community, and even stand to this day, were erected by the Werner brothers. Herman's son, Herman, Jr., and Charles' sons, Leo and Carl (Cobbie), followed in their fathers' trade. Another carpenter who helped "build" Battle Creek was George Dunn. George married Bertha Heuerman, daughter of one of the early pioneers, George Heuerman.

With further reference to the George Heuerman family. The family consisted of three daughters and two sons. Minnie, the eldest daughter, was perhaps the first registered nurse to come out of Battle Creek. She took her training at the Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis and for a while was Superintendent of Nurses there. While Minnie served in that capacity, her sister Bertha and Minnie (Zimmerman) Roemer, took nurses training under her and graduated as registered nurses. Ella, another daughter, remained at home with her parents; August, the youngest son, died of appendicitis while still of school age; and Herbert was in business at Battle Creek for a while as previously stated. At the beginning of World War I, he enlisted in the Army and died in the service.

There were not many Bohemian homesteaders in the Battle Creek area. It seems certain nationalities would follow others of like nationality who preceded them. The first colony of German settlers in the Norfolk vicinity attracted others of like nationality. The Irish Hughes brothers who settled in what is now Deer Creek Precinct attracted other Irishmen. The Swedes and Norwegians settled around Newman Grove. Other Virginians followed Fleekes J. Hale and his brothers, D. A. and John D. Hale; T. C. Osborn and Alf Reeves to Schoolcraft Precinct. So many Virginians followed them that, to at least one man, Virginians were a nationality group.

The German, Irish, Virginians and any other nationalities which came to settle our area, always got along well, helping each other and being friendly neighbors, with deep concern for their neighbor's welfare. There was a time however, when feeling ran high against those of German descent — this was during World War I.

No matter how loyal to the United States those of German descent might be, to some all were branded pro-German. One man who was even ready to advocate extreme action against people of German parentage, by taking away their land and sending them back to Germany, then, as an after thought said, "and while we are at it, we should banish all of the Virginians from America too." He had not learned his Geography lessons very well.

Joe Skala, a Bohemian, was probably the second homesteader coming into what is now Schoolcraft Precinct early in March, 1867, preceded only by "Ponca" George St. Claire who came in January, 1867, one mile to the south. The concentration of Bohemians seems to have been in the Schoolcraft area.

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