Sunday, May 21, 1939

Went to Red Bud. Irene Buehler came along back, she went to Ed Parkers, Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary, awhile. We went to Orlets for dinner & supper. Leo’s dad was also there. Isd. & girlfriend Phyllis came to take him along home. Bill [Klein] came to Orlets to. We planted sweet potatoe [sic] plants, out up there.

Saturday, May 20, 1939

Went to Belleville this afternoon, Bert [Bertille] got new dress & hat. Leo & family came this eve. Bert [Bertille] was at Mamie’s a little while, till Orlets came.

Friday, May 19, 1939

Raining. Planted pumpkins & watermelons. Yesterday was clean up day for Hecker. Fritsche hauling rubbish. Wm Wiegand Jr. is very sick has lost his mind, since Wed. morn. can’t do nothing, going to take him away this afternoon to some asylum (at Anna). Mr & Mrs Bunny Miller (nee Buettner) have a baby.

Thursday, May 18, 1939

Ascension Day Holiday! Went to 6 o’clock mass. We didn’t go to confirmation at 10: 30 this morn. Bill [Klein] came, & we all went to St. Louis to J. [Josie] Kellers this afternoon left here at 1:30, got there at 3 oclock; she was ironing, we had supper there, left over there at 6 o’clock, got home 7:15. rained little this eve. thundered. Buettner is being buried this afternoon, private.

Wednesday, May 17, 1939

Cleaned, baked; patched. Pap went to Waterloo to get 25 lbs. purina feed see if we can help our chicks, from dying, they at least eat now, crapo [? – unclear] got something in them, he also attended the funeral of Miss Hattie Grosse & seen Wetzlers also, he was buried at Maeystown & she was at Waterloo church & cemetery, an awful crowd people couldn’t all get in church. Wagners has Buettner, at his parlor now. Pap got mower parts from Eichenseer & fix the mower & cut grass around place & in front of house. Cloudy this eve.

Tuesday, May 16, 1939

Cool this morn. Chicks still dying 18 this morn. Bert [Bertille] cleaned basement & scrubbed it. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up, working garden. Eggs 13 [cents]. Buettner was found dead at or near Douglas this morn, he shot himself in his car; was there since Mon. paper says; had 2 notes written, one to Mrs. Grosse & other lady at Belleville. Chas. Mehrmann of Belleville had a stroke & died suddenly yesterday eve. after work; his wife died 5 weeks ago from tooth extraction, he will be buried Thurs. morn. at 10:30 he turned Catholic when he married Becherer.

Monday, May 15, 1939

Had Mertz to look at our chicks, dying, terrible. Pap went to Waterloo took 11 bus. wheat along @ 71 [cents] & paid tax $270.94. Terrible thing happened last nite, Waterloo talking this morn. Gus Buettner of Waterloo shot & killed Miss Hattie Grosse & boyfriend Wetzler all of Waterloo, at a lonely spot on Boxtown road, Wetzler & girlfriend & Mr & Mrs. Mitchell were enroute to Boxtown to a dance, when Buettner crowded them of road & shot & killed the couple & didn’t harm Mitchells so far they haven’t got Buettner yet, he wanted to go with Grosse. All police are on look out for him, he was seen driving south through Boxtown after it happened at 10 o clock. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in went to Red Bud & worked there gardens today. Went to Leo’s this eve. took them plants & we got cabbage plants from her.

Sunday, May 14, 1939

Went to mass. Had solemn communion, 10 children. Bert [Bertille] got her haircut. Leo & family came this afternoon, also Bill [Klein] all had supper here, we took pictures. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came for free dance at Kammler’s tonite, musci [sic] by Happy Ramblers 2 – had large crowd. Totsch’s also had fish fry & free dance.

Saturday, May 13, 1939

Jansen & Nobbe brought the new grass mower out & papa went along took it to Leo’s. $96.80 in trade for his old one, brought that here, pap bought from Leo $21.80. Went to Belleville this afternoon, to church & shopping – pap got new hat, Bert [Bertille] got white shoes. Nice day rain last nite.

Friday, May 12, 1939

Baked cookies, worked garden etc. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped went to Buehler’s & to Red Bud. Seen in paper Wm Reheis of Burksville have baby first born. Leo & family came this eve; brought qt. milk. Marita runs all around.