was riding out to the farm after work hours at the Farmers and Drovers Bank where he served as bookkeeper. Upon reaching a spot near the present Louis Barry Farm his bicycle struck a rut which pitched him over the handlebars, landing on the head in such a manner that his neck was broken resulting in his death. His was the first burial in the new Union Cemetery south of town. His death occurred October 7, 1889.
This was near the site of another early day tragedy, which cost the life of a homestead settler. (Francis (Franz) Rhynn had homesteaded the northwest quarter of Section 11, Township 23, Range 3, presently the Louis Barry farm. The lower or northeast part of this land was swampy as old timers well remember, prior to the land being tiled. Mr. Rhynn's father, Henry Rhynn, went out to bring in the cows in the evening. To make a short cut, he was crossing the swamp area by stepping from raised bog to raised bog when he slipped and immediately mired into the quicksand so that he could not extricate himself. Darkness soon fell and when the other members of the family went to look for him, they could hear him screaming for help but in the darkness could not reach him. Neighbors also heard him scream and came to offer assistance. All had to stand by hoping that the unfortunate man could hold on until daylight. When dawn came they found the man dead. Henry Rhynn's homestead was the E1/2SE1/4 of Section 3 and the E1/2NE1/4 of Section 9 which is now owned by George Schroeder and lies to the west of the Louie Barry farm. The Barry farm was for many years the County Poor Farm until it was discontinued for that purpose and sold at auction to Mr. Barry. The old Poor Farm three story home was razed in 1965.
Franz Rhynn became Battle Creek's first mail messenger, i.e., messenger between the post office and the railway station. He always wore his Civil War uniform and was proud of it.
To further introduce the early issues of the Battle Creek Enterprise (1887), it contained a business directory. We will enumerate these in the order they appear with the brief synopsis of each article: F. J. Hale of whom much has been written, by this time engaged in selling livestock, grain, and coal.
George S. Hurford, the article states, came to Norfolk in March, 1870. His first venture was with the Mill Company at Norfolk until 1875. Then Mr. Hurford came to Battle Creek to engage in the drug business as well as general merchandising and implement business. As was elsewhere stated, Mr. and Mrs. Hurford had two daughters — Laura became Mrs. Edward Tnner and Mary became Mrs. George Berry. The article states that at that time (1887), Mrs. Berry was a resident of Chadron, evidently in connection with the management of the Niobrara Stage Line to the Black Hills and to points in Wyoming. The stage line was owned by Mr.. Berry. Though the railroad had doubtlessly been built through the Hills by that time as it was built through Battle Creek in 1879, they continued to operate the State Lines to Casper and over to Rawlins, Wyoming on the Union Pacific Lines.
Mrs. Jack Dufphey states that Mr. Berry took over the stage
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