Tuesday, Sept. 13, 1938

Raining all day, starting at 8:30. Bert [Bertille] washed, had to hang it in basement on account of the rain, Josie Keller came out had dinner & supper here; had chicken for supper, she took eggs, chicken & potatoes along back. Birkners couldn’t came up, on account of the weather, roads being to muddy. Joe Schaefer & Loretta Biffar were married at Waterloo this morn. real rainy day; had wedding dance at Paulter’s pavilion we went; attendants were here [sic] sister Priscilla with rust color dress, & Mildred Rheinhardt blue; boys I don’t know; had nice big crowd, served cake to all. Schoenborns Orc. played.

Friday, Sept. 2, 1938

Went to Belleville with 2 hogs 405 lbs. $8.70. Pap cut corn got 16 shocks cut. Bert [Bertille] made 3 qts mince meat & canned tomatoes jars are filled now. We went to see Emil Schaefer by Foster Pond, had advertised pigs for sale; but they were already sold. A shower was given Miss Loretta Biffar at her home last Sun. of her approaching marriage to Joe Schaefer who works near E. St. Louis; was given by Anna Weinhoff – Joe’s sister who lives 3 mi. west of Waterloo.

Sunday, March 20, 1938

Went to mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came Bert [Bertille] went along to see the tornado ruins at Darmstadt & Baldwin it looks awful there to ; church tower stands, rest all down & few houses to; then we came home. A. [Aunt] Mary & Bert [Bertille] went to Lent devotion this afternoon. It is so nice today awful warm; Bill Klein, Louis Schoenborn, Isd. Wacthel came we played 5 hand pinochle, had cake, wine. Louis has his car fixed again, Fred Schaefer wrecked it for him last Mon; driving intoxicated.

Wednesday, March 2, 1938

Ash. [Wednesday] Went to mass, received ashes. Harry Wittenauer brought the harness back; bought the collar for 75 [cents]. Nic Schaefer came looked at the pigs. Pap got load wood with the wagon, Ed. Meng came over looked at horses & pigs. Raining, thunder tonite.

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1937

Holiday. Uncle Fred & A. Mary stopped awhile & went home. Cold & getting colder. 12 above suppose to be 4 to nite. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came Bert [Bertille] went along to Belleville; stopped at Orlets few minutes. Tonite is Devotions for Married people only, this afternoon for young people. Thirtheen [sic] Hr. Devotion in Hecker. Mrs. Mehrmann got 7 doz. eggs. @ 26¢ went up 1¢ yesterday. Adolph Schaefer’s have a baby boy since 2 weeks ago. Henry Heulsheim also have baby boy, thats 2 boys in family now.

Sunday, Nov. 7, 1937

Went to mass. Jake Neff came to see Uncle Fred. We went to Smithton to see Stehl & Nic Schaefer, came out on oil road stopped in at Leo’s awhile; came home. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came looked at our horse, then we all went to Uncle Fred’s for supper chicken, & played 5 card pinochle, had popcorn, nuts & refreshments; looked at picture.

Monday, Aug. 16, 1937

Canned 5 qts. peaches, 1 tomatoes, cooked catsup. Pap went to Waterloo to get fruit jars; didn’t have them in yet, he stayed all morn. still didn’t come, he is going to deliver them tomorrow. Berniece came said, there was some fish left, if anybody wanted some, at Mertz’s on ice; we don’t want any today. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came this afternoon, he helped put up stands, got 5 chickens – 12 lbs. @ 19¢ for pinic [sic] tomorrow; had watermelon lunch. Nic Schaefer Jr. was here, stopped on way home from Hess sale at Ruma. Gypsy Joe sang song for Mrs. Hess by Agnes today.

Friday, July 16, 1937

We went to Belleville yesterday afternoon. pap went to dentist. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came went to Chris Buehler’s to help thresh; brought the lawn mower along, Bert [Bertille] cut ours & his to. Got papers at noon seen, Berts school teacher Louis Schilling died, & to be buried this afternoon, we got dressed & went to funeral just got there when they were leaving the house, so we went to church, it was packed, lots of flowers, Wagner had charge of funeral, he was 28 yrs. old had been suffering a yr. had to quite [sic – quit] teaching in middle of last yrs. term, his brother taught in his place he didn’t look at all natural, he had cancer; passed away at 5 o’clock Wed. morn; survived by father & mother, Mr. & Mrs. Louis Schilling & brother Eugene who is also a teacher & a step sister; was laid to rest in Burksville Cemetery. Mr & Mrs L. Wahlous of Waterloo nee Bea Maus have a baby boy born July 11 at St. Marys hospital – 8 lb. Mrs. Clarence Mudd also passed away at Modoc Ill; formerly lived in Waterloo had grocery store there; was 33 yrs. old. Herb. Bertram & Rose Harbaugh were married at 6 o clock mass at Waterloo on July 13, attendants being John Schaefer & Irene Harbaugh. So many pinics [sic] advertised for to be held in Aug. Herman Lucht horse prairie Ins. man was here collecting Ins. policy to run out this non. $17.50. that is house & farm buildings Ins. at Henry’s. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in from Buehler’s threshing; it rained, had to quite [sic – quit] about 4:30. Wm. Wiegand treated a keg beer, box soda then; he is running for Co. Commisioner; it didn’t rain so much here, nice shower.

Friday, April 30, 1937

Cleaned bedroom; nice warm. Uncle Fred & A. Mary came this afternoon. We went out to Henry’s this eve; They had school pinic [sic] out there, last for this term; after they got home, Floyd fell on ground rail, & broke his arm, same one were he cut his finger of yr. ago now; they took him to Dr. Werth, he set it now, but wants them to go to Stallmann & have an exray [sic] taken of it. he says he didn’t fall hard just stumble, broke both bones, a piece up from the wrist. Geodelle’s were also out this eve; it pains quite a bit he says. After we got home Leo & Rose came yet, also Jake & Fred Schaefer, stayed a little while; they brought there eggs to store.

Friday, Jan. 29, 1937

Bert cleaned, baked bread etc. Eggs only 19¢ now; Bert got the mail, not much news, Mr. & Mrs. Jake Schaefer of near Foster Pond have a baby boy, born at St. Mary’s Hospital last Thurs. nite; Mr. & Mrs. Ray Schmidt & son Linus [? – unclear] of Waterloo returned home from Red Bud’s Hospital Sat. were all 3 had pneumonia, boy was taken back there again still has throat ailments, paper says. Mrs. Joe Watchel gave me the wedding present for Rosalia, they couldn’t go to the wedding, Delmar was sick with grippe. She [Rosalia] got set silver ware from Uncle Ed, knives & forks, spoons, teaspoons, butter knives, sure beautiful set, sent by mail.