The land homesteaded by the Hughes men and later acquired through purchase, was later operated by their sons, M. J. (Mike) and James, sons of Philip A. Hughes; John, Frank and Joe, sons of Frank P. Hughes.

As this history is being written all of the first and second generation of the Hughes family have passed away.

A part of the land acquired by his grandfather, Frank P. Hughes, is presently owned and occupied by Joe E. Hughes. Incidents—

In the early summer of 1870, the Elkhorn River overflowed its banks to the surprise of the settlers. The land where their homes were located was flooded and the families took refuge on higher ground until the water receded.

In the early days, Philip Hughes took grain to the newly established Norfolk Flour Mill to be ground. Some part of the Mill machinery had broken and the owner was searching for someone who could repair it. Philip went back to the farm and got his brother Frank, who was a Blacksmith and was experienced in welding and repair, and the two of them working together were successful in making necessary repairs to the Mill machinery.

Francis P. Matthews, Omaha attorney, married Clare Hughes, daughter of John Hughes. Mr. Matthews was appointed as Secretary of the Navy by President Truman in 1949 and in June, 1951, was made United States Ambassador to Ireland.

Anna Hughes

As told by Mrs. Frank Wisch

Henry Stolle and his wife Sophie and his brother, Bernard Stolle, decided to leave their fatherland (Oldenburg, Germany) in the year 1869. They first located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, coming on to Madison County in 1871. Henry homesteaded four miles east of Battle Creek where the Cedric Porath family now live. He died in 1890, was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery south of Battle Creek. His wife and four daughters then moved to Salem, Oregon. One of them, Mrs. Henrietta Hilgen, a few times in recent years came to Battle Creek to spend several weeks with relatives here.

Bernard Stolle homesteaded 1 1/2 miles southwest of Battle Creek. Part of this farm is now owned by George Schroeder and part by Jesse Reeves. He later took a timber claim across the road from his original quarter, this is the 80 acres now owned by Clarence Bierman.

This land remained the Stolle home throughout the long life of Mr. Stolle. On November 17, 1872 he married Anna Schulenburg. They drove to the home of Pastor Rupprecht northeast of Norfolk, fording the river in the area close to where Wm. Preusker now lives. The river was frozen over so that the

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