Not long after moving to their new home, a school, which eventually became Dist. 17, was organized and Mr. Whitla taught this school for a number of years.

There were numerous Indian scares. When people least expected it, suddenly there would be one or more Indians close upon them. Mrs. McIntosh (Maude) told of an incident: that Mrs. Whitla had washed her hair and was sitting on top of the dugout when looking up saw two Indians coming. Mr. Whitla was teaching school near by and their little boy, Will, was with him at the school house. Mrs. Whitla was so frightened that she ran to the school house. Mr. Whitla ran back to their home. Nothing was molested and the Indians had gone on their way.

When the railroad was being built across their land in 1879, the construction workmen boarded at the Whitla home. They continued coming back to board until construction work reached Battle Creek.

In the early days the neighborhood women had cooperatively owned a hand driven sewing machine. Each family could keep the machine four days. When Mrs. Whitla's turn came she would have Alice Flenniken help her with the sewing. Alice's father, J. B. Flenniken homesteaded the SE1/4 of 28, which is now the Wm. Preusker home. (How many old timers remember that the Elkhorn River bridge at this place was for years known as the "Flannigan" bridge).

Alice Flenniken married a Mr. Briggs who at one time was Depot Agent at Battle Creek. Ed Briggs, who a few years ago, worked at the Zimmerman Ranch is a grandson of this family.

The Whitla family consisted of a son, Will Whitla, who followed in his father's footsteps and became a teacher. It was while teaching at Meadow Grove that he had Mollie Taylor as a student. It was Will Whitla who encouraged Mollie to take the teachers examination to be held at Tilden one weekend. Mollie wrote of this later and stated that Mr. Whitla not only encouraged her to take the exam but loaned her the $1.00 required fee. Mr. Whitla married Delia Mead of Madison, later engaged in the abstracting business in Butte, Nebr.

Son Webb married Jennie Alexander, born in Scotland, a niece of Thos. Alexander, well known Bassett rancher. Webb was postmaster at Battle Creek during President Taft's administration.

Daughter Mabel married Will Darlington, one time County Treasurer. The Darlington family later moved to Neligh.

Maude married Ernest McIntosh of Meadow Grove. Maude taught music at Battle Creek and at Meadow Grove before her marriage more than 50 years ago and still has music students.

The youngest son, David Jr. married Eva Cartney. David started his railroad career as Depot Agent, Henry Whitney's assistant and rose to the office of Chief Dispatcher at Norfolk after serving many years in the C&NWRR's Omaha office. Mrs.

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