson born May 24, 1858 and died Jly 23, 1858. Buried Bethel Springs Cemetery.
Bethel Academy Mar 15, 1880, W C Wilson signed the charter. Also R D Wilson.
He was postmaster in Bethel Springs Aug 29, 1889 to 1893.
O C Wilson appointed exector of his estate May 31, 1899.
FRIENDS OF REMOVAL AT FALCON - 1881 July 1881. According to the call made in the Independent last week, quite a large number of representative men met at Falcon last Tuesday for the purpose of organizing a campaign on the county seat question. Honorable A. W. Stovall called the meeting to order and in a concise manner presented the object of the meeting. Col James Warren was elected Chairman and made a short stirring speech. J. T. Barnhill was elected Secretary. Quite a number made short speeches in presenting their views upon the plan to be adopted. It was universally agreed to make a most vigorous, thorough and determined campaign and spare nothing in carrying the election by such an overwhelming vote that the question would never come up again. The 27 enthusiasm manifested by everybody showed that the removal cause was not dead, but like a lion when aroused from slumber, is ferocious and ready for the fight. Upon motion a committee of thirteen to be known as the "County Executive Committee" were selected one by one, as follows: A.W. Stovall, J .L. Smith, J. L. Jeans, S.L. Warren, Dr D. Barry, W.C. Wilson, J.W. Pace, R.W. Tatum, J.W. Purviance, J.J. Horn, Dr W.E. Atkins, John Fisher and Wm McCullar.
The Independent Temperate Brothers who met at W. G. Wilson's, four and one half miles northwest of Purdy, in 1858, were officered as follows: J. W. Wilson, president; W. C. Wilson, assistant president; R.P.C. King, vice president; Ben Walker, recording secretary; I. F. Stovall, conductor; J. S. Barrum, chaplain. But a single one of this company survives who is with us today.
Bethel Academy, March 15, 1880. Signing charter: A W Stovall, W W Stovall, W C Wilson, R W Tatem, R L Kernodle, R K Hendrix, R D Wilson, A R McCalip, W W Turner
Reminiscences - March 21, 1930 - Bethel Springs church I believe it would be of interest to a goodly number of the readers of the Independent to give a history of the old Presbyterian church at Bethel Springs as far back as I can remember, and that will be about 80 years. I will be 85 in June next. I am sure I was carried to the church many times before I was a year old in my mother's arms. I was baptized in infancy, hence I am a Presbyterian. The old church was situated about 75 yards east of the present one. The graveyard has been enlarged and includes one faced west. Where the town stands was old Tom Rankin's farm His fence ran about where the railroad now runs, but there was no railroad then being built. There were then no automobiles, no bootleggers or millionaires, and I don't remember of seeing a beggar in my younger days. The church had a large membership, and as I remember, a greater percentage attended the service then they do now. Whole families attended regularly. There was Billie Wilson, Wm. Baxter, old man Gillespie, Henry's Croskery's father, Wash Wilson, widow Kerr, Boydston. Old Man Kerr was the preacher as far back as I can remember. He lived about a mile and a half west of Bethel Springs, on the old stage road. We had seven Wilson families members of that old church. Billie Wilson, William Baxter, Mr. Gillespie and my father were elders. Two of them occupied a seat in front of the pulpit, facing the congregation. They conducted the song service, giving out the song two lines at a time. Then everybody 5
Descendants of James Baxter would sing that could, negroes and all. We had quite a number of negro members. They were salves and had no church of their own. We had camp meetings every late summer or fall. The grounds in front of the church huts. The space between the church and tents was a square containing 8 or 10 acres of ground. The road was one side of the square. In the tents scaffolds were built for beds, covered with straw. Back of the tents were open sheds for cooking, but most of the cooking was done at home. We had feasting and prayer, and old times religion. We usually had the best preachers. People would come from 3, 5 and 10 miles, walking, on horseback, in buggies and wagons. Everybody invited to dinner and they usually remained. There service a day were held, with prayer meeting at the tents. There were called to service by the bowing of a long tin trumpet from the front of the church. We had good attention and good preaching. The meeting lasted a week including two Sundays. They were happy days, my boy friends were Grit and Jim Wilson, Tom Croskery, Henry Gillespie, Jim Lear, Tom and Dave Wilson, Eddie Kerr, Crump McAlip, Clay and Jess Moore, Dick Maxedon, Bill Tatum, Henry and Frank Hendrix. W. P. Conner, Okolona, Miss.
County court Minutes Jan 1861: W C Wilson appointed administrator of John W Wilson's estate. Bond set at $1,000 with A M McKalip, security. John Beaty, A M McCalip and P P Massey appointed to lay off one year support to Catherine Wilson, widow of Jno W Wilson.
May 1861, John Beaty, A S Walker, James Ingraham, W C Wilson, Daniel Hill Sr, Alvin Denny and John Barham appointed as jury to view and mark out a road from Rocky Point to Bethel and they give five days notice to all persons involved of the time of making said review.
Early history article from the scrapbook of the late Joe Hamilton. The article tells the number of bales of cotton ginned in the year 1879 and the names of the gins. ‘The following report shows the amount of cotton put up in McNairy County during the year 1879. A few gins have not reported: Seventh District - R. W. Tatum, 215; W. C. Wilson, 270; Croskey & Newsom, 135; John Kerby, 45; J. J. Pharr, 13.
Margaret J Kerr and William C Wilson had the following children:
| +24 | i. | Mary Kerr Wilson (born on December 14, 1855). |
| +25 | ii. | Oscar C Wilson (born in 1861). |
| +26 | iii. | Ollie Wilson (born in October 1867). |
| +27 | iv. | Lillie E Wilson (born on August 23, 1868). |
FOURTH GENERATION
24. Mary Kerr Wilson was born on December 14, 1855 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died on May 16, 1923 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. They had three children that died very young and buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery: Blanch A 1882-1887 Pearcy A 1885-1885 Lexie May 1889-1890
She was married to Crump Winfield Wilson (son of Robert D Wilson and Leatha Rankin) on December 18, 1877 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. Crump Winfield Wilson was born on September 24, 1849 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died on February 18, 1921 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn. Crump and Mary had five children and they all died at a young age.
Crump was a good businessman. His father was running a hotel in bethel Srping sin 1880. An old deed states the old hotel on the west side of the railroad was his house. (Franklin Mitchell) Mary Kerr Wilson and Crump Winfield Wilson had the following children:
28 i. Guy A Wilson was born in 1887 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died in 1912 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn.
25. Oscar C Wilson was born in 1861 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He died in 1926. He was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn.
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Descendants of James Baxter He was married to Annie Dee Combs on October 19, 1897 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. Annie Dee Combs was born on August 1, 1868 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died on March 10, 1926 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn.
26. Ollie Wilson was born in October 1867 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died on September 24, 1905 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn.
She was married to John R Dismukes on October 29, 1902 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. John R Dismukes was born on September 16, 1852 in Mississippi. He died on December 29, 1916 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Starkville, Ms. in 1900 John was boarding with Bob Ammons in Bethel Springs and in 1910 with Crump Wilson also in Bethel Springs. He was the RR agent.
His first wife died in 1897 in Starkville, MS. After he came to Bethel springs he maid what was considered an old maid, Ollie Wilson, age 35. However she died in 1905.
then he married her old maid sister Lillie, age 42 in 1911 and he died four years later. His body was sent, probably by train, to be buried by his first wife.
27. Lillie E Wilson was born on August 23, 1868 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She died on August 11, 1959 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. She was buried in Bethel Springs Cemetery, McNairy Co, Tenn.
She was married to John R Dismukes on July 11, 1911 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. John R Dismukes was born on September 16, 1852 in Mississippi. He died on December 29, 1916 in Mc Nairy Co, Tenn. He was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Starkville, Ms. in 1900 John was boarding with Bob Ammons in Bethel Springs and in 1910 with Crump Wilson also in Bethel Springs. He was the RR agent.
His first wife died in 1897 in Starkville, MS. After he came to Bethel springs he maid what was considered an old maid, Ollie Wilson, age 35. However she died in 1905.
then he married her old maid sister Lillie, age 42 in 1911 and he died four years later. His body was sent, probably by train, to be buried by his first wife.
Prepared by:
Nancy Wardlow Kennedy
1358 Hwy 142
Selmer, TN 38375
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