Monday, Oct. 7, 1935

We washed, ironed; cleaned chicken houses, put in straw, clean garden & flower beds, so cold dalias [sic] & froze last night we took them in; Papa burned potatoe [sic] straw & weeds. Rose & Berti went out to Uncle Fred’s, got Mullin leaves for papa to use; they got some from doctor at Belleville. Mr. John Breautigam – Clara Birkner’s husband died last night of T.B; was sick so long.

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1935

Jo Kellers birthday. Cloudy & raining. Mr. Ed Rickers farm census taker was here this afternoon; Mamie Eichenseer, came to have her hair curled, euchre tonite. Rose & Bertie went to the euchre of the B.V.M. Sodality of Hecker parish. Bertie had 8 points, got dresser scarf. Miss Viola Purtle of Red Bud won the pillow slip attendance prize; large crowd, tables filled. Miss Doris Breautigam, of Belleville & Traveberger where married at Carlye on Jan 30, kept secret; daughter of one [? – unclear] Clara Birkner.

Wednesday, March 7, 1934

Rose & Bert went up to mass, funeral of Mr. Berg. Koch undertaker. It wasn’t so very large, few neighbors, & relatives. Pallbearears [sic] were Willie Ganley & Reagen, Huber McDermott, Tom Havey, Abrose Doyle, Joe Kunkel. Fr. made a very nice sermon, the body was viewed in back church. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came this afternoon & we all went to Belleville to Mr. John Birkner’s funeral, Uncles step brother, at the home of John Breutigam’s, & the most beautiful flowers & so many, they had. Gardener had charge, & Rev. Pessel, the service, nephews pallbearers, Armstuz’s, Birkners & Hepp’s; It was pretty large. Cold & snowing this afternoon. Rosalia took Aunt Mary over to Mrs. Staufenbeils try her dress, see if he fits all right. Eggs 14¢ Mertz’s. Rose Pour & Mamie came after we were in bed, Mrs. Pour wanted hatching eggs, but we haven’t none this year, no roosters. Adam Eckert has chicken pox; has pretty much fever.

Monday, March 5, 1934

Papa hauled hay. We washed. Ed Neff repaired our Whippet this morning. Papa got the mules hoofs trimed [sic]. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came this evening, went up to see Louise Birkner, she is getting along pretty good; then they & Rosalia went to Belleville to John Breutigams to see Mr. John Birkner, 78 yrs. old; his wife nee Armstutz died 5 yrs. tomorrow. Mrs. Anna Helfrich, died yesterday morning at the home of this daughter, Mr. Joe Karban of Paderborn, we’ll [sic] be buried tomorrow morning 8 o ‘clock mass there. That is Nic Helfrich’s mother & George Neff’s grandma, there boy is the only great grandchild. Mr. Hill was here for news. Mr. Valentine Berg died this morning & will be buried Wed. morning 9:30 Catholic Church here, & then to cemetery. He was making his home with Ed his son, in Blackjacks age 84 yrs.

Friday, June 2, 1933

We baked bread. Papa & Rosalia went to Belleville took chickens & eggs along, eggs 8¢ chickens 14¢. Papa went out to Uncle Fred’s, with a horse trader Baur of Belleville, made no trade though. Papa & Rosalia went to Waterloo load of wheat, it is 73¢ today. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came picked & stoned the rest of the cherries today. Bertille helped & had lunch there. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Beese, Doris Breutigam & Jero Collins, a grand nephew to Uncle Fred stoped [sic] short while with them, he came from California, stay awhile to visit relatives around here in this country, he hitch hiked it here to Belleville. Seen in the paper, Louis Goessling & family moved from Waterloo to Nashville Ill, where he has a position working on a road. It was in the Belleville paper that Alivra Jatho & Leslie Siebert to wed Sat. afternoon 2:30, & Clemens Mudds & Estella Miller where married at 7, o clock mass at the cathedral; both of New Athens, Ill.