and John on the NE 1/4 of Section 12 in Schoolcraft Precinct, adjoining the homestead of their sister Rosina, seven miles south of where the town of Battle creek is now. Their first place of employment was with John Tiedgen who had homesteaded two miles south and one-half mile west of Battle Creek a short time before. The Praeuners took their first pay in two heifers. They trained these animals to yoke and draw the plow to break the sod for cultivation. They would work for Tiedgen all day, then walk to their homesteads five miles away and take turns to break their land and cultivate their crops at night while the other slept. The next morning they would be back at Tiedgens to earn wages to pay for their stock.

Historians relate also that a Benjamin Spellman came in January, 1868, to settle in this neighborhood. As stated, we find no record of Patrick Scully nor Benjamin Spellman. They evidently lost heart and left the country as did also "Ponca George" St. Claire, though the latter did stay to prove up on his land. The Praeuners and Mrs. Ketterman stayed. As proof that the Praeuners stayed, one need only look at the Battle Creek telephone directory. They settled down for good, and land once acquired, was kept.

Years later, when Tim Preece was selling a piece of land at auction for George Zimmerman, William Prauner, son of the original John Prauner was the successful bidder. As Tim closed the bidding, he said, "sold and sold forever."

In 1869, came a party of settlers from Missouri led by John F. Tiedgen. Tiedgen was well to do, bringing quite a drove of cattle and other livestock. He also brought pre-cut frame work with which to build his house. The railroad at that time had reached Columbus and it was shipped there by rail and then hauled over land by oxen. Others coming with him and some employed by him, included Henry Tiedgen, John Lucht, Herman Hogrefe and Henry Woste.

In the party or shortly after, also came August Eyl and his four sons, Theodore, Henry, Herman and Fritz Eyl and Henrich Tomhagan. Later that year, came L. D. Barnes, Patrick O'Neill and John Ahrens. Ahrens also came from Missouri. Patrick O'Neill, an Irishman, came via Australia. All of these settlers took land near the town site of Battle Creek; Tiedgen, two and one-half miles southwest of Battle Creek in Section 12, Township 23, Range 3; Ahrens took the SW 1/4 of Section 6, Township 23, Range 2, which is part of town south of the street running east of the public school grounds. Everyone knows Tomhagans grove one-half mile southeast of town, now owned by Alvin Scheve; and the Lucht farm one-half mile southwest of town, the original Lucht homestead being the NE1/4 of Section 12, Township 23, Range 3. The Eyl family took land southwest of town. O'Neill, took the land north of town where the Paul Moore family now live. Herman Hogrefe, though not yet 21, took the northeast quarter of Section 1 in Highland precinct which lies west of Depot Street in Battle Creek. His brother, Frederick Hogrefe, took the land which is the 160 acres where most of the village is now situated, being

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