the NW1/4 of Section 6, Township 23, Range 2, Battle Creek Precinct. Also in 1869, came Brooks Flenneken, Fred Richardson, and Albert Richardson, John and Lewis Ray homesteading on the Elkhorn River northeast of Battle Creek, and many others.

In 1870, came Bernard Stolle and his brother Henry Stolle. Also came W. A. Barnes, whose son Harry Barnes became a prominent banker in Battle Creek.

Then also came the Gunkel family. The father was Nickolas Gunkel, a daughter Magdeline became Mrs. Heinrich Tomhagan and this was the first known marriage in the community occurring on October 15, 1870. Ida Gunkel married Herman Hogrefe, who was one of the founders of Battle Creek and who became a prominent banker, landowner and stockman. The oldest daughter Margaret, came here as Mrs. John F. Tiedgen. A son of the Gunkel family and the father, as well, later lived with the Hogrefe family in their declining years, until both died about 1900.

Speaking of marriages, about the only means of travel was to walk. Though there were no mountains to climb, on occasion the creek rose high to retard even walking, therefore most marriages were formed in the immediate settlement. No one can say that these marriages were not founded on love as divorces were indeed rare and happy contented family life was the rule rather than the exception. Struggle and privation, the need of working together, cemented that love for each other and for their children and the children for their parents.

Picture the two Praeuner brothers, their sister, the widowed Rosina Ketterman, Fred Scheerger, Sr., Andrew Schott, with his sisters settled in the area, plus Frederick Hohenstein, George Seckel and the aforementioned Eyl family who also had sisters.

The widowed Rosina Ketterman married John Lucht. Carl Praeuner married Mary Eyl, John Prauner married Wilhelmina Schott, Fred Scheerger married Margaret Schott, George Seckel married Katherine Schott, Andrew Schott married Anna Eyl.

The Eyl children who came in 1869 with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Eyl were Theodore and Henry who returned to their native state of Missouri.

Herman who married Lena Luebeke, a sister of Mrs. Chas. Fenske, Sr., and Mr. Luebeke. Their children were Augusta (Mrs. Henry Miller); Emelia (Mrs. Wm. Oetting); Herman Jr. who married Minnie Miller; Otto who married Hattie Oetting, Ernest and Clara who left home to live in Omaha.

Fred Eyl married Elizabeth Werner, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Werner Sr. Their children were Mary (Mrs. John Kleider); Elizabeth, married Rev. Vogel, then pastor of the church at Buffalo Creek and Carl who married Hulda Rodekohr, retired and residing in Battle Creek. When the mother died Mr. Eyl married Anna Preuss. They had five children, only one who resides here now, that is, (Loretta), Mrs. Albert Scheerger.

The children of these young people, the first to be married in the community, were the first to be born in this new county.

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