Mr. Neuwerk later sold his land to Conrad Werner, Sr., and bought a larger farm south of Battle Creek which is now owned by his son George. It so happens that Mr. Neuwerk's grandson, John Werner, lives on the place which he first acquired.

As a part of the Deer Creek Precinct history, we find the name Wendt, Laas and Meissner closely interwoven.

During the 1870's, Mary Wallert (born Laas) and her husband homesteaded in Section 23 which is now a part of the old Wendt farm now owned in part by Erna Rouse and part by Helen Weygint. the Wallert and Wendt families were neighbors. Mr. Wallert died leaving his widow Mary and Mrs. Wendt died leaving her husband, August Wendt and three children, namely Carl, William and Annie. Annie later became Mrs. Cyrus Speicher.

Upon the death of Mr. Wallert, John Laas, who came from Germany when he was eighteen years old and first settled in Dakota County, came to be with his widowed sister.

Later, the widow Mary Wallert married the widower August Wendt and to this union three children were born, namely Mary, Frieda and Clara. The latter married Fred Fuerst.

It was about that time that Herman Meissner settled in Section 10 of Deer Creek Precinct. With him came his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Schmidt and another daughter Emma. They made their home with the Meissner family. Emma came to America with the family when she was thirteen years old, first settling in Chicago.

Also abut that time, John Laas homesteaded in Section 13.

On April 18, 1881, John Laas and Emma Schmidt were married by the Lutheran Missionary, Pastor Hoffman, in the first school house which also served as a church for any missionary calling in the area southwest of Battle Creek near the Tiedgen and Eyl farms. John Prauner and George Seckel were witnesses to this marriage.

It is noteworthy that the Laases were married in the country school only weeks before the Lutheran Congregation built the first school and church building in town.

The Laas couple lost the first two children born to them. When their daughter Ida was born, she was baptized at two weeks of age at the Laas home by Pastor Hoffman, who had by that time been called to St. John's Lutheran Congregation. On the same day, the parents took their two week old daughter to town to participate in the dedication of the larger frame church edifice. This structure served the congregation from 1889 to 1952, when the new stone building started in 1951, was completed.

A son, Alfred, was born to the Laases. He and his sister still live on the original homestead.

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