The Neuwerk home was later moved to the site of the present Herman Rinkel home. Mr. and Mrs. Rinkel rebuilt and enlarged the building. Peter engaged in the dray business and was for many years a bachelor. The boys of the early days remember how he would let them ride on his dray wagon and drive the team for him. Later he married Dora Purtzer. Many of the present day remember "Aunt Dora" as she passed away about twenty years ago.
By 1900 the following changes had been recorded; Hall and Meincks were in the old Thomas Dughar stand with a general merchandise store, coming here from Verdigre. The Hall residence was the old Dughar residence where the Louis Praeuner and Alvin Koopman homes are now situated. Mrs. Hall was a sister of Joe Dittrich. The Dittrich's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Dittrich, Sr., sons, William, Fred, and Franz, and youngest daughter Louise came over from Platte County, bought the land where the Leo Dittrich family now lives, and which for years was the William Dittrich, Jr. home. Fred and Franz later bought land in Knox County near Verdigre. William and Mrs. Dittrich now live in Norfolk. They are the parents of District Judge George Dittrich. Another of the elder brothers of William was Joe Dittrich who for many years was a blacksmith but in later years went into the implement business in the location later occupied by the Merz Implement Company. He served 24 years on the town board and 12 years as town marshal. He married Mary Zimmerman and their children include Marie Bierman and Mrs. John Bierman who are still citizens of Battle Creek.
The Sanders brothers by 1898 owned and operated the Battle Creek Roller Mills north of town. Later John Sanders sold the mill to Fred Scheerger, Sr., and in turn to George Scheerger and August Steffen, and bought with the money the service of genial John Vandenburg, who was a wonderful flour maker. Later Mrs. Vandenburg, who came here as Jennie Hall, was for quite a few years a teacher in our high school and then served on the school board to help direct and promote our school system to the finest.
Billie Maher was a barber here in the nineties. He married a sister of Pastor Cossairt, first pastor of the First Baptist Church.
When the Hogrefes built the house (now the Laura and Gertie Wright home) in 1901, Mr. Cossairt bought the house from them (originally built by Troy Hale) and moved it to the sight of the Mrs. George Praeuner home. Allie Gardels bought the home from the Mahers when they left Battle Creek, remodeled and enlarged it.
By 1900 also the Battle Creek Valley Bank had been serving the community for some years with Herman Hogrefe, President, and E. H. Luikart as cashier. Mr. Luikart was later connected with a Lincoln bank and still later served as State Bank Commissioner under Governor Bryan. Prior to 1900 Steve Warrick Brothers and his brother John Warrick, Sr., was in the lumber and grain business at Meadow Grove, which is still being operated by John's son John II and grandson, John the III. Others who followed in
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