For the most part, the Bohemians came too late to homestead but bought land in the late seventies and early eighties. Those connected with Battle Creek history would include Joe Finkral who came to Madison County with his parents in 1883. His father purchased a farm in Section 28, Twp. 22, Range 3. The father, Joseph Finkral, Sr. came to America from Bohemia in 1866. He married Mary Witt that same year in Baltimore, Maryland. They had three children, Anna (Mrs. Frank Sobotka); Joseph, Jr., who married Rosa Resnecek; and James who remained on the original Finkral home farm.

Joseph, Jr. and Mrs. Finkral retired to Battle Creek in the house where Mrs. Finkral still resides and the Frank Sobotka family retired to make their home where their daughter Rose and son Frank, Jr. now live.

John Brosh, Sr. was born in Michigan where he married Katherine Poncar who was born in Czechoslovakia, coming to America when she was 15 years old. They too first came to Madison County in 1883 settling in Schoolcraft Precinct, later buying the farm which is the SE1/4 of Section 7 in Fairview Precinct and which was later the Wm. Brosh home. Their children were Joe, who married Rosa Dvorak; Anna (Mrs. L. C. Haskett); Elizabeth (Mrs. Chas. Kuchar); James, who moved to Calgary, Canada; John married Mary Vlazny; William married Vlasta Kuchar; Edwin married Marie Kuchar and Allen married Marie Marie Thomsen.

The Kuchar family, also in Schoolcraft Precinct, came to Battle Creek to do their business in the early days. These consisted of Vaclav (known as Big Jim, as he was a large and friendly man); Joe who retired to Madison; and Charles who lived southwest of Battle Creek where the Willis Kuchar family now lives. When they retired, they moved to Meadow Grove where Mrs. Kuchar (the former Elizabeth Brosh) still lives. It is to her that we are indebted for much of the information about the Bohemians of Battle Creek.

Then the Duhacheks came to Battle Creek to do their shopping. Mills Duhachek who lived where the Harold Kerber family now lives; his brother Frank who lived southwest of Battle Creek and their uncle Frank who lived south of Meadow Grove. Mrs. Frank Duhachek, Sr. was Mary Poncar, an aunt to Mrs. Charles Kuchar. Their children were Joe who married Mary Deckert; John who married Dora Schutt; Ed who married Elizabeth Schutt and the youngest son Harry, who lives on the old home place.

Then, we must not forget Joe Plouzek who had a blacksmith shop at Big Auger postoffice and store in Schoolcraft Precinct nine miles south and one mile west of Battle Creek.

The Brozek brothers who came in the nineties, John, Joe, James and Jake, bought land in Highland Precinct. None of the John Brozek family now live in this area. Joe Brozek, Jr., son of Joe Brozek, Sr., resides in Battle Creek. James Brozek married Emma Dittrick, their son Victor lives between Battle

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