Located three miles north of this corner near the Little Blue River, Friedensau, meaning "Peaceful Meadows," was established in 1874 by Lutheran missionary pastor John J. Kern and was first settled by his former parishioners from Indiana and Illinois. In 1885, according to a book written by Kern, about seventy inhabitants lived in Friedensau and the surrounding area, which included two German Lutheran churches, a school, post office, water-powered grist mill, lumber yard, hotel, livery stable, blacksmith shop, and other small businesses. As late as the fall of 1886, the Rock Island Railroad was expected to extend from Fairbury through Hebron, Friedensau, Kiowa, Oak, and Nelson, but because of the influence of area landowner John G. Deshler, the line was routed east through his property. After the railroad reached Deshler in 1887, Friedensau's buildings were moved across the fenceless prairie and relocated in Deshler, and only Trinity Lutheran Church and its cemetery remain in the Friedensau area today.