came in 1881 and married Laura Hurford. Their daughter Helen (Mrs. Jack Dufphey) was born in the residence over the drug store in the original location nearly two blocks east of where the building now stands. Mr. Hurford first settled in Norfolk in 1870. By 1875, some people believed Battle Creek, being centrally located in the county, was ideally located to become the county seat and metropolis of the county. It is believed that this is what prompted Mr. Hurford to come to Battle Creek.

Reimer Gardels, who homesteaded the NE1/4 of Section 3-23-2, grandfather of Art and Gene Gardels, had established an implement business occupying "two good buildings 20x36 and 20x46 to house his stock." According to the Battle Creek Enterprise of that time he handled "McCormick reapers, Walter A. Wood machinery, Studebaker wagons, water tanks, top buggies, Norwegian and Monitor plows, and sewing machines." Mr. Gardels came to the area in 1870, first taking up the land east of town. Prior to going into business for himself he operated a blacksmith shop for Herman Hogrefe, which was located at the rear of the present recreation building. Mr. Gardels' home (also one of the first in the village) stood where Martin Prauners now live.

L. B. Baker came from Maine in 1879 after having first settled in West Point or Wisner for a time. He established a hardware shop and a lumber company on the site of the present Tietgen Lumber Company. It is not known whether he homesteaded land in the area, as the land by that time had all been taken by earlier settlers, but he acquired considerable land holdings and as early as 1884 he owned 720 acres of Pierce County land north of Battle Creek. Much of this land is now owned by the Drahota family and the Catron family. As stated, Mr. Baker first settled in Cuming County where he taught school. The Baker home stood across the alley to the north of Ike's Repair Shop.

Perhaps the first bank in the town was founded in 1883 by Henry Chamberlain and Thomas Ross, the latter also an early homesteader, in Battle Creek Precinct. The bank was known as the "Farmers and Drovers Bank." It was situated to the west of the Henry Wisch residence. Mr. Hurford had erected this building and leased it to Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Ross. Later, the bank was moved to the present A.S.C. building site. In reminiscing, Mollie Taylor once wrote that the first loan made by the new bank was to Herman Hogrefe for $200.00 and bore interest at 24%, with John D. Hoover as Co-signer with Mr. Hogrefe.

By 1879, Thomas Ross had in operation a harness, saddle, and kindred "accoutrements" store. His shop was 14x26 feet "amply furnished with every convenience for successful transactions of his business." Most of his business consisted of custom work. In January, 1884, Mr. Ross was elected Justice of the Peace.

All of the stories of the early businesses are taken from the first two copies of the Battle Creek Enterprise, which treated quite extensively on the first businesses established in the town.

About 1881, Arthur Truesdell established a flour, grain, and

42