Leander Lowe, J. W. Hampton, and H. B. Butterfield bought the railroad land in Section 17; Albert Hill, Luella J. Hoover, Arthur Parsons, and William Armstrong took lank in Section 18; John M. Lederer, at a later date, also acquired land in this section. Mr. Parson's daughter, Grace, married John Lederer. The Lederers retired to Battle Creek about 1913 and built a home where Rose Rodekohr now lives. He engaged in business with Henry Kahler, having a Ford auto franchise. They had their garage where Mrs. Victor Klein now has her business. Later he and his brother-in-law, Dick Ulrich, founded the Battle Creek Oil Company where Milton Praeuner is now located. Dan F. Kohl, Kate S. Hurford (grandmother of Mrs. Jack Dufphey), George Berry, who was Mrs. Hurford's son-in-law, A. C. Buffington, William H. Craig, and William Bierman, father of the Bierman brothers and their sisters, bought railroad land in Section 19. It was in the southwest corner of this land which is now badly cut up by the Elkhorn River that Mr. Bierman established his home. Later he moved to the farm which is now occupied by his grandson Richard Bierman. He was forced to move his buildings when the river came too near for safety.

Phinias Arnold, Dan N. Folson, Wm. H. Cloyd, and James Henderson homesteaded in Section 20; Leander M. Best (1869), George Hiles, Anthony Moser, and W. R. Perry settled in Section 21. John Best homesteaded in Section 24. He was Leander Best's father.

John Ray and his brother Lewis Ray took the NE1/4 and the NW1/4 of Section 28 which was part state land. J. B. Flennigen took the SE1/4 and the river bridge which stood a little to the west of where the present bridge stands. For fifty or sixty years, this bridge was known as the "Flennigan Bridge." People might have forgotten how to spell it but the name lingered on never the less. This farm is now the William Preusker home. The SW1/4 was acquired by W. O. Isham but after a short time was acquired by Albert Richardson. In Section 29, which was part state land, Steven T. Napper bought the NE1/4, George Berry the NW1/4 while George Heuerman homesteaded the SW1/4. The SW1/4 was sold by Mr. Heuerman in 1905 to William Flesner, now owned by Victor Flesner. Mr. Heuerman came in 1869, buying a pony in Omaha, he rode to Madison County. He was one of the more fortunate. Always proud, he borrowed Heinrich Tomhagon's spring wagon seat to take his bride to her wedding in the best style available. Heinrich Hilgen homesteaded the SE1/4 and it was acquired in the 90's by Joseph Schlack and is now owned by Albert Unkel. In Section 30, we find as first owners, William Bierman, Francis Henderson, John Lindhoff, who sold to Pat O'Neill. This was the SW1/4 of which the W1/2 of the quarter is now the Paul Moore home. A part of this section was homesteaded by Michael Warnke and a part by August Hundt, who in turn sold to Mary Warnke, wife of Michael. An eight acre tract was acquired by Albert Mantey which was for many years his home and then the home of his son, the late Martin Mantey.

In Section 31, we find a part homesteaded by Leonard Seip, grandfather of the Leonard Seip we know today. A part was

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