Table of Contents

Preface page 2

Dedication page 3

The History of Battle Creek page 5

PAWNEE INDIAN WAR OF 1859 page 7

NEBRASKA BECOMES A STATE page 10

FIRST SETTLEMENT IN AREA page 12

FIRST SETTLEMENT AT BATTLE CREEK page 13

THE VIRGNINIANS ARRIVE page 18

BATTLE CREEK PRECINCT page 25

HIGHLAND PRECINCT page 28

FAIRVIEW PRECINCT page 29

VALLEY PRECINCT page 29

DEER CREEK page 31

MADISON COUNTY IS FORMED page 36

BATTLE CREEK VILLAGE page 39

BATTLE CREEK TOWNSITE IS BORN page 40

THE RAILROAD COMES TO TOWN page 45

THE BATTLE CREEK ENTERPRISE IS FOUNDED page 45

MISS BRECHHEISEN IS 102 CHRISTMAS EVE, 1966 page 58

THE BATTLE CREEK MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANYpage 73

STORY TELLING page 75

COUNTRY POST OFFICES page 79

MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS page 79

THE NIOBRARA STAGE LINE page 81

MUSING page 97

BOHEMIAN HOMESTEADERS page 99

HORSE THIEVES page 105

HORSE RACING IN BATTLE CREEK page 107

SPORTS STORY page 112

THE WIENCK FAMILY page 115

WILLIAM CHRISTIAN VOLK III page 116

GEORGE HURFORD page 118

DR. EDWARD TANNER page 119

JOSEPH DUFPHEY page 120

GEORGE BERRY page 121

PAUL RENNER, SR. page 122

THE GREEN FAMILY page 123

THE HENRY TOMHAGEN STORY page 124

REV. JACOB HOFFMAN page 128

WILLIAM BIERMAN page 130

THE KOESTER FAMILY page 132

THE PIONEER OF PIONEERS, JOHN F. TIEDGEN page 134

THE WHITLA FAMILY page 136

THE RODEKOHR FAMILY page 140

PIONEER DAYS page 141

Social Affairs page 143

Settling Down page 143

Drawing My Wages page 145

School page 147

Hard Work But Prospering page 147

Church page 148

Canada Again page 148

Two New Farm Homes page 149

Church page 149

Dry Times page 149

THE HUGHES FAMILY page 151

THE STOLLE FAMILY page 153

THE FRED RICHARDSON FAMILY page 154

THE DITTRICK STORY page 156

THE CARRABINE FAMILY page 157

THE WADES OF BATTLE CREEK page 159

THE BRINK FAMILY page 161

THE FLOOD FAMILY page 161

THE DOUGLAS PREECE FAMILY page 162

PATRICK J. O'NEILL page 166

ROSE O'NEILL page 168

FARMER ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED page 169

MRS. GEORGE W. HAIGHT page 169

THE CUNNINGHAM FAMILY page 171

MOLLIE TAYLOR page 172

THE COUNTRY DOCTOR page 176

THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND DROUGHT OF THE THIRTIES page 179

ZIMMERMAN - WINTER FAMILIES page 184

EARLY DAY HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BATTLE CREEK, NEBRASKA page 186

THE METHODIST CHURCH page 190

DAMON'S CHAPEL page 192

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH page 193

THE LUTHERANS page 193

DR. MARTIN MARTY page 198

ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH page 200

HISTORY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 5, MADISON COUNTY page 202

BATTLE CREEK WINS THE COMMUNITY BETTERMENT CONTEST page 209